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AFL I Arena Football League (1987-2008)

Showdown at "HP" Headlines Week Four

March 19, 2008 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I) News Release


NEW YORK - Matchups between elite conference powers, reunions and a possible ArenaBowl XXII preview highlight Week 4 in the Arena Football League as the Mitsubishi Motors Drive to ArenaBowl XXII New Orleans spotlights HP Pavilion in San Jose.

The Dallas Desperados (3-0), No. 1 in the AFLWA rankings all season, travel to HP Pavilion to face the defending ArenaBowl champion San Jose SaberCats (2-1), No. 5, in a possible preview of ArenaBowl XXII on Saturday, March 22, at 10:30 p.m. ET (FSN Southwest - Live, FSN Bay Area - Delay, 3/23 at 12:30 p.m. PT).

Something's got to give when these two powers meet. Dallas has won 11 consecutive regular-season games, including five on the road, and look to end San Jose's 15-game home winning streak with a victory.

Dallas QB CHRIS SANDERS completed 24-of-44 passes for 273 yards with four touchdowns through the air and two on the ground as the Desperados defeated the Colorado Crush, 51-40, on Monday night.

The SaberCats are 2-0 all-time against Dallas at home, and look to continue its two-game winning streak after defeating the Arizona Rattlers (1-2) 63-43 on Saturday.

QB MARK GRIEB completed 20-of-25 passes for 267 yards with eight touchdowns and one interception as San Jose defeated the Desperados, 83-71, in their last meeting.

The Chicago Rush (2-1), No. 4, welcomes division rival Colorado (1-1), No. 9, to Allstate Arena on Saturday, March 22, at 8 p.m. ET (FSN Rocky Mountain - Live, CSN Chicago - Live, AFL NET). The two teams have claimed the Mitsubishi Motors Central Division Championship the last four years.

This meeting marks WR DAMIAN HARRELL'S first game against his former team. He spent five seasons in Colorado, a tenure that included two Offensive Player of the Year awards. He needs two receiving touchdowns to pass EDDIE BROWN (303) and become the all-time leader with 304 career.

WR/DB DENNISON ROBINSON registered a team-high eight tackles, one interception and one fumble recovery as the Rush defense held Colorado's offense to 15 second half points to secure its eighth consecutive regular-season home victory with the 59-48 win in Week 10 last season.

The Crush hopes to bounce back from its 51-40 defeat to Dallas on Monday and claim its first victory at Allstate Arena since Week 7 of the 2006 season.

Chicago swept Colorado for only the second time in team history last season and is 5-2 at home against division opponents since 2006.

The Orlando Predators (1-2), No. 11, host the Georgia Force (1-2), No. 10, at Amway Arena on Saturday, March 22, at 7:30 p.m. ET (CSS - Live, AFL NET) in a Mitsubishi Motors Southern Division matchup.

Georgia QB CHRIS GREISEN completed 27-of-37 passes for 322 yards and eight touchdowns with one interception as the Force defeated the Predators, 55-44, in Week 16.

Greisen completed 26-of-41 passes for 366 yards and seven touchdowns as Georgia's defense held Los Angeles to seven first-half points on its way to a 58-34 victory on Saturday.

Led by QB SHANE STAFFORD, Orlando converted on 10-of-11 offensive possessions en route to a 69-61 victory over the Utah Blaze (0-3) on Friday. The 69-point output marks the Predators highest since Week 9 of 2007.

Georgia is 4-2 all-time in Orlando and swept the Predators in 2007 for the first time in team history.

The Los Angeles Avengers (2-1), No. 8, welcome the Philadelphia Soul (3-0), No. 2, to the STAPLES Center on Thursday, March 20, at 10:30 p.m. ET (CSN Philadelphia - Live, FSN Prime Ticket - Delay at 10 p.m. PT).

The game is the Soul's first ever trip to Los Angeles and marks the return of WR CHRIS JACKSON, who became the first and only player in Avenger history to be named both Rookie of the Year (2000) and Offensive Player of the Year (2003).

Philadelphia DB EDDIE MOTEN notched a game-high nine-and-a-half tackles, one interception and one pass defensed as the Soul defeated Los Angeles, 47-33, in the only meeting between the two teams last season.

With a win, the Soul can begin its second consecutive season 4-0 while the Avengers can begin its season 3-1 for the second time in team history (2003).

This week's other games include: Cleveland at New Orleans on Friday; Columbus at Utah on Friday (KJZZ Local - Live, AFL NET); New York at Arizona on Friday; and Grand Rapids at Kansas City on Monday (KSMO Local - Live). BYE: Tampa Bay



Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from March 19, 2008


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