AFL I Arena Football League (1987-2008)

Rivalry Adds Another Chapter

Published on March 12, 2003 under Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I) News Release


NEW YORK – Separated by 85 miles of highway, the intense rivalry between Tampa Bay and Orlando heats up this Sunday on NBC at noon ET. In their last meeting on February 9, JAY GRUDEN passed for 330 yards and six touchdowns as the Predators edged the Storm, 54-51.

Heading into their second regular-season match this Sunday, Orlando will be guided by capable backup CONNELL MAYNOR. Gruden suffered an ankle sprain in Week 4 and Maynor stepped in, leading the Predators to three consecutive wins, an undefeated record and the top position in the Southern Division.

In his 10th season, Maynor is only 29 rushing yards away from becoming the first player in AFL history to record more than 500 yards in three different offensive categories: passing, rushing and receiving.

With three players on pace for 1,000-plus receiving-yard performances this season, Orlando shows no signs of letting down. Rookies TRAVIS MCGRIFF and THABITI DAVIS are joined by veteran CORY FLEMING in this trio of top-notch receivers.

The Storm's third-ranked defense is tough on their home turf inside St. Pete Times Forum. Tampa Bay – 3-0 at home – has allowed opponents to score an average of only 35.7 points at the Forum. Meanwhile, the Storm are averaging 58.0 points per home game.

Since their first meeting in 1991, history has proven this matchup to be one of the AFL's exciting every season. In 25 regular-season meetings, the two teams have evenly split all contests with a dozen apiece. Facing off six times in the postseason, the Predators have four wins over the Storm. With six AFL championships between them, these two teams have tangled in two ArenaBowls -- Tampa Bay won ArenaBowl IX in 1995 and Orlando was the victor in ArenaBowl XII in 1998. Overall, the scoring-differential in their 31 combined games is only 18 points, advantage Tampa Bay (1,286 to 1,268).

Other games for Week 7 include: Buffalo Destroyers at San Jose SaberCats on Friday; Carolina Cobras at Georgia Force on Saturday; New York Dragons at Detroit Fury (NBC), Los Angeles Avengers at Indiana Firebirds, Grand Rapids Rampage at Dallas Desperados, Colorado Crush at Arizona Rattlers (NBC), Chicago Rush at Las Vegas Gladiators on Sunday.

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BUFFALO DESTROYERS (3-3) AT SAN JOSE SABERCATS (4-2)
FRIDAY, MARCH 14 AT 10:30 P.M. ET
(TV: EMPIRE SPORTS NETWORK – JIM BRINSON and BOB TRIMBLE)

Now his ninth AFL season, Buffalo QB JEFF LOOTS' only start against San Jose came in last year 63-35 loss, but is 2-2 as a starter this season. Buffalo's leading receiver, OS GUNNARD TWYNER, has recorded at least four receptions in all six games this season. The Destroyers are 1-0 against teams in the Western Division in 2003 (defeated Arizona 49-45 in Week 3). The SaberCats have won their last their last three games by a combined score of 223-126. They have scored at least 71 points in those games. Dating back to the 2001 regular season, the SaberCats have scored at least 50 points in 24 of their last 26 games – and scored 49 points in the two games they didn't make that mark. During their current winning streak, SaberCats have recorded 14 rushing touchdowns, the most by any team. San Jose is 24 of 24 once they are in the red zone (10-yards and in). In three career games against Buffalo, San Jose QB MARK GRIEB has completed 60 of 84 passes for 875 yards, 19 touchdowns and no interceptions. He is 3-0 and was named MVP in all three meetings. Six-time Ironman of the Year BARRY WAGNER currently has 254 receiving touchdowns in his career – No. 2 all-time to Indiana's EDDIE BROWN (292). The longest touchdown reception (47 yards) of his 11-year career came against Buffalo (July 22, 2000).

CAROLINA COBRAS (0-6) AT GEORGIA FORCE (4-2) SATURDAY, MARCH 15 AT 7:30 P.M. ET

With the arrival of QB RON LOPEZ, Carolina moves QB/OS ROBERT HALL to the offensive specialist spot. Starting OS BEN BRONSON (25 receptions and 202 yards in four games) was placed on injured reserve. In his first season with the Cobras WR/DB BERNARD HOLMES has picked up his game by recording three of the Cobras top five all-purpose yards performances. Holmes has tallied 803 all-purpose yards in his last three games. During Georgia's current two-game winning streak, QB DONNIE DAVIS has completed 45 of 61 passes for 558 yards, nine touchdowns and no interceptions. OS MARKEITH COOPER has emerged as the "go-to" receiver for MARTY LOWE's offense with two straight 100-yard reception games.

NEW YORK DRAGONS (0-6) AT DETROIT FURY (3-3)
SUNDAY, MARCH 16 AT NOON ET
(TV: NBC – ELI GOLD and CHARLES DAVIS)

When the Dragons travel to the Palace at Auburn Hills to the face the Fury, two of the AFL's top quarterbacks will battle in a heated race for 500 passing touchdowns – Detroit's ANDY KELLY (493) and New York's AARON GARCIA (488). Kelly faces the Dragons' 14th-ranked pass defense (281.2 yards/game, 35 touchdowns) with a stocked receiving corps led by MARCUS NASH, who has reined in six touchdown receptions in his last two contests. The Detroit line – led by CURTIS EASON and JON MCCALL – has provided Kelly with effective pass protection, allowing just one sack this season. The team's 4th-down conversion rate ranks third-best overall (tie, 71.4 percent). The Fury defense, guided by DS/KR RON CARPENTER (32.0 tackles, one interception, five pass breakups), holds the fourth position for top red-zone defenses, allowing opponents to score on 22-of-27 attempts (81.5 percent). Boasting the League's best offense (329.3 yards/game) and fourth-ranked red zone offense (20-of-21 attempts, 95.2 percent), Garcia and the Dragons are hungry for their first win this season. On pace to throw for 117 touchdowns and 5,355 yards, Garcia has many targets in his sights, including MIKE FURREY, who is the AFL's No. 2 scorer (118 points) and recorded eight touchdown catches in his last two games. DAMIEN GROCE has also made his end zone presence known in his last two outings, with three of his six receptions good for scores.

LOS ANGELES AVENGERS (4-2) AT INDIANA FIREBIRDS (3-3)
SUNDAY, MARCH 16 AT NOON ET

Indiana looks to reverse the trend as they have lost three in a row. The Firebirds are 3-0 in games that QB RAYMOND PHILYAW starts and finishes. With Philyaw's status uncertain for this weekend, Indiana Head Coach MIKE DAILEY might look to rookie QB JOSE DAVIS (16-for-21, 166 yards, 2 TDs and 1 INT) who made his AFL debut in the second quarter of last week's game in Orlando. Los Angeles Head Coach ED HODGKISS and WR/LB GREG HOPKINS make their second appearance against their former team. The Firebirds won that game on a last-second field goal 56-53 in Week 13 of the 2002 season. Hopkins, who is the defending Ironman of the Year, scored three touchdowns in their last meeting. Indiana's EDDIE BROWN has caught at least one reception in every AFL game he has played – a span of 107 regular season games. Avenger QB TONY GRAZIANI threw for 355 in last week's victory over New York. It was the second time the former Oregon Duck has passed for over 300 yards this season. The Avengers are 2-0 in those games.

ORLANDO PREDATORS (6-0) AT TAMPA BAY STORM (4-2)
SUNDAY, MARCH 9, NOON ET
(TV: NBC – TOM HAMMOND, PAT HADEN and LEWIS JOHNSON)

As the only undefeated team, the Predators have a big bull's eye on their backs and the Storm are taking aim. Orlando holds the advantage in this storied regular-season rival series, 13-12. When Orlando makes the short drive to face Tampa Bay on Sunday, they'll be met by the AFL's winningest coach TIM MARCUM and his third-ranked defense (255.3 YPG). The Storm defense – led by COREY SAWYER – has out-intercepted their opponent 9 to 5 through Week 6 and have allowed opponents to advance on 4th-down in just one of eight attempts. Guided by JOHN KALEO, Tampa Bay's fourth-ranked pass offense (268.3 YPG) is clicking on all cylinders, averaging 58 points in their three consecutive wins off of the feats of the Storms' top two scorers FREDDIE SOLOMON and LAWRENCE SAMUELS. The Predators defense will be on the prowl on Sunday, with KENNY MCENTYRE (35.0 tackles, 2 INTs, 8 pass breakups) and REGGIE DOSTER (32.0 tackles, 2 pass breakups) patrolling the backfield. The Predators hold the second-best turnover margin (+8), lead the League in sacks with 13, and own the No. 3 scoring defense. CONNELL MAYNOR continues to be an ultimate weapon for Orlando, capable passing (13 TDs) or rushing (3 TDs). A trio of targets for Maynor – TRAVIS MCGRIFF, CORY FLEMING and THABITI DAVIS – are each on pace to break the 1,000 receiving-yard barrier this season, a first in team history.

GRAND RAPIDS RAMPAGE (4-2) AT DALLAS DESPERADOS (4-2)
SUNDAY, MARCH 16 AT 4 P.M. ET

Grand Rapids QB CLINT DOLEZEL and Dallas QB JIM KUBIAK battle for first place in the Central Division as the two go head-to-head in an old fashion shootout in Texas. Kubiak has 20 touchdowns, two interceptions and has completed at least 70-percent of his passes during the last three games. "Dueling duos" will also take center stage – Grand Rapids' TERRILL SHAW and STEVE SMITH against Dallas' DIALLEO BURKS and ANDY MCCULLOUGH. During the Desperados current two-game winning streak, McCullough and Burks have combined for 33 receptions, 355 yards and seven touchdowns. Grand Rapids' Shaw is one of the hottest receivers in the AFL by recording 24 receptions for 324 yards and 13 touchdowns in the last three games. Shaw has caught at least two touchdowns in his last five games. Sunday's game in Dallas will make the 20th Arena Football League game for in the state of Texas for Dolezel. The Texas native has completed 451 passes on 700 attempts, for 5,817 yards, 109 touchdowns and 24 interceptions in the Lone Star State.

COLORADO CRUSH (1-5) AT ARIZONA RATTLERS (3-3)
SUNDAY, MARCH 16, 6 P.M. ET
(TV: NBC – MIKE BREEN, RAY BENTLEY and MARTY SNIDER)

A Western Division rival destined to become one of best in the AFL. Colorado QB JOHN DUTTON led last year's ArenaBowl champion San Jose SaberCats to a 52-14 victory over Arizona. Dutton has played in four games against the Rattlers in his career (58-for-96, 687 yards, 12 TDs and 2 INTs) He is 2-0 as a starter in those games. Colorado OS DAMIAN HARRELL has played one game against Arizona (7 receptions, 115 yards and 2 TDs). Crush DS/KR ANTHONY DERRICKS averages 196.5 return yards in games against Arizona (393 yards in two games). Derricks had a 56-yard touchdown return in one of those games (May 4, 2002). Arizona OS CHRIS HORN has caught at least two touchdowns and is averaging eight receptions in each of his last four games. Rattlers WR/DB RANDY GATEWOOD earned ADT Defensive Player of the Week honors last week with his third two-interception game of the season in the victory over Detroit. Gatewood's next multiple-interception game will tie him for No. 2 on the all-time single-season list (Chicago's DAMEON PORTER is No. 1 with five multiple-interception games during the 2001 season.)

CHICAGO RUSH (2-4) AT LAS VEGAS GLADIATORS (3-3)
SUNDAY, MARCH 16, 6 P.M. ET

Chicago and Las Vegas met last season at Allstate Arena with the Rush scoring a 44-14 victory over the Gladiators. It was the season-low for points allowed by the Rush as the Gladiators only scored in the second quarter. Chicago OS ANTONIO CHATMAN led the Rush in last week's loss to San Jose by racking up 333 all-purpose yards. Chatman had 263 combined return yards, including a 57-yard touchdown return, to set a Rush record. Rush OL/DL JOHN MOYER has recorded sacks in each of the last two contests. With his 3.0 sacks this season, Moyer becomes the Rush's all-time leader. Las Vegas WR/DB SEDRICK ROBINSON's 53-yard kickoff return for a touchdown was the 10th of his career. The Gladiators' line has given up only four sacks – tied for No. 4 in the AFL.

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Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from March 12, 2003


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