Quick hitters: week 10

March 31, 2005 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I) News Release

ONE FOR THE CENTURY: Philadelphia QB TONY GRAZIANI is on pace to become only the second quarterback in the League to throw for 100 touchdowns. Entering Week 10, Graziani has thrown for 56 touchdowns in nine games. Graziani is back on pace after back-to-back eight touchdown performances in Week 8 and Week 9. The only other player to reach the century mark is New York QB AARON GARCIA who accomplished the feet in 2001 (104) and 2003 (100). Graziani came close last season when he threw for 99.

San Jose OS RASHIED DAVIS repeated as Offensive Player of the Week for his seven-touchdown performance against Las Vegas in Week 9. To earn the award in Week 8 and Week 9, Davis scored at least one rushing touchdown, one touchdown receptions, one kick return for a touchdown and had over 300 all-purpose yards. Davis looks to become the first player in AFL history to win Offensive Player/MVP of the Week in three consecutive weeks. Davis has returned four kicks four a touchdown this season, bringing him within four a breaking the single season record of seven.

KICK RETURN, TOUCHDOWNS
PLAYER TEAM YEAR TOTAL
RASHIED DAVIS, OS SAN JOSE 2004 8
Antonio Chatman, WR/DB Chicago 2003 7
Clevan Thomas, DS San Jose 2002 7
Lamont Copper, WR/DB Milwaukee 2000 7
Steve Papin, WR/DB San Jose 1999 7
Willie Gaston, WR/DB Connecticut 1996 7


JUST KICK IT: Los Angeles K REMY HAMILTON has been walking all over the record books this season. Hamilton has converted 19-of-22 field goals this season, a conversion rate of 86.0 percent. Hamilton is on pace to break the record for most field goals in a season (32) set by DARON ALCORN of Portland in 1999 and highest field goal percentage (72.0) set by JAY TAYLOR of the Orlando Predators in 2004. At Hamilton's current pace, he will have converted 38 field goals.

HE KEEPS GOING AND GOING AND GOING... New Orleans QB ANDY KELLY is slated to start his 129th consecutive regular-season game when the VooDoo (6-3) travel to Texas to take on their Southern Division rival Austin Wranglers (3-6). The streak is the all-time record for consecutive starts by a quarterback. The next closest active streak is held by Philadelphia QB TONY GRAZIANI) who will be starting his 56rd straight game dating back to the start of the 2002 season with Los Angeles. If Kelly's streak continues, he will be in position to break the record of most completions in a season (392), which he set in 2003 while with the Detroit Fury. Kelly is on pace to finish the season with 489 completions.



NO 4TH QUARTER POINTS: The SaberCats have not allowed a fourth quarter point in their three home games this season, outscoring the opposition 35-0. In fact, San Jose has only allowed two second-half touchdowns in its three home games posting a 66-14 second half scoring advantage.

LIGHTNING IN A BOTTLE: Georgia rookie OS TROY BERGERON is ranked No. 1 among rookies in all-purpose yards (1,557), pass receptions (66) and receiving yards (908) and is on pace to break the single season mark in all three categories. Arizona OS SIAHA BURLEY set the record for all-purpose yards for a rookie (2,719) in 2001. WR/DB MIKE BAKER set the record for most receptions (105) in 1996 with St. Louis and In 1998, WR/DB ORONDE GADSDEN set the single season mark for receiving yards for a rookie (1335) while with Portland.

STILL THE KING: Former Heisman Trophy runner-up and Grand Rapids QB MICHAEL BISHOP (6-2, 220, Kansas State) remains the top overall player in AFL Fantasy, averaging 47.8 fantasy points per game. This marks the sixth consecutive week that Bishop leads the AFL fantasy point average list -- he totaled 54 fantasy points for his Week 9 performance (two passing scores, three rushing).

A name new to the Top 15 is Philadelphia rookie WR/DB MARCUS KNIGHT (6-1, 192, Michigan), who is averaging 29.8 fantasy points each game. In four games (starts in the last three), the former Wolverine has 22 receptions for 334 yards and 10 touchdowns and, on defense, has recorded 6.5 tackles, one forced fumble and a fumble recovery. Philadelphia (4-5) faces Columbus (1-7) this Sunday, April 3 at noon ET in regional action on NBC.

Here are the Top 10 Fantasy Point Players entering Week 10 of the AFL season (by average FP/G):

TOP AFL FANTASY POINT PLAYERS OVERALL
(Minimum three games)

RANK PLAYER, POSITION TEAM FP/G
1 Michael Bishop, QB Grand Rapids 47.3
2 Siaha Burley, OS Arizona 34.8
3 Marcus Nash, OS Las Vegas 33.3
4 Shane Stafford, QB Tampa Bay 32.3
5 Aaron Bailey, OS New Orleans 31.1
6 Etu Molden, WR/LB Chicago 31.0
7 Tony Graziani, QB Philadelphia 30.8
8 Andy Kelly, QB New Orleans 30.3
9 Marcus Knight, WR/DB Philadelphia 29.8
10 John Fitzgerald, QB Austin 29.6

Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from March 31, 2005

• Quick hitters: week 10 - AFL I
• Must-see matchups: week 10 - AFL I
• Soul to host summer football camps - Philadelphia Soul
• Urlacher back with Rush - Chicago Rush
• Kats Continue To Shuffle Roster - Nashville Kats
• Colorado Crush game notes - Colorado Crush
• Destroyers and bd's Mongolian Barbeque present “Tip the Destroyers Night” April 20 - Columbus Destroyers

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