Strickland is All-time af2 Passer

June 30, 2004 - arenafootball2 (af2)
Oklahoma City Yard Dawgz News Release


Oklahoma City , OK- Craig Strickland of the Oklahoma City Yard Dawgz took over the crown as the all-time af2 passer after recording the most passing yards in a game (319) in franchise history last week at Columbus. In Strickland's remarkable four year career in arenafootball2, he has thrown for 13,341 passing yards.

Strickland entered last week's game at Columbus 168 yards behind current Bossier City quarterback Sherard Poteete with 13,190 career passing yards. Poteete had a bye last week and now both the Dawgz and the Battlewings have played an even 12 games. Strickland passed Poteete after his record setting performance going 24-for-47 for 319 yards and six touchdowns last week against the Wardogs.

"The (passing) record doesn't just show the hard work," Strickland said. "it shows the quality of players and coaches that I have played with. I'm also lucky that I've been healthy and stayed on the field."

So far this season, Strickland has led the imposing Yard Dawgz to an 8-4 record completing 220-of-375 for 3,212 yards, 71 touchdowns and only seven interceptions. He is positioned in the top 3 of all major passing categories in the af2; pass rating (118.5), touchdown passes (71), passing yards (267.8), touchdown to interception ratio (10:1), and pass offense (264.9). He is also on pace to break to af2 record for touchdown passes in a season (93, Tony Zimmerman- Quad City, 2003).

The Dawgz offense, led by Strickland, is the highest-scoring team, not only in af2 (averaging 58.6 points per game), but in all of arena football, which is 46 teams combined with the 19 teams in the AFL. The Dawgz outscore the Los Angeles Avengers, who were the AFL's highest scoring team, averaging 56.5 points per game.

"Sparky McEwen runs the most explosive offense I've ever played with," Strickland said. "I am just a product of a really good system."

Yard Dawgz Head Coach Gary Reasons knows he has one of the best quarterbacks in the arena game and is delighted to have a chance to work with Strickland.

"Having a chance to work with Craig this season, it is apparent he has the skill to be one of the top notch quarterbacks in arena football," Reasons said. "With his performance, he has been consistent and that has allowed him to put up tremendous numbers."

Last season, Strickland led the Tulsa Talons to victory in the 2004 ArenaCup championship. He was awarded the ArenaCup Most Valuable Player for his spectacular performance completing 19-of-28 passes for 254 yards and five touchdowns and ran for two more scores in the championship game. Strickland posted remarkable overall numbers in 2003, passing for 3,717 yards with 83 touchdowns.

Strickland feels like the Yard Dawgz have better chemistry than the Talons of the past and believes there are similarities between the 2003 ArenaCup Champions and the Yard Dawgz.

"I am seeing some things that are real similar to last year's ArenaCup champion Talons team. We are gaining confidence week in and week out and I think we have a team that can definitely go all the way."

Strickland looks to enlarge his lead in passing yardage and extend the Dawgz home winning steak this week as the 1-10 Central Valley Coyotes come to the Dawg Pound. The Yard Dawgz are an undefeated 6-0 at the friendly confines of the Ford Center in Oklahoma City.

On July 3rd, the Yard Dawgz will pay tribute to local heroes during the Independence Weekend celebration. Also, for a limited time only, the Dawgz are offering a 4 for $40 deal. You can get 4 tickets to the game, 4 Hot Dawgz, 4 Pepsi's and 4 copies of The Oklahoman for the low price of $40. Call 228-3294 for further information.



arenafootball2 Stories from June 30, 2004


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