Sunday Game Recaps
June 24, 2002 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I) News Release
Buffalo 52, NEW JERSEY 45 (5,862)
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (Ticker) -- FRED MCNAIR threw for 306 yards and six touchdowns to lead the Buffalo Destroyers to first-place in the Eastern Division with a 52-45 victory over the New Jersey Gladiators.
McNair, who completed 19-of-35 passes, supplied Buffalo (6-4) with a 34-24 lead with 5:24 remaining in the third quarter on a 25-yard scoring pass to BRET COOPER. After New Jersey (6-4) cut the advantage to three at the end of the third, McNair responded with a 28-yard touchdown to CARLOS JAMES 1:35 into the fourth. He added a 19-yard touchdown to THOMAS BAILEY in the final two minutes for good measure. LAMONT COOPER finished with seven catches for 90 yards and a score and James reached the end zone twice for the Destroyers.
JAY MCDONAGH had 236 yards and five touchdowns for New Jersey, but threw two costly interceptions. He brought the Gladiators within seven points with 39 seconds left in the contest on a two-yard touchdown toss to DENNISON ROBINSON. McDonagh also had a scoring run midway through the fourth.
MIKE HORACEK had three touchdown catches in the first half and Robinson finished with 10 catches for 100 yards and two scores for the New Jersey, which surrendered more than 50 points to an opponent for just the second time in eight games.
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GRAND RAPIDS 42, Georgia 41 (8,475)
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (Ticker) -- BRIAN GOWINS' connected on an extra point attempt with no time remaining in the contest to lift the Grand Rapids Rampage over the Georgia Force, 42-41.
After CLINT DOLEZEL threw a 31-yard touchdown pass to STEVE SMITH to tie the score at 41-41 with no time left, Gowins converted his sixth extra-point kick of the contest to help Grand Rapids (6-4) snap a two-game losing streak. Last season's AFL Kicker of the Year, Gowins has connected on 87 percent (60-of-69) of his extra points this season.
Dolezel finished 21-of-38 with 250 yards, four touchdowns and a pair of interceptions for the Rampage. He threw a pair of touchdowns within the final 5:50 on the second quarter to supply Grand Rapids with a 28-15 lead at halftime.
GARY COMPTON had seven catches for 87 yards and two touchdowns and CHRIS RYAN added a pair of scoring runs, including a 2-yard rush early in the final quarter, for the Rampage.
DONNIE DAVIS, who finished with 257 yards and four touchdowns, rallied Georgia (4-6) in the second half with four scores. His 9-yard pass to TYRONNE JONES with 4:57 remaining in the fourth tied the score at 35-35. He followed with a 4-yard touchdown run with 12 seconds left to put the Force up by six, but SCOTT SZEREDY could not connect on the extra point.
JARRICK HILLERY had five catches for 81 yards and two touchdowns and CLIFF GREEN had a pair of interceptions for Georgia, which had a three-game win streak snapped.
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CURRENT PLAYOFF SEEDINGS â Through Week Ten
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If the playoffs were to begin this week, here's how the rankings would appear. Twelve (12) teams advance to the postseason; the top four seeds would receive a BYE in the first round. (* Denotes current Division leader.)
1. SAN JOSE * (10-0)
2. ARIZONA (7-3)
3. LOS ANGELES (6-4)
4. BUFFALO * (6-4)
5. Dallas (6-4)
6. Chicago * (6-4)
7. New Jersey (6-4)
8. Grand Rapids (6-4)
9. Toronto (5-5)
10. Georgia * (4-6)
11. Carolina (4-6)
12. Orlando (4-6)
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13. Indiana (4-6)
14. Tampa Bay (3-7)
15. New York (2-8)
16. Detroit (1-9)
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THIS WEEK IN AFL HISTORY
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June 25, 1993. Dallas 30, Miami 28 (OT). With 13 seconds left in overtime, Miami QB JIM JENSEN is sacked in the end zone for a game-winning safety by Dallas' DWAYNE PHORNE, marking just the second time in history that a game ended in that fashion (The first time occurred when Chicago's MIKE HOLD was sacked by a Denver lineman in 1987).
June 26, 1999. Iowa 77, Albany 76. The two teams combined to score 153 points, tying a league record for most combined points in a game. New Jersey and Houston set the original record on June 20, 1997.
June 28, 1996. Milwaukee 61, Minnesota 49. Milwaukee outscores Minnesota 30-9 in the second half to grab a come-from-behind victory and hold on to first place in the Central Division.
June 29, 1990. Denver 47, Pittsburgh 45. The Dynamite and Gladiators combine for the highest score this season (92).
June 29, 1991. Tampa Bay 57, Albany 54. A three-TD rally in the fourth quarter led by Storm QB CHIP FERGUSON gives Tampa Bay a last-second win over the Firebirds and secures a spot in the playoffs.
June 29, 1996. Charlotte 66, Tampa Bay 53. In "the greatest upset in AFL history" (at the time), the Rage snapped the Storm's 17-game winning streak dating back to June 24, 1995.
June 29, 2000. San Jose's BARRY WAGNER becomes first player in history to surpass 700 receptions and 10,000 receiving yards for his career.
June 30, 1990. On a 58-yard run against Albany, CHRIS ARMSTRONG of the Washington Commandos claimed the AFL record for longest missed field goal return. The Commandos went on to win, 51-19.
June 30, 2000. Nashville's DARRYL HAMMOND breaks DURWOOD ROQUEMORE's record for tackles in a career. His five stops in the Kats game against Iowa gave him 506 during his 10-year career.
June 30, 2001. New York's ROBERT STEWART logged four sacks in a 59-36 victory over New Jersey, one shy of tying the league mark for most in a game (5 by Detroit's Alvin Rettig).
June 30, 2001. Against Florida, San Jose's MARK GRIEB throws for 418 yards to become the third player in history with multiple 400-yard passing games in a career (4, Clint Dolezel; 2, Aaron Garcia).
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