Storied Rivalries Highlight Semifinals

June 4, 2003 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I) News Release

In the other Semifinal contest, the No. 3 Orlando Predators will face the No. 2 Tampa Bay Storm at St. Pete Times Forum on Saturday at 3 p.m. ET on NBC.

The all-time series between Arizona and San Jose is tied at 9-9. Both teams are averaging 69.5 and 69.0 points per game, respectively, in the postseason – No. 1 and 2 in the AFL. The SaberCats are coming off a 69-48 victory over the No. 12 Georgia Force in the Quarterfinals. San Jose WR/DB KEVIN MC KENZIE earned Offensive Player of the Week honors with his six-touchdown (three receiving, two rushing and one kick return) performance. Head coach DARREN ARBET has his offense (60.4 average, No. 1 in AFL during the regular season) clicking at the right time as the SaberCats are on a six-game winning streak.

All-Arena First-Team QB SHERDRICK BONNER (67.0 completion percentage, 88 touchdowns in the regular season) guides the AFL's most efficient offense (76.0 scoring percentage) along with Ironman of the Year and All-Arena First-Team member WR/DB RANDY GATEWOOD (69 receptions, 32 touchdowns and nine interceptions in the regular season). Led by the play of RICKY PARKER, FRANK TRENTADUE and TIM CROFF, the Rattlers defense has held opponents to an AFL-low 48.1 scoring efficiency in the postseason.

On the east coast, Tampa Bay head coach TIM MARCUM has 10-year veteran JOHN KALEO (62.5 percent passing and six touchdowns in the postseason) guiding the offense in an effort to give the Storm its first return appearance to the ArenaBowl since 1998. Kaleo's main targets are OS FREDDIE SOLOMON (106 receptions and 28 touchdowns in the regular season) and Second-Team All-Arena and All-Ironman member WR/LB LAWRENCE SAMUELS (77 receptions and 18 touchdowns in the regular season).

Orlando QB JAY GRUDEN will face a franchise that he had helped lead to four ArenaBowl titles – ArenaBowl V, VII, IX and X. This postseason, Gruden will have weapons like WR/LB CORY FLEMING, All-Rookie Team member WR/LB THABITI DAVIS and Rookie of the Year OS TRAVIS MC GRIFF. The trio has combined for 240 receptions, 3,201 yards and 66 touchdowns during the regular season.

NO. 3 ORLANDO PREDATORS (13-4) AT NO. 2 TAMPA BAY STORM (13-4)
SATURDAY, JUNE 7, 3 P.M. ET (TV: NBC – MIKE BREEN, RAY BENTLEY, DAVID BURNS and MARTY SNIDER)

The final step in the Drive to ArenaBowl XVII will begin this Saturday at 3 p.m. ET on NBC when the No. 3 Orlando Predators travel to the St. Pete Times Forum to face the No. 2 Tampa Bay Storm in a semifinal showdown. The Storm and Predators, both members of the AFL's Southern Division, have met twice already this season. Orlando secured a home victory during Week 2 of the regular season, 54-51. In turn, the Storm won at home 52-32 in their second meeting on March 16. Orlando head coach FRAN PAPASEDERO has the No. 1 defensive unit in the AFL allowing only 41.9 points per game. Led by veteran DS KENNY MCENTYRE (three interceptions in last four games) and second-year standout WR/DB REGGIE DOSTER (80.0 tackles during regular season), who had a combined three interceptions and 10.5 tackles in the quarterfinal victory over New York. The Predator offense is led by AFL Hall of Famer, QB JAY GRUDEN (60-percent pass completion rating in playoff career) who is No. 2 all-time for playoff passing yards (3,441) and passing touchdowns (71). Orlando WR/LB CORY FLEMING (33 receptions for 540 yards and 14 touchdowns in last five games) has played in nine playoff games in his career and recorded 60 catches for 747 yards and 20 touchdowns. Tampa Bay head coach TIM MARCUM is a six-time ArenaBowl champion (four with the Detroit Drive; two with Tampa Bay Storm) and hopes for a seventh this season. The Storm claim the No. 2 defense in the AFL led by DS OMARR SMITH (22.0 tackles in last five games). The Tampa Bay offense is led by 10-year veteran QB JOHN KALEO (20-of-32 for 269 yards and six touchdowns in last week's quarterfinal victory over Detroit) and OS FREDDIE SOLOMON (13 touchdowns in last five games.

NO. 6 ARIZONA RATTLERS (12-6) AT NO. 1 SAN JOSE SABERCATS (13-4)
SUNDAY, JUNE 8, 5:30 P.M. ET (TV: NBC – TOM HAMMOND, PAT HADEN and LEWIS JOHNSON)

The No. 6 Arizona Rattlers are looking to secure a trip to ArenaBowl XVII with this weekend's Semifinal matchup against the No.1 San Jose SaberCats. This will mark the third time the two teams meet in the postseason and the first time meeting in the semifinal round. San Jose leads 2-0 in the postseason against Arizona. With a win this weekend, the SaberCats – defending ArenaBowl XVI champions – will secure the location for ArenaBowl XVII. Arizona QB SHERDRICK BONNER has completed 73-of-112 passes (65-percent) for 930 yards and 23 touchdowns and one interception in the Rattler's last four winning contests. The AFL veteran's 21-game playoff career efforts have put him atop the all-time playoff lists for career passing attempts (643), pass completions (387), passing touchdowns (88) and passing yards gained (4,850). Last week against Los Angeles, Bonner passed for seven touchdowns – tying the all-time record for most touchdown passes in a postseason game – only the second time the feat has been accomplished since 2000. Arizona WR/LB HUNKIE COOPER boasts the No. 1 all-time career postseason record for all-purpose yards with his 50 rushing yards, 1,356 receiving yards, 185 field goal return yards and 2,011 kickoff return yards – a total of 3,632 all-purpose yards. San Jose enters this weekend's game fresh off of a six-game winning streak. QB MARK GRIEB has completed 83-of-132 passes (63-percent) for 1,093 yards and 17 touchdowns and four interceptions in his last four games. OS JAMES HUNDON recorded 11 receptions for 184 yards against Georgia, breaking BOBBY OLIVE's postseason record for most yards gained in a game (183). WR/DB KEVIN MC KENZIE tied the all-time record for longest kickoff return with his 57-yard kick return last weekend against Georgia – the longest in his AFL career.

• Discuss this story on the Arena Football League (1987-2008) message board...

Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from June 4, 2003

• Semifinal Injury Report - AFL I
• Storied Rivalries Highlight Semifinals - AFL I
• The Deuce Scoop - AFL I
• San Jose SaberCats Playoff Game Notes - San Jose SaberCats
• Desperados QB Kubiak Signs with Indianapolis Colts - Dallas Desperados
• Clay Rush Signs with New York Jets - Albany/Indiana Firebirds
• AFL Names Ironman of the Year - AFL I

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.