Ramping up for the post-season
May 16, 2003 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Georgia Force News Release
The Georgia Force will close out the 2003 regular season at home when the Tampa Bay Storm visit the Arena at Gwinnett Center on Sunday, May 18th. Earlier this season, Georgia fell at Tampa Bay 58-39 to drop its all-time record against the Storm to 0-3. The Force-Storm match-up will be aired on NBC at 3:00 p.m. ET. Georgia is 6-1 this season in games shown on NBC with its lone loss coming against Tampa Bay.
The Force will hope to break a three-game losing skid at home and gain some momentum heading into its first post-season action in team history. Leading the charge will be rookie quarterback Leon Murray, who over the last two games has set single-game club records for completions, passing yards and touchdown passes. In games at Indiana and vs. Dallas, Murray has completed 51-of-75 passing for 661 yards and 14 touchdowns with only one interception.
Announcing Fan Appreciation Day!
Force fans are by far the greatest in the league, and this Sunday the team wants to show the fans just how special you are to them.
2003 has already been a breakthrough year for the Force on many levels, but the growing, loyal fans are by far the greatest achievement.
This Sunday each fan will recieve a commemorative 2003 team poster, courtesy of Polaris of Atlanta!
As a special "thank you" to you, the Force is providing a special discount coupon exclusively for our online fans!
Simply click on the coupon to the left to view it at full size, print it out, and bring it with you to any of the remaining Georgia Force home games!
Note: Discount only available for purchases made at The Arena at Gwinnett Center.
Force Family Fun Pack
May 18th, is Force Family Fun Pack Sunday. With the Force Family Fun Pack you can get 4 tickets and 4 team spirit caps for only $52 in the upper level, or $76 for the lower level! More than 4? Additional persons can be added! It's the best deal in town for family entertainment!
To reserve your Force Family Fun Pack, call 770-813-7610.
An exclusive invitation to Season Ticket Holders
The Georgia Force staff, players and cheerleaders would like to invite all 2003 Season Ticket Holders to join us at Jillian's for a Playoff Kickoff Party on Tuesday, May 20th at 7:00pm.
The Force wish to take this opportunity to thank their most devoted fans and to celebrate their first trip to the Arena Bowl Playoffs!
Complimentary food will be provided by Jillian's, while you bowl against your favorite Force players, cheerleaders and staff. Season Ticket Holders will also have the opportunity to bid on the actual home (blue) jerseys worn by their favorite players in the 2003 season. Door prizes will given away throughout the evening.
2003 Season Ticket Holders, plan on being at Jillian's on Tuesday for the Playoff Kickoff Party!
Game Preview:
Fighting for home-playoff position in the final week of the regular season, the Force, who has already clinched a playoff berth, is hoping that its top-ranked defense (232.5 YPG) will be able to match up against their Southern division rival's No. 2 scoring defense (43.4 PPG) and guide them into the postseason. Six-year DS Kevin Gaines led Georgia's No. 2 pass defense (221.2 YPG) last week with an interception and 6.0 tackles. The strong line play of Marcus Keyes and Jermaine Smith (5.5 sacks, seven quarterback hurries, one interception and one forced fumble) has led the Force to a fifth-ranked (tie) 16.0 sacks.
In his record-setting 13th season, AFL veteran FB/LB Darryl Hammond leads Georgia in scoring (142 points), including a five-touchdown performance last week, and continues to brush off defenders (31.5 tackles, two interceptions, four pass breakups and three forced fumbles). Georgia is tied for the fourth-best turnover margin (+9) and has allowed the second-fewest opponents first downs (268).
Rookie QB Leon Murray continued to impress last week, passing for 354 yards and eight touchdowns (one interception).
With a win this week, the Storm - who has already clinched a first-round bye - would improve its position and climb to the No. 2 playoff spot. The AFL's all-time winningest head coach, Tampa Bay' s Tim Marcum (154-54, .740), has his defense shutting down the opposition giving up just 43.4 points (No. 2) and 248.3 yards (No. 4) per game.
The Storm has snared the second-most interceptions this season (22), led by ball hawks (combined 14 interceptions) DS Corey Saywer (six) and WR/DB Omarr Smith (eight). Tampa Bay owns the second-best turnover margin (+14). The Storm has the toughest defense on 3rd- and 4th-down conversion, allowing teams to advance on 36 of 112 attempts (32.1 percent). The Storm is No. 1 in sacks (27) - 12 different Storm players have at least 1.0 sacks, including sack leader B.J. Cohen, who has recorded 6.0.
Tampa Bay QB John Kaleo, whose primary scoring target has been OS Freddie Solomon (180 points), is fourth among AFL passers with 3,917 yards this season. Tampa Bay's rushing offense has been equally effective, scoring 14 touchdowns in the last six games.
Georgia Force single game tickets and Flex Packages now on sale!
Single game tickets and flex packages for the team's remaining home game are now on sale! The next Force home game is this Sunday, May 18th, against the Tampa Bay Storm.
For single game tickets visit www.ticketmaster.com. For more information on Flex Packs, call 770-813-7610.
Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from May 16, 2003
- Carolina Ends Season With 16th Straight Loss - Carolina Cobras
- AFL Week 16 Injury Report - AFL I
- Desperados Alter Roster Due to Injuries - Dallas Desperados
- Crush Place Dozier on IR, Activate Coleman - Colorado Crush
- Gladiators 2004 Season Tickets on Sale May 18 - Las Vegas Gladiators
- Ramping up for the post-season - Georgia Force
- Win or Go Home - Albany/Indiana Firebirds
- Quarterfinal Schedule Announced - AFL I
- Rampage Home Finale Sold Out - Grand Rapids Rampage
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
