Quick hitters: week 17
May 27, 2004 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I) News Release
PRIME MATCHUP: Los Angeles Avengers QB TONY GRAZIANI tossed six touchdown passes in his last meeting with the Orlando Predators (2003), a last-minute comeback victory for the Avengers in which they scored three touchdowns in the final 46 seconds en route to a 64-63 win. If Graziani can throw six more touchdowns against the Predators this weekend, he will become the second quarterback in AFL history to record a 100-touchdown season (Aaron Garcia 2001, 2003). But, Orlando DS KENNY MC ENTYRE and Orlando's No. 1-ranked passing defense will make it tough on Graziani, as both Los Angeles (9-6) and Orlando (9-6) would clinch a playoff berth with a win at Staples Center this Sunday on NBC at 4 p.m. ET. Following is a list of the most touchdown passes thrown in a season.
MOST TOUCHDOWN PASSES IN A SEASON
PLAYER TEAM YEAR TOUCHDOWNS
Aaron Garcia New York Dragons 2001 104
Aaron Garcia New York Dragons 2003 100
Jim Kubiak Dallas Desperados 2003 97
Tony Graziani Los Angeles Avengers 2003 96
Tony Graziani* Los Angeles Avengers 2004 94
Andy Kelly Detroit Fury 2003 93
Aaron Garcia Iowa Barnstormers 2000 92
Clint Dolezel Grand Rapids Rampage 2003 89
Sherdrick Bonner Arizona Rattlers 2003 88
*Through Week 16
MUST-WIN FOR PLAYOFF PERENNIAL: The Tampa Bay Storm, the only charter AFL franchise remaining, has yet to miss the postseason. They have their backs against the wall this week on the road at American Airlines Center on Sunday at 4 p.m. ET when the Dallas Desperados (6-9) attempt to prevent the Storm (8-7) from securing their 18th straight playoff berth. Following are the longest current streaks of playoff appearances:
ACTIVE LEADERS IN CONSECUTIVE PLAYOFF BERTHS
TEAM CONSECUTIVE APPEARANCES
Tampa Bay Storm* 17
Orlando Predators 12
Arizona Rattlers 11
Grand Rapids Rampage 5
San Jose SaberCats 4
*Made playoffs as Pittsburgh Gladiators, 1987-90
FROM FRIENDS TO FOES: Two of the AFL's finest head coaches (and former allies) will lock horns on Sunday when Chicago's MIKE HOHENSEE and Colorado' s MIKE DAILEY face off in a battle of two playoff-bound teams fighting for postseason positioning. Dailey was Hohensee's assistant with the Albany/Indiana Firebirds (1994-96), but Dailey has that which has eluded Hohensee, an ArenaBowl championship. The Rush have already clinched a quarterfinal game at home, but a win against the Crush this Sunday at the Pepsi Center on NBC at 4 p.m. ET and a San Jose loss would earn Chicago the No.1 playoff seed and an easier path to ArenaBowl XVIII. Following are the top 10 leaders career coaching wins.
ALL-TIME WINS BY A HEAD COACH
RANK COACH CAREER WINS
1 Tim Marcum* 165
2 Danny White* 138
3 Perry Moss 86
4 Mike Hohensee* 84
5 Michael Trigg* 78
6 Mike Dailey* 73
7 John Gregory 73
8 Darren Arbet* 70
9 Jay Gruden* 52
10 Todd Shell* 46
*Active
SETTING MORE MARKS: Las Vegas OS MARCUS NASH can break three single-season records when his Gladiators host the Columbus Destroyers this Sunday at 6 p.m. ET. Nash has already set a new single-season record for receptions with 148, and he needs three receiving touchdowns, five overall touchdowns, and 23 points to set new marks in those respective categories.
LIVING IN A FANTASY: The Los Angeles Avengers are the only team with two players (TONY GRAZIANI and CHRIS JACKSON) in the top-ten fantasy-players list this week. Graziani connected on 17-of-24 passes for 229 yards and six touchdowns, while Jackson had two touchdowns (41 overall in 2004) in last week's victory over Las Vegas. The Avengers (9-6) face the Orlando Predators (9-6) this Sunday on NBC at 4 p.m. ET.
TOP AFL FANTASY POINT PLAYERS
RANK PLAYER, POSITION TEAM FP/G
1 Marcus Nash, WR/DB Las Vegas 38.0
2 Chris Jackson, WR/LB Los Angeles 34.4
3 Adrian McPherson, QB Indiana 31.9
4 Damian Harrell, OS Colorado 31.4
5 Clint Dolezel, QB Las Vegas 31.3
6 Cory Fleming, WR/LB Orlando 31.2
7 Tony Graziani, QB Los Angeles 30.3
8 James Roe, WR/DB San Jose 29.7
9 Ryan Vena, QB Columbus 28.2
10 Etu Molden, WR/LB Chicago 27.1
Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from May 27, 2004
- Quick hitters: week 17 - AFL I
- Destroyers quarterback set to cap off record-setting rookie season - Columbus Destroyers
- New Orleans FB/LB Dan Curran, two others lead AFL online fan voting - New Orleans VooDoo
- After tough start, these 'Birds learned to fly - Albany/Indiana Firebirds
- Chicago Rush looking for its own "idol" to sing National Anthem - Chicago Rush
- McPherson to appear in studio for AFL on NBC - Albany/Indiana Firebirds
- VooDoo contest to be heard on WSMB as well as WFNO for inaugural Spanish broadcast - New Orleans VooDoo
- New Orleans' Dan Curran leads online fan voting for U.S. Army Ironman of the Year - AFL I
- Must-see matchups: week 17 - AFL I
- AFL Q&A: Orlando WR/DB Cory Fleming - AFL I
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