AFL I Arena Football League (1987-2008)

Rattlers showed more bite in March

March 31, 2006 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I) News Release


NEW YORK - The Arizona Rattlers (5-4) have won four consecutive games to take over first place in the AFL's Western Division and seek their third consecutive divisional win on Sunday in San Jose against the SaberCats (3-6). Arizona won 47-33 at Las Vegas in Week 8 and 58-45 vs. Los Angeles last week to take sole possession of the division's top spot.

Arizona began the season with three straight loses (at Los Angeles, vs. Austin, vs. San Jose) before winning five of the next six to post a 5-4 record.

The Rattlers have improved their scoring 45.2 percent in the last four weeks and have scored at least 47 points in each of the last four games after reaching that mark just once in their first five games (58-50 loss to San Jose on February 12).

QB SHERDRICK BONNER, who missed Week 2 action due to injury, threw for 1,027 yards with 15 touchdowns in his first four games. He improved those totals to 1,106 yards and 24 touchdowns in the last four. WR/DB RANDY GATEWOOD scored four touchdowns in Weeks 1-5 before upping his production to eight between Weeks 6-9. Gatewood also has earned Ironman of the Week honors in three of the last four weeks.

Following is a comparison between Arizona's first five games (1-4) and their last four (4-0):

AVG. PTS SCORED AVG. PTS ALLOWED AVG. YDSGAINED TURNOVER MARGIN
Games 1-5 37.2 46.2 257.6 -5
Games 6-9 54.0 46.0 287.8 +3

WEEK 10 FRIDAY INJURY REPORT

***AS REPORTED TO THE LEAGUE OFFICE BY NOON ET ON FRIDAY, MARCH 31, 2006***

AUSTIN WRANGLERS (6-3) AT PHILADELPHIA SOUL (5-4) - Friday, 7:00 p.m. ETTV: None
Austin DOUBTFUL OL/DL Tom Briggs (Knee); WR/LB Darrin Chiaverini (Abdomen); OL/DL DeAngelo Lloyd (Knee)
QUESTIONABLE WR/LB Sir Mawn (Back)
PROBABLE FB/LB Dane Krager (Shoulder)

Philadlephia DOUBTFUL OL/DL Cecil Caldwell (Knee); WR/LB J.J. McKelvey (Ankle); FB/LB Darnell Small (Knee)
QUESTIONABLE OL/DL E.J. Burt (Shoulder)
PROBABLE WR/DB Rob Milanese (Foot)


GRAND RAPIDS RAMPAGE (3-6) AT NEW YORK DRAGONS (5-4) - Saturday, 7:00 p.m. ETTV: FSN Detroit, FSN New York
Grand Rapids OUT OL/DL Colin Bryant (Knee); OL/DL Jason Ferguson (Knee)
DOUBTFUL OS Aaron Bailey (Neck); QB Jose Davis (Shoulder); OL/DL Yusuf Scott (Achilles tendon); OL/DL Teto Simpson (Calf)
QUESTIONABLE OL/DL Nate Bell (Knee); DS Jo Jo Polk (Neck/Head)
PROBABLE OL/DL Jason Berger (Quad); OL/DL Mike Lawson (Groin)

New York DOUBTFUL WR/LB Chris Anthony (L Hamstring); QB Aaron Garcia (R Lower Leg); FB/LB Jeremiah Pharms (R Shoulder); DS Dahnel Singfield (L Hamstring); WR/DB Matthew Thomas (L Ankle); QB Juston Wood (Knee)
PROBABLE FB/LB Bruce Blue (R Knee/Ankle); FB/LB Joe Massey (R Shoulder); OL/DL Steve Scifres (R Shoulder)

UTAH BLAZE (3-6) AT TAMPA BAY STORM (5-4) - Saturday, 7:30 p.m. ETTV: FSN Utah, FSN Florida
Utah OUT OL/DL Garrett Smith (Back)
DOUBTFUL DS Kevin Moffett (Hamstring)
QUESTIONABLE QB Joe Germaine (Finger)
PROBABLE WR/LB Ryan Dennard (Hamstring); WR/LB Sale Key (Ankle)

Tampa Bay OUT WR/LB Ronney Daniels (L Hamstring); DS Jeff Sanchez (L Midfoot Sprain); OL/DL Rod Williams (L Achilles); OL/DL Greg Taplin (R Shoulder)
DOUBTFUL OL/DL Buck Gurley (L Shoulder); WR/DB Leroy Smith (Ankle);
PROBABLE OL/DL Mondre Dickerson (R Knee); FB/LB Jarrod Penright (R Trapezius); OL/DL Nyle Wiren (R Ankle)

COLUMBUS DESTROYERS (5-4) AT DALLAS DESPERADOS (7-2) - Saturday, 7:30 p.m. ETTV: FSN Ohio (tape delay time TBD), FSN Southwest
Columbus OUT FB/LB Chris Browning (Neck); WR/DB Henry Douglas (Leg)
DOUBTFUL WR/DB Ira Gooch (Knee); OL/DL Hardy Mitchell (Knee)
PROBABLE DS Cecil Doggette (Knee); OL/DL Juan Porter (Shoulder); FB/LB Leroy Thompson (Ankle)

Dallas DOUBTFUL OL/DL Norris McCleary (Knee); WR/LB Jason Shelley (Calf)
QUESTIONABLE DS Hamin Milligan (Chest)
PROBABLE FB/LB Merrill Robertson (Back); OL/DL Daleroy Stewart (Hand)

GEORGIA FORCE (5-4) AT KANSAS CITY BRIGADE (1-8) - Saturday, 8:00 p.m. ETTV: FSN South (tape delay at 8:00 p.m. ET), FSN Midwest
Georgia OUT WR/LB Chris Johnson (Knee); OL/DL Marcus Keys (Knee)
DOUBTFUL FB/LB Matt Huebner (Back); WR/DB Earthwind Moreland (Ankle); OL/DL Dary Myricks (Hip Flexor); OL/DL Prentice Purnell (Knee)
QUESTIONABLE WR/DB Ricky Parker (Knee)

Kansas City OUT WR/LB Nathan Black (Knee); FB/LB Chris Morant (Shoulder); FB/LB Dawan Moss (Ankle); WR/DB Jacques Rumph (Knee)
DOUBTFUL DS Cliff Green (Achilles); OL/DL Mike Landry (Ankle); OL/DL Chad Pegues (Knee); QB Chris Sanders (Knee); OS Sam Simmons (Lumbar)
PROBABLE FB/LB Jeremy Beutler (Shoulder); DS Denario Smalls (Elbow)


NASHVILLE KATS (6-3) AT COLORADO CRUSH (6-3) - Saturday, 9:00 p.m. ETTV: FSN South (tape delay at 11 p.m. ET), FSN Rocky Mountain, INHD
Nashville OUT DS Chris Angel (L Knee); WR/LB Jermaine Lewis (R Hamstring)
DOUBTFUL OL/DL Ronald Jones (Elbow)
QUESTIONABLE DS Jermaine Mays (R Hamstring); QB Clint Stoerner (Knee)
PROBABLE WR/LB Darryl Hammond (L Knee)

Colorado OUT OL/DL Chris Berg (Back); OL/DL Craig Heimburger (Thumb Sprain); FB/LB Rich Young (L Knee)
DOUBTFUL WR/DB Evan Hlavacek (L Ankle)
QUESTIONABLE OL/DL Aaron Johnson (L Knee);
PROBABLE FB/LB Anthony Dunn (R Leg); OL/DL Chris Watton (L Calf); OL/DL Seante Williams (L Knee)

CHICAGO RUSH (4-5) AT ORLANDO PREDATORS (5-4) - Sunday, Noon ETTV: NBC
Chicago DOUBTFUL OL/DL D.J. Bleisath (L Ankle); FB/LB Levelle Brown (R Shoulder); DS Tony Lukins (L Hamstring/R Ankle); OL/DL John Moyer (R Knee MCL)
QUESTIONABLE WR/LB Etu Molden (L Knee)

Orlando OUT WR/DB Charlie Davidson (R Knee); WR/LB Cliff Dell (L Knee); OL/DL Doug Miller (R Knee); FB/LB Idris Price (L Shoulder)
QUESTIONABLE WR/DB Lin-J Shell (R Quad/Knee)
PROBABLE OL/DL Justin Cleveland (R Quad/L Knee); OS Jimmy Fryzel (R Foot); OL/DL Greg Krause (L Shoulder); DS Kenny McEntyre (R Shoulder); FB/LB Kevin Nagle (R Great Toe)

ARIZONA RATTLERS (5-4) AT SAN JOSE SABERCATS (3-6) - Sunday, 6:00 p.m. ETTV: NBC
Arizona DOUBTFUL OL/DL Sebastian Barrie (L Shoulder); DS Wendell Davis (L Quad); OS Damien Groce (R Shoulder); OL/DL Anthony Hutch (L Great Toe); DS Corey Johnson (L Knee); WR/DB Darrell Jones (R Ankle); DS Clarence Lawson (L Hamstring); WR/DB Jeremiah Pope (Finger); WR/LB Wilson Thomas (L Elbow); OL/DL Mark Tucker (R Hamstring); FB/LB Steve Warren (L Bicep); WR/DB Talib Wise (L Ankle)
PROBABLE OL/DL Kelvin Ingram (R Calf)

San Jose OUT WR/DB Marquis Floyd (Quad/Groin); WR/DB Jason Geathers (Hamstring)
DOUBTFUL DS Rufus Brown (Wrist); WR/LB Fred Coleman (Ankle); OL/DL Alan Harper (Illness); OS Atnaf Harris (5th MT Stress Fracture); FB/LB Jajuan Huddleston (Finger); OL/DL Joe Jacobs (Back Spasms); QB Chris Lewis (Lower Back); OL/DL Chuck Reed (Knee); OS Calvin Schexnayder (Ankle); OL/DL Fitu Tu'ua (Finger); WR/DB Rodney Wright (Foot); OL/DL George Williams (Knee)
PROBABLE OL/DL Julius Gant (Quad); FB/LB Brian Johnson


LOS ANGELES AVENGERS (3-6) AT LAS VEGAS GLADIATORS (4-5) - Sunday, 6:00 p.m. ETTV: FSN Detroit, FSN Chicago
Los Angeles OUT OL/DL Maurice Anderson (L Ankle)
DOUBTFUL FB/LB Josh Jeffries (L Ankle)
QUESTIONABLE OS Kareem Kelly (R Quad); OL/DL Victor Leyva (R Quad); OL/DL Lavell Mann (L Ankle); OL/DL Reggie Rhodes (R Ankle); DS Ricky Sharpe (R Achilles); OL/DL Jason Stewart (R Foot); QB Kevin Thompson (R Ankle); WR/LB Rob Turner (L Knee)

Las Vegas OUT FB/LB Marlion Jackson (Knee)
DOUBTFUL OL/DL Paul LaQuerre (Finger); WR/DB Junior Lord (Toe)
QUESTIONABLE DS Chris Canty (Hamstring); WR/LB Joe Douglass (Groin); OL/DL Bryan Ray (R Ankle)
PROBABLE WR/LB Jamaine Blalock (R Calf); OL/DL Tupe Peko (Finger)



Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from March 31, 2006


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.


Sports Statistics from the Stats Crew
OurSports Central