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AFL I Arena Football League (1987-2008)

Sunday Playoff Recap

July 29, 2002 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I) News Release


Carolina 72, GRAND RAPIDS 64 (6,759)

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (AP) -- JOHN FITZGERALD threw eight touchdown passes and AARON BAILEY had a team-record six touchdown receptions, leading the Carolina Cobras to a 72-64 victory over the defending champion Grand Rapids Rampage in the opening round of the Arena Football League playoffs Sunday.

Fitzgerald, who spent part of the 2000 and 2001 seasons with the Rampage, completed 25 of 34 passes for 278 yards. Bailey, who shared MVP honors with Fitzgerald, had 10 catches for 172 yards.

CLINT DOLEZEL completed 30 of 45 passes for 349 yards and eight touchdowns for the Rampage. WILLIS MARSHALL finished with 11 catches for 132 yards and three touchdowns.

The Rampage cut a 17-point deficit to eight points with 13 seconds left. Carolina recovered Grand Rapids' onside kick and ran out the clock. Carolina will face the Arizona Rattlers in the second round of the playoffs on Sunday, August 4.

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THIS WEEK IN AFL HISTORY

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July 29, 1994: Cleveland kicker BRIAN MITCHELL breaks a record for four-point field goals when he completes two attempts against Orlando. Mitchell connected for six drop-kick four-pointers this season.

July 29, 1999: A group spearheaded by former CBS President ALAN LEVIN and Chicago Bears great WALTER PAYTON awarded an expansion team in Chicago (Chicago Rush).

July 30, 1988: Before 15,018 fans at the Rosemont Horizon in Chicago, the league's first-ever sell-out crowd, the Detroit Drive – owned by NHL Red Wings owner and MLB Detroit Tigers owner MIKE ILITCH – win the ArenaBowl II Championship, beating the Chicago Bruisers, 24-13.

July 30, 1992: Sacramento 55, Cincinnati 48 OT. MIKE HOLD hits WAYNE COFFEY with a 23-yard TD pass in overtime, giving the Attack the upset win against the Rockers and advancing Sacramento to the post-season.

July 30, 1999: Orlando's BRET COOPER joins BARRY WAGNER as the only Predators to gain over 1,000 receiving yards in a season.

July 31, 1992: Orlando's TONY SCOTT sets a new single-game interception mark with four picks in the Predators 62-8 drubbing of the New Orleans Night. Scott returned one INT for a 43-yard score.

July 31, 1992: Under the guidance of head coach PERRY MOSS, Predators QB BEN BENNETT, WR/DB CARL AIKENS, DS DURWOOD ROQUEMORE, and lineman CHUCK TOBIAS finish the season with 10 consecutive wins. The quintet had previously teamed together to line up ten wins a row... in 1988, all were members of the 10-1-1 Chicago Bruisers. Although both squads reach the ArenaBowl match in their respective seasons, neither team is able to cap the year with a win.

July 31, 1993: Orlando QB BEN BENNETT ties then league record for most passing TDs in one season, 50, (others JAY GRUDEN and MATT STEVENS).

July 31, 1999: Iowa's AARON GARCIA rushes for his 15th touchdown against Grand Rapids, a record for a quarterback in a single season.

July 31, 1999: San Jose's STEVE PAPIN becomes first player to record more than 3,000 all-purpose yards in consecutive seasons.

Aug. 1, 1992: Tampa Bay easily wraps up the league attendance title, averaging more than 20,000 fans each game.

Aug. 1, 1997: Nashville Kats earn their 10th victory, most ever by an AFL expansion team (St. Louis and New Jersey each had nine).

Aug. 1, 1997: BARRY WAGNER broke EDDIE BROWN's single-season scoring record and captured his third scoring title in five seasons with a six-TD performance against Florida (he finished with 310, two better than Brown).

Aug. 2, 1997: Albany's MIKE PAWLAWSKI broke a "six-day-old" record for most passing yards in a game with 455 at Iowa (Texas' CLINT DOLEZEL had 449 the previous week vs. Iowa). Also, he set a single season record for most passing yards with 4,272, breaking the mark of 4,153 set by MIKE PEREZ in 1996.

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