AFL I Arena Football League (1987-2008)

Super football weekend will be Gunslingers' delight

Published on February 2, 2005 under Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I) News Release


NEW YORK – A super football weekend kicks off with former champions battling in the Valley of the Sun on Thursday night, while Arena Football League fireworks start the Sunday party with top gunslingers squaring off at 1 p.m. ET on NBC this Super Bowl Sunday.

Orlando QB JOE HAMILTON (5-10, 190, Georgia Tech) will join AFL on NBC studio host AL TRAUTWIG and analyst GLENN PARKER in the studio for halftime commentary and postgame wrap-up interviews. Hamilton, the 1999 Heisman Trophy runner-up, led the Predators to a 39-36 season-opening victory over the Colorado Crush in Week 1.

Week 2 will kick off in championship fashion when defending U.S. Army Ironman of the Year CORY FLEMING (6-3, 215, Tennesee) leads the Orlando Predators (1-0), winners of ArenaBowl XII and XIV, into America West Arena to take on 2003 U.S. Army Ironman of the Year WR/LB RANDY GATEWOOD (6-0, 185, UNLV) and the Arizona Rattlers (1-0), winners of ArenaBowl VIII and XI and participants in the last three championships, on Thursday night.

It will be a shootout in Chicago when Philadelphia QB TONY GRAZIANI (6-3, 210, Oregon), a 2004 First-Team All-Arena performer, and the Soul (1-0) travel to Allstate Arena to face "The Franchise" QB RAYMOND PHILYAW (6-1, 200, NE Louisiana) and the Chicago Rush (0-1), Sunday at 1 p.m. ET on NBC.

Graziani has owner JON BON JOVI happy after last week's convincing 66-35 victory over the Austin Wranglers (0-1) when he completed 24-of-37 passes for 352 yards and 8 TDs and kept his season opener record perfect (4-0). Philyaw and Chicago part-owner MIKE DITKA look to avenge last year's 53-47 loss to the Soul in Week 5 that gave the Rush their first loss of 2004.

In New York, "Century Man" QB AARON GARCIA (6-1, 195, Sacramento State) leads the New York Dragons against Eastern Division rival Dallas Desperados (1-0) and sharp-shooting rookie QB CLINT STOERNER (6-2, 210, Arkansas) at the Nassau Coliseum this Sunday at 1 p.m. ET on NBC.

Garcia is the only quarterback in professional football history to reach the century mark in touchdown passes for a single season when he accomplished the feat in 2001 (104) and 2003 (100). In his AFL debut, Stoerner connected on 26-of-40 passes for a League-high 398 yards, with six touchdowns and no interceptions in Dallas' thrilling 66-65 overtime victory against Chicago last week.

Week 2's slate of games include: Orlando at Arizona on Thursday (AFL NET); New Orleans at Nashville (Cox Sports TV), Georgia at Los Angeles (Fox Sports Net) on Friday; Grand Rapids at Colorado (Comcast), Las Vegas at San Jose (Fox Sports Net) on Saturday; Philadelphia at Chicago (NBC), Dallas at New York (NBC) and Austin at Tampa Bay (Brighthouse) on Sunday. The Columbus Destroyers have a bye.

ORLANDO PREDITORS(1-0) AT ARIZONA RATTLERS (1-0)
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 3, AT 9 P.M. ET
(AFL NET – www.arenafootball.com)

Last week, Arizona won it's first season opener since 2000 with a 58-38 victory over Grand Rapids... Rattlers have appeared in five Arena Bowls, including each of the last three seasons and have only made it to the championship in seasons in which they lost their season opener... Arizona won the last meeting between these two teams in April 2003... This week, the Rattlers look to even the series but will have to do it without starting QB SHERDRICK BONNER whose trip to the IR ends his streak of 30 straight starts... The Rattlers were 21-9 during that span... Bonner is the AFL's all-time career victory leader with 90 starting victories... The last QB to start for the Rattlers other than Bonner was CHRIS HIXSON, who is 1-1 as a starter, on February 14, 2003 in a 49-45 loss to the Buffalo Destroyers... Hixson was re-signed on February 1, 2005 after Bonner's injury... Getting the start this week for the Rattlers is QB JOE GERMAINE, who went 3-of-3 for 35 yards and 1 TD in last week's win ...Germaine is a former Sun Devil and 1997 Rose Bowl Champion... This will be Germaine's first AFL start... Orlando QB JOE HAMILTON (23-of-34 for 241 yards and 4 TDs) not only led the Predators to a win last weekend as the leading passer, but he was also the leading rusher (3-for-12, 1 TD)... Predator's COREY FLEMING (10 receptions for 71 yards and 2 TDs) was the leading receiver of the past two seasons and has a current streak of at least one touchdown reception in 22 consecutive games... Arizona has a nine-game regular-season winning streak, while the Predators have won their past five games.

LEADERS RATTLERS PREDATORS
SERIES LEADER Orlando leads 7-6
LAST FIVE GAMES 5-0 5-0
LAST GAME Won vs. Grand Rapids 58-38 Won vs. Colorado 39-36
LEADERS RATTLERS PREDATORS
PASSING Bonner: 26-16-0, 202, 6TDs Hamilton: 34-23-1, 241, 4 TDs
RECEIVING Burley: 8-77, 4 TDs Fleming: 10-71, 2 TDs
RUSHING Trentadue: 3-4, 0 TDs Hamilton: 3-12, 1 TDs
TACKLES Lawson: 7.0 Mason: 11.0
SACKS Hutch: 1.0 Burt: 1.0
INTERCEPTIONS NONE Mason: 1
KICKING Sailor: 7-8 PAT; 1-1 FGs; 10 PTs McLaughlin: 3-6 PAT; 0-2 FG; 3 PTs
TEAM OFFENSE 58.0 PPG (5); 247.0 YPG (11) 39.0 YPG (10); 245.0 YPG (12)
TEAM DEFENSE 38.0 PPG (5); 225. YPG (3) 36.0 PPG (3); 224.0 YPG (2)



NEW ORLEANS VooDoo (0-1) AT NASHVILLE KATS (1-0)
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 4, AT 8:30 P.M. ET
(TV: COX SPORTS TV – PAUL CRANE, ERNIE CONWELL & TIM FANGUY)

This will be the first match-up between these teams...VooDoo QB ANDY KELLY (33-of 52 passes for 356 yards, 6 TDs, 1 INT), a resident of Nashville and former Volunteer, will face his former team, Nashville... As a Kat from, 1997-2001, Kelly was the only starter in franchise history until the team went on hiatus... Kelly led Nashville to a 46-24 record including playoff appearances in all five years... Including back-to-back appearances in Arena Bowl XVI and XV... Kelly's start this week for New Orleans extends his all-time league record of 120 regular season starts... QB LEON MURRAY (25-of-35 passing for 232 yards and 3 TDs) led the Kats to their first win since 2001 after a three-year break... Murray was also the leading rusher in the game with seven carries for 36 yards and two TDs... The Kats are on a five-game winning streak and are tied for first with Austin for most interceptions per game (3)... Murray is 0-2 against the VooDoo.

LEADERS VooDoo KATS
SERIES LEADER First Meeting
LAST FIVE GAMES 2-3 5-0 (4 wins in 2001)
LAST GAME Lost vs. Georgia 46-44 Won vs. Columbus, 47-38
LEADERS VooDoo KATS
PASSING Kelly: 51-33-1, 356, 6 TDs Murray: 35-25-0, 232, 3 TDs
RECEIVING Rumph: 9-85, 2 TDs Coleman: 9-94 1 TD
RUSHING Bratton: 4-2, 0 TDs Murray: 7-36, 2 TDs
TACKLES Moore: 4.0 Hillery: 5.5
SACKS NONE NONE
INTERCEPTIONS Coleman: 1 Jenkins: 2
KICKING Schmitz: 5-6 PAT; 1-2FG; 8 PTs Kral: 5-7 PAT; 0-0 FG; 5 PTS
TEAM OFFENSE 44.0 PPG (9); 354.0YPG (3) 47.0 PPG (6); 309.0 YPG (4)
TEAM DEFENSE 46.0 PPG (9); 289.0 YPG (10) 38.0 PPG (5); 243.0 YPG (4)



GORGIA FORCE (1-0) AT LOS ANGELES AVENGERS (0-1)
FIRDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 10:30 P.M. EST
(TV: FSN-SOUTH, FSN-WEST – BILL MACDONALD, JOHN JACKSON & LINDSAY SOTA)

The Force won the last meeting between these two teams 53-52 in overtime... With their win last week, the Force are on a four-game winning streak... Force FB/LB ROBERT THOMAS the leading rusher in 2004 (50-228, 13 TDs), led the team last week with 8 caries for 39 yards and one touchdown earning him the U.S. Army Ironman of the Game... Thomas has also scored at least one touchdown in the past five games, but he did not score a touchdown last year against the Avgengers... Avengers' WR/DB KEVIN INGRAM led the team in tackles last season (76.5) and so far he and DS JERMAINE SMITH are leading the team with 6.0 total tackles each... Ingram is the 2004 leader in terms of receptions, receiving yardage, kick-off returns, all purpose yardage, touchdowns, tackles, and was tied for interceptions...WR/LB GREG HOPKINS who was the 2002 US Army Ironman of the Year, started the season as the teams leading receiver (11-110, 2 TDs)... Ingram or Hopkins should emerge as the leading receiver this season after the departure of last year's leader, OS CHRIS JACKSON, who is now with Grand Rapids...

LEADERS FORCE AVENGERS
SERIES LEADER Georgia leads 2-1
LAST FIVE GAMES 4-1 2-3
LAST GAME Won vs. New Orleans 46-44 Lost at Las Vegas 46-37
LEADERS FORCE AVENGERS
PASSING Kubiak: 31-17-1, 248, 5 TDs Kaleo: 34-19-2, 197, 5 TDs
RECEIVING Bergeron: 6-116, 3 TDs Hopkins: 11-110, 2 TDs
RUSHING Thomas: 8-39, 1 TDs Jeffries: 5-13, 0 TDs
TACKLES Gaines: 11.0 Smith and Ingram: 6.0 each
SACKS Thomas: 1.0 Demary: 1.0
INTERCEPTIONS Burks: 1 Simmons: 2
KICKING Garner: 5-6 PAT; 1-1 FG; 8 PTs Hamilton: 4-4 PAT; 1-1 FG; 7 PTs
TEAM OFFENSE 46.0 PPG (t-7); 289.0 YPG (7) 37.0 PPG (13); 202.0 YPG (16)
TEAM DEFENSE 44 PPG (8); 354.0 YPG (14) 37.0 PPG (4); 280.0 YPG (7)



GRAND RAPIDS RAMPAGE (0-1) AT COLORADO CRUSH (0-1)
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 5, AT 2 P.M. ET
(TV: COMCAST-- MITCH HYDER and DAVID DIAZ-INFANTE)

Both teams are coming off a Week 1 loss and are looking for their first win of the season...Colorado won both of last years match-ups... Crush QB JOHN DUTTON ranked No. 4 in the AFL last season in total offense, while completing 342-of-536 passes for 4,195 yards and 76 TDs... Colorado OS DAMIAN HARRELL (7-for-105, 3TDs) was one yard short of leading the team in receiving last week, however he was the only player to score an offensive touchdown... Harrell has scored a touchdown in every game as a member of the Crush and was the leading receiver in 18 of the Crush's 33-game history (He missed the final two games of 2003)... The former Seminole was named Offensive Player of the Game eight times in two seasons with the Crush... The Crush are 8-0 in those games... Grand Rapids head coach SPARKY MC EWEN named QB MICHAEL BISHOP for Week 2... Bishop is 1-1 in his AFL career as a starter... FB/LB CHRIS AVERY had just one rush last week for 22 yards but it made him the Rampage's all time leading rusher with 423 yards in 100 attempts... In Week 1, the Rampage were the only team to return a kickoff for a TD... They rank No. 1 in that category with two TDs returned for a score... Grand Rapids defense has had four interceptions in the past three games against the Crush, recording at least one in each game.

LEADERS RAMPAGE CRUSH
SERIES LEADER Crush leads 2-1
LAST FIVE GAMES 0-5 3-2
LAST GAME Lost vs. Arizona 58-38 Lost vs. Orlando 39-36
LEADER RAMPAGE CRUSH
PASSING Browder: 36-20-0, 212, 2 TDs Dutton: 43-23-1, 226, 3 TDs
RECEIVING Jackson: 9-73, 0 TDs McKenzie: 14-106, 0 TDs
RUSHING Avery: 1-22, 0 TDs Hunter: 1-2, 0 TDs
TACKLES Doggette: 9.0 Floyd: 10.0
SACKS NONE Young and Patu: 1 each
INTERCEPTIONS NONE McKenzie: 1
KICKING Martinez : 3-3 PAT; 1-2 FG; 6 PTs Rush: 4-4 PAT; 2-6 FG; 10 PTs
TEAM OFFENSE 38.0 PPG (t-11), 225.0 YPG (14) 36.0 PPG (14); 224.0 YPG (15)
TEAM DEFENSE 58.0 PPG (12); 247.0 YPG (6) 39.0 PPG (7); 245.0 YPG (5)



LAS VEGAS GLADIATORS (1-0) AT SAN JOSE SABERCATS (0-1)
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 5, AT 9 P.M. ET
(TV: FSN WEST – RANDY HAHN and MIKE PAWLAWSKI)

The San Jose SaberCats look to return their winning ways after a stunning 63-33 defeat to the Tampa Bay Storm last week... The 30-point loss was the third-worst in SaberCats history and the 33 points scored was their lowest output since May 29, 1999 when the team lost 34-30 to Iowa... The loss snapped the SaberCats' five-game win streak over the Storm and was its first on opening night since 1998... The SaberCats are 1-4 in their last five regular-season games... The Gladiators are coming off a 46-37 win against the Los Angeles Avengers... Las Vegas QB CLINT DOLEZEL played a solid game for the Gladiators throwing three touchdowns and 251 yards, while the defense kept Los Angeles' offense in check limiting them to 37 points... FB/LB FRANK CARTER found the endzone three times in last week's victory... Last week against the Storm, SaberCats QB MARK GRIEB threw a career-high 49 passes, the second-most in team history, and completed 25 for 298 yards and three scores... WR/LB JAMES ROE led all SaberCats receivers with seven catches for 83 yards and a pair of TDs... The last meeting between these two teams, the Gladiators won 44-35 in Las Vegas.

LEADERS GLADIATORS SABERCATS
SERIES LEADER SaberCats lead 4-2 (including New Jersey)
LAST FIVE GAMES 4-1 1-4
LAST GAME Won vs. Los Angeles, 46-37 Lost vs. Tampa Bay, 63-33
LEADERS GLADIATORS SABERCATS
PASSING Dolezel: 30-18-2, 251, 3 TDs Grieb: 49-25-1, 298, 3 TDs
RECEIVING Nash: 7-116, 1 TD Roe: 7-83, 2 TDs
RUSHING Carter: 5-23, 3 TDs Wright: 3-9, 2 TDs
TACKLES Taylor: 5.5 Smith: 6.0
SACKS Konopka and Bazile: 1.0 each Jacobs: 1.0
INTERCEPTIONS Taylor: 1 NONE
KICKING Taylor: 4-5 PAT; 2-2 FG; 10 PTs Frantz: 3-3 PATS; 0-0 FG; 3 PTs
TEAM OFFENSE 46.0 PPG (t-7); 280.0 YPG (10) 33.0 PPG (16); 306.0 YPG (5)
TEAM DEFENSE 37.0 PPG (4); 202.0 YPG (1) 63.0 PPG (13); 281.0 YPG (8)



AUSTIN WRANGLERS (0-1) AT TAMPA BAY STORM (1-0)
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 6, AT NOON ET
(AFL NET – www.arenafootball.com)

Tampa Bay is on a five game winning streak after last weeks win over San Jose...The 30-point Storm win was the third-worst defeat in SaberCats history... The Storm also improved to 42-1 all-time when scoring at least 60 points in a game... Tampa Bay QB SHANE STAFFORD was named the AFLWA Player of the Week and AFL Offensive player of the Week following last weeks performance...Stafford completed 80% of his passes which included eight TDs to four different receivers... Stafford is 15-11 as an AFL starting quarterback... Wrangler QB BOBBY PESAVENTO finished his first start completing 62.8% of his passes for 271 yards and four TDs... As a rookie in 2004, OS TACOMA FONTAINE led the Wranglers with 72 receptions for 1,075 yards and 21 TDs and he is looking to continue his success after last week's 91-yard effort... Austin's defense is ranked No. 1 in interceptions (tied with Nashville, three INT), while Stafford and the Storm are only one of five teams to escape Week 1 without an interception... Storm won last year's matchup 58-52 in overtime...

LEADERS WRANGLERS STORM
SERIES LEADER Tied at 1-1
LAST FIVE GAMES 1-4 5-0
LAST GAME Lost vs. Philadelphia 66-35 Won vs. San Jose, 63-33
LEADERS WRANGLERS STORM
PASSING Pesavento: 43-27-2, 271, 4 TDs Stafford: 35-28-0, 273, 8 TDs
RECEIVING Fontaine: 6-91, 2 TDs Solomon: 10-126, 3 TDs
RUSHING Beutler: 4-17, 1 TDs Muhammad: 3-10, 0 TDs
TACKLES Hunter: 7.0 Jones: 11.0
SACKS NONE Lawson: 1.0
INTERCEPTIONS Davidson, Hunter and Chiaverini: 1 Samuels: 2
KICKING Dodson: 5-5 PAT; 0-0 FG; 5 PTs George: 7-8 PAT; 2-3 FG; 13 PTs
TEAM OFFENSE 35.0 PPG (15); 287.0 YPG (8) 63.0 PPG (4); 281.0 YPG (9)
TEAM DEFENSE 66.0 PPG (t-15); 373.0 YPG (15) 33.0 PPG (1); 306.0 YPG (12)





PHILADELPHIA SOUL (1-0) AT CHICAGO RUSH (0-1)
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 6, AT 1 P.M. ET
(TV: NBC – TOM HAMMOND, PAT HADEN & LEWIS JOHNSON)

One of the Soul's five wins last year came against the Rush, 53-47... Philadelphia QB TONY GRAZIANI (24-of-37 passing for 352 yards and 8 TDs) returned in All-Arena form in Week 1's victory over Austin... The Soul improved to No. 2 with 373.0 YPG... Last weekend also marked the end of the Soul's five-game losing streak... As an Avenger in 2004, Graziani completed 19-of-25 passes for 261 yards, 8 TDs and 0 INTs in a 71-35 victory over the Rush... The former Oregon QB is 29-18 as a starter... Philadelphia's 2004 MVP WR/LB SEAN SCOTT, earned the U.S. Army Ironman honors last week against Austin... Chicago QB RAYMOND PHILYAW fell to 30-22 as a starter despite throwing six TDs in the loss against Dallas... Philyaw is 0-1 against the Soul despite an 11-5 season and a playoff appearance that left Chicago one game short of the ArenaBowl... The Rush come off an overtime loss after ETU MOLDEN'S two-point conversion attempt in overtime fell one-yard short, giving Dallas (1-0) a 66-65 win over the Rush before 11,229 fans at American Airlines Center last Sunday... Philyaw, playing his first game since tearing the ACL in his right knee in the AFL semifinals last June, completed 23-of-33 passes for 262 yards and six touchdowns... His favorite targets were HENRY DOUGLAS (10 receptions for 139 yards and two TDs) and Molden (5 receptions to go along with his five total touchdowns.)

LEADERS SOUL RUSH
SERIES LEADER Soul leads 1-0
LAST FIVE GAMES 1-4 3-2
LAST GAME Won vs. Austin, 66-35 Lost vs. Dallas, 66-65 OT
LEADERS SOUL RUSH
PASSING Graziani: 37-24-3 , 352, 8 TDs Philyaw 33-23-1, 262, 6 TDs
RECEIVING Smith: 9-131, 5 TDs Douglas: 10-139, 2 TDs
RUSHING Jackson: 5-21, 0 TDs McMillen: 3-21, 1 TDs
TACKLES Thompson: 9.5 Williams: 6.5
SACKS Missouri: 1.0 Moyer: 1.0
INTERCEPTIONS Thompson and Arp: 1 NONE
KICKING Schorejs: 7-9 PAT; 1-1 FG; 10 PTs Gispert: 6-7 PAT; 1-1 FG; 9 PTs
TEAM OFFENSE 66.0 PPG (t-1); 373.0 YPG (2) 65.0 PPG (3); 304.0 YPG (6)
TEAM DEFENSE 35.0 PPG (2); 287.0 YPG (9) 66.0 PPG (t-15); 419.0 YPG (16)



DALLAS DESPERADOS (1-0) AT NEW YORK DRAGONS (0-0)
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 6, AT 1 P.M. ET
(TV: NBC – BOB PAPA, RAY BENTLEY & OTIS LIVINGSTON)

The Dragons finished the 2004 season on the top of the Eastern Division, but their 9-7 record kept them out of the playoffs... This season the Dragons are under the direction of new head coach WEYLAN HARDING, who was previously the defensive coordinator for the Columbus Destroyers... Returning from last year's team are QB AARON GARCIA (279-of-457 passes for 3766 yards and 91 TDs and 13 INT) and leading receiver 2004 WILL HOLDER (67 receptions for 941 yards and 26 TDs), who will help lead the team to the 2005 playoffs... Garcia is 63-52 as a starting QB and has the Dragons on a three-game winning streak against teams in the Eastern Division (including 44-20 victory over Dallas on May 1, 2004 to begin the streak)... Garcia is the only player in AFL history to begin his career with four straight Player of the Game Awards (Weeks 1-4 in 1995)... Desperados rookie QB CLINT STOERNER's has a shot at repeating that feat after picking up Offensive Player of the Game honors (26-of-40 passes for 398 yards and 6 TDs) in his debut and helped break their seven-game losing streak with an over time 66-65 win over Chicago last week... Ranked No. 1 in both points per game (tied with 66) and offensive yards per game (419), the Desperados started the season in the right direction... The Dragons and the Desperados split the 2004 season 1-1...

LEADERS DESPERADOS DRAGONS
SERIES LEADER Dallas leads 3-1
LAST FIVE GAMES 1-4 3-2
LAST GAME Won vs. Chicago, 66-65 Won vs. Philadelphia 69-54 (2004)
LEADERS DESPERADOS DRAGONS 2004 LEADERS
PASSING Stoerner: 40-26-0, 398, 6 TDs Garcia: 457-279-13, 3776, 91 TDs
RECEIVING Pettis: 9-121, 1 TD Holder: 67-941, 26 TDs
RUSHING Pettijohn: 4-8, 1TD Filer: 34-84, 3TDs
TACKLES Milligan: 5.5 Franklin: 84.5
SACKS NONE Miles: 3.0
INTERCEPTIONS Milligan: 1 Johnson: 4
KICKING Martinez: 7-8 PAT, 1-2 FG, 10 PTS Kral: 79-92 PAT, 6-12 FG 97 PTS
TEAM OFFENSE 66.0 PPG (1); 419.0 YPG (1)
TEAM DEFENSE 65.0 PPG (15); 304.0 YPG (11)

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Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from February 2, 2005


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