Quarterfinal Playoff Previews

July 31, 2002 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I) News Release

New Jersey head coach FRANK HAEGE has his Gladiators squad ready for their first home playoff game in the team's five-year history. Rookie QB JAY MCDONAGH (3,599 yards, 62 TDs) has been guiding the Eastern Division Champions by finding targets like OS MIKE HORACEK (118 receptions, 1,281 yards, 31 TDs), second-year standout WR/DB SEDRICK ROBINSON (1,595 all-purpose yards, 90 points), and WR/DB DENNISON ROBINSON (67 receptions, 9 TDs). Hall of Fame QB JAY GRUDEN leads the Predator offense. With six total championship rings to his credit – four as a player and two as a coach – the cagey veteran will look to WR/DB CLIF DELL (76 receptions, 995 yards, and 152 points) and WR/DB SIAHA BURLEY (79 receptions, 907 yards, 17 TDs). The match-up to watch will be New Jersey's quick strike offense (51.0 PPG, No. 7) against Orlando's stingy defense (232.6 YPG, No. 1). TV: The New TNN -- Trey Bender, Charles Arbuckle

NO. 12 TAMPA BAY STORM (7-8) AT NO. 1 SAN JOSE SABERCATS (13-1), 3:00 PM ET, Compaq Center at San Jose

San Jose OS JAMES HUNDON (98 receptions, 35 TDs) leads the SaberCats' potent offensive attack (63.2 PPG, No. 1), while rookie DS/KR CLEVAN THOMAS patrols the defensive secondary and provides a lethal threat in the return game (7 KO TD returns, No. 1). Tampa Bay head coach TIM MARCUM has his squad peaking at the right time. After last week's victory over No. 5 Los Angeles, the Hall of Fame coach has other teams concerned about this year's No. 12 seed. Storm QB SHANE STAFFORD has been connecting with OS CALVIN SCHEXNAYDER and WR/DB ALVIN ASHLEY, while current Ironman of the Week, WR/LB LAWRENCE SAMUELS provides some two-way toughness. Match-up to watch will be the San Jose defense (47.1 PPG, No. 4) vs. Tampa Bay's ball-control offense (33:07 average, No. 1). TV: ESPN2 -- Jeff Hullinger, Mark May

NO. 11 CAROLINA COBRAS (7-8) AT NO. 2 ARIZONA RATTLERS (11-3), 3:00 PM ET, America West Arena

Arizona QB SHERDRICK BONNER and WR/DB CHRIS HORN (218 points, No. 1) have been the spark to the Rattlers offense, while DS CECIL DOGGETTE and DEREK STINGLEY hound the defensive secondary for Hall of Fame head coach DANNY WHITE. Two-time Ironman of the Year WR/LB HUNKIE COOPER owns two championship rings and leads the quest for a third title in the "Valley of the Sun". Carolina QB JOHN FITZGERALD has the hot hand with 25 TDs and only 4 INTs in his last 5 starts. Offensive Player of the Week, OS AARON BAILEY has been in the cross-hairs for Fitzgerald, as the second-year AFL standout tied a First-Round record with 6 TDs in the Cobras' victory over defending champion Grand Rapids last Sunday. TV: The New TNN -- Eli Gold, Charles Davis, Jill Arrington

NO. 8 DALLAS DESPERADOS (9-6) AT NO. 3 CHICAGO RUSH (9-5), 8:30 PM ET, Allstate Arena

Second-year QB BILLY DICKEN has the second-year Rush primed for an ArenaBowl title run. Chicago rookie OS ANTONIO CHATMAN and 2001 Ironman of the Year WR/DB DAMEON PORTER have been the main targets on offense. For the second consecutive season, Porter led the circuit in interceptions (10), while recording double-digit touchdowns (12). Dallas QB ANDY KELLY (3,295 yards, 72 TDs) hopes to keep the string of consecutive ArenaBowl appearances alive. The eight-year veteran started under center in the past two ArenaBowl championships. Kelly's main target is Deperados rookie WR/DB ANDY MCCULLOUGH (82 receptions, 24 TDs). The individual spotlight match-up will be a battle of rookies – McCullough vs. Chatman. TV: ESPN2 -- Dave Ryan, Merril Hoge, Tracy Wolfson

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