Swayne And Garcia Reach Career Milestones In One For The Ages
May 19, 2008 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
New York Dragons News Release
(May 19, 2008) - New York Dragons QB Aaron Garcia and WR Kevin Swayne joined elite company as they both achieved career milestones in the Dragons Week 12 loss to Georgia.
Garcia became just the fourth quarterback in league history to throw for 40,000 yards in his career. He also became just the third quarterback ever to throw for 850 touchdowns in his career. With his 389 yards passing and 10 touchdowns on Sunday, Garcia now has 40,080 and 856 in his career respectively.
Swayne became the 18th wide receiver in league history to have more than 8,000 receiving yards in his career. On Sunday, he recorded 14 receptions for 127 yards and four touchdowns. He now has 8,024 yards in his career. Of all wide receivers in AFL history with more than 8,000 yards in his career Swayne has more yards per game than all but three of the 17 receivers ahead of him at 95.5 yards per game.
Garcia and Swayne already owned virtually every franchise record for quarterbacks and receivers respectively. The tandem has played together since they both joined the team in 1998.
Before the season started the idea that all-time Dragons greats Garcia and Swayne would attain career milestones in the same game seemed like wishful thinking. Garcia was expected to throw for at least six touchdowns, but needed 309 yards to reach 40,000 and had only thrown for more than 300 yards one other time this season. Swayne needed 101 yards to reach 8,000, and his last 100-yard game was Week 4 at Arizona.
In the second quarter, Garcia reached the 850 touchdown mark on a three yard pass to Swayne. He surpassed the 40,000 passing yard mark on a 31 yard touchdown pass to WR Chris Anthony in the third quarter, his eighth touchdown of the game. Swayne became the 18th receiver in league history to record 8,000 yards in his career on a seven yard pass from Garcia in the fourth quarter.
Garcia might have his eye on 900 touchdowns in his career, but that might have to wait until next season. If Garcia averages 8.8 touchdowns over the course of the remaining five games of the season he will reach 900 touchdowns in his career.
For now so long as veterans Garcia and Swayne stay healthy, milestones aside, the Dragons will be looking to win their first Arena Bowl in franchise history. Their last Arena Bowl appearance came in 1997, the year before the two joined the team.
Had the game in which two of the most prolific Dragons in franchise history both reached career milestones been scripted there would be one difference between the movie ending from the real outcome...the score. The Dragons fell to the Georgia Force 72-67.
The Dragons next game is set for this Saturday, May 24th when they travel to Columbus to take on the division rival Destroyers at 7pm.
Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from May 19, 2008
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- Destroyers return to Nationwide Arena to host their Eastern Division rival Dragons - Columbus Destroyers
- Swayne And Garcia Reach Career Milestones In One For The Ages - New York Dragons
- Storm Look To Continue Streak, Fight Off Gladiators - Tampa Bay Storm
- The Storm and Special Operations Warrior Foundation Presents "The War on I-4" - Tampa Bay Storm
- Destroyers to Host Motorsports Night Presented by Marathon on Saturday, May 24 - Columbus Destroyers
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