AFL I Arena Football League (1987-2008)

Saturday Game Recaps

Published on July 21, 2002 under Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I) News Release


LOS ANGELES 46, Buffalo 41 (14,427)

LOS ANGELES (Ticker) -- TONY GRAZIANI threw for four touchdowns and ran in another to help the Los Angeles Avengers defeat the Buffalo Destroyers, 46-41, Saturday night.

Graziani, who sealed the victory with a two-yard run with 1:18 remaining in the contest, completed 23-of-30 passes for 251 yards and threw one interception for Los Angeles (8-6). He found CHRIS JACKSON eight times for 87 yards and a score and Greg Hopkins twice in the end zone en route to his second MVP award of the season.

The Avengers never trailed in the contest and improved to 7-1 against non-division opponents.

JEFF LOOTS finished 19-of-32 for 253 yards and five touchdowns for Buffalo (6-8), which lost its fourth in a row. He connected with LAMONT COOPER nine times for 103 yards, twice for scores. Cooper also ran back six kickoffs for 136 yards.

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Orlando 44, DALLAS 41 (16,300)

DALLAS (Ticker) -- JAY GRUDEN found Cliff Dell for a 45-yard touchdown pass with six seconds remaining in the contest to push the Orlando Predators past the Dallas Desperados Saturday night with their playoff-clinching 44-41 victory.

Gruden, the game's MVP, overcame three interceptions and finished 21-of-39 for 289 yards with five touchdowns for Orlando (7-7), which entered the game with the best defense in the league (234.6 yards allowed per game).

Dell, who ran in a one-yard score to open the third quarter and give the Predators a 24-13 lead, finished with five catches for a game-high 112 yards and three scores.

With the victory, Orlando, which has won three of its last four contests, clinched the Southern Division title.

JASON WELLS, who made three field goals in the contest, missed a 48-yard attempt wide-left as time expired to seal the loss for Dallas (7-7). ANDY KELLY completed 21-of-35 passes for 205 yards and threw for four scores. He found ANDY MCCULLOUGH six times for 70 yards and DANNY THOMAS twice for scores in the fourth quarter, the final time giving the Desperados a 41-38 advantage with 4:19 remaining.

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Indiana 51, CHICAGO 41 (8,544)

ROSEMONT, Ill. (AP) - LEROY THOMPSON rushed for five touchdowns, including three in the fourth quarter, as the Indiana Firebirds handed the Chicago Rush their first home loss of the season, 51-41 Saturday night.

Despite the loss, the Rush finished the season with a 9-5 record and open the Arena League playoffs at home as the No. 3 seed during the quarterfinal round.

The Firebirds took a 37-30 lead with 12 minutes left when quarterback RAYMOND PHILYAW powered across from the 1-yard line. Indiana went up 44-33 after Rush quarterback BILLY DICKEN threw an interception and Thompson scored on a 9-yard run.

But Dicken brought the Rush within three on the next possession, throwing a 10-yard TD pass to LINDSAY FLESHMAN and completing the two-point conversion.

Thompson ran for another TD with 7 seconds remaining to finish the scoring.

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TAMPA BAY 67, Georgia 61 OT (12,097)

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) - DAVID WHITE ran for two touchdowns, including one in overtime as the Tampa Bay Storm beat the Georgia Force 67-61 Saturday night.

DAN CURRAN also scored two rushing touchdowns as Georgia (6-8) fell into a tie for third in the Southern Division with Tampa Bay (6-8).

Tampa Bay's ANTOINE TOLIVER returned two kickoffs for touchdowns and nearly ran back two more. Georgia quarterback DONNIE DAVIS threw for four touchdowns.

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Arizona 53, NEW JERSEY 45 (6,341)

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) - CHRIS HORN returned a fumble 19 yards for one of his four touchdowns Saturday night as Arizona Rattlers clinched the No. 2 seed in the Arena Football League playoffs with a 53-45 victory over the New Jersey Gladiators.

STEVE VIDETICH's extra-point streak ended at 76. He missed another late in the fourth quarter, which would've tied it.

Horn gave the Rattlers (11-3) a 31-29 lead with 10:55 left in the third quarter when he recovered a fumble by quarterback JAY MCDONAGH and returned it for a touchdown. Horn also rushed for two touchdowns and caught another.

SEDRICK ROBINSON's third touchdown of the game pulled the Gladiators (9-5) within one at 46-45 before Videtich missed his second extra-point attempt of the game.

MIKE HORACEK caught 11 passes for 121 yards for New Jersey, which goes into the playoffs as the fourth seed.

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TODAY'S GAME

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SAN JOSE SABERCATS (12-1) AT CAROLINA COBRAS (6-7), 2:00 P.M. ET, Entertainment & Sports Arena (ESA) -- Despite the loss and the end of their quest for a perfect season, the SaberCats can still set a record for most victories for a single regular season with 13. (TV: The New TNN - Eli Gold, Charles Davis, Jill Arrington)

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PLAYOFF PICTURE - Entering Today's Game

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Based on today's outcome, here's how the playoff seeds will break down. Twelve (12) teams advance to the postseason; the top four seeds would receive a BYE in the first round. (* Denotes Division Winner.)

IF SAN JOSE WINS:
y-1. SAN JOSE *(13-1)
y-2. ARIZONA (11-3)
y-3. CHICAGO * (9-5)
y-4. NEW JERSEY * (9-5)
x-5. Los Angeles (8-6)
x-6. Grand Rapids (8-6)
x-7. Orlando * (7-7)
x-8. Dallas (7-7)
x-9. Indiana (7-7)
x-10. Buffalo (6-8)
x-11. Carolina (6-8)
x-12. Tampa Bay (6-8)
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z-13. Georgia (6-8)
z-14. Toronto (5-9)
z-15. New York (3-11)
z-16. Detroit (1-13)

IF CAROLINA WINS:
y-1. SAN JOSE *(12-2)
y-2. ARIZONA (11-3)
y-3. CHICAGO * (9-5)
y-4. NEW JERSEY * (9-5)
x-5. Los Angeles (8-6)
x-6. Grand Rapids (8-6)
x-7. Orlando * (7-7)
x-8. Carolina (7-7)
x-9. Dallas (7-7)
x-10. Indiana (7-7)
x-11. Georgia (6-8)
x-12. Buffalo (6-8)
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z-13. Tampa Bay (6-8)
z-14. Toronto (5-9)
z-15. New York (3-11)
z-16. Detroit (1-13)

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Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from July 21, 2002


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