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AFL I Arena Football League (1987-2008)

Tampa Bay-Orlando rivalry renewed on NBC this Sunday

April 28, 2004 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I) News Release


NEW YORK – The Arena Football League's oldest rivalry – The War on I-4 – is renewed when the defending ArenaBowl champion Tampa Bay Storm (5-7) travel to TD Waterhouse Centre to face the Orlando Predators (6-5) to headline NBC' s coverage this Sunday at 3 p.m. ET.

Former Iowa Barnstormer and two-time NFL MVP QB KURT WARNER will join AFL on NBC studio host AL TRAUTWIG and analyst GLENN PARKER in the studio for halftime commentary and postgame wrap-up interviews.

The Predators, who are ranked No. 8 in the latest AFLWA poll, have won three straight and look to secure their postseason standing by knocking off the defending ArenaBowl champions, including head coach TIM MARCUM, who owns seven ArenaBowl rings, and Ironman of the Year candidate WR/DB T.T. TOLIVER (1,663 all-purpose yards, 13 total TDs, 44.0 total tackles and three INTs).

Predators head coach JAY GRUDEN, who owns six ArenaBowl rings (four as quarterback for Tampa Bay and two as head coach for Orlando), looks to Rookie of the Year candidate QB JOE HAMILTON (36 TDs and 4 INTs) and former Rookie of the Year WR/LB CORY FLEMING (89 receptions for 1,131 yards and 23 TDs) to lead the team in their Drive to ArenaBowl XVIII.

The head-to-head matchup will be between the defenses – Orlando and Tampa Bay are ranked No. 1 and 2 respectively in yards allowed.

In San Jose, No. 1 and 2 in the AFLWA poll will meet in a potential preview of ArenaBowl XVIII when the San Jose SaberCats (9-2, No. 1) host the expansion New Orleans VooDoo (9-2, No. 2). The VooDoo, who established the best expansion start through 11 games, are led by Coach of the Year candidate MIKE NEU and Offensive Player of the Year candidate OS AARON BAILEY (65 receptions for 975 yards and 24 TDs). The AFL's leading rusher and Ironman of the Year candidate FB/LB DAN CURRAN (246 yards and 16 TDs) looks to shine against San Jose's tough defensive front led by all-time sack leader OL/DL SAM HERNANDEZ (58.0 sacks) and JOE JACOBS (30.5 sacks, No. 7 all-time).

Offensive Player of the Year candidate QB MARK GRIEB (73.8 percent passing, 2,810 yards, 57 TDs and three INTs) leads the AFL's top scoring offense (59.1 PPG) with the help of Ironman of the Year candidate WR/DB JAMES ROE (73 receptions for 874 yards and 25 TDs).

The winner of this matchup will have the edge in hosting ArenaBowl XVIII on June 27.

The cities of Chicago and Detroit are natural rivals with an AFL twist. Both teams entered the AFL in 2001 as expansion teams and both need victories to remain competitive in the Drive for ArenaBowl XVIII when they square-off this Sunday at 3 p.m. ET on NBC. With three more touchdowns, Detroit QB ANDY KELLY will become the second quarterback in AFL history to surpass 600 career (AARON GARCIA, 609).

Chicago head coach MIKE HOHENSEE has the No. 5-ranked Rush (7-4) ready for the playoff push, but will need QB CHAD SALISBURY to step up for starter RAYMOND PHILYAW, who went down with an injury in last week's loss to Los Angeles. Defensive Player and Lineman of the Year candidates JAMES BARON and JOHN MOYER lead one of the AFL's stingiest defenses.

Western Division rivals, Los Angeles and Arizona, will faceoff in a No. 4 against No. 6 matchup. Week 12 Offensive Player of the Week QB TONY GRAZIANI (3,007 yards, 72 TDs and 1 INT) will lead the Avengers in a battle against Week 11 Offensive Player of the Week QB SHERDRICK BONNER (2,967, 59 and 8).

"Rock vs. Jock II – The Rematch" takes center stage at Pepsi Center when JOHN ELWAY's Colorado Crush host JON BON JOVI's Philadelphia Soul on Saturday at 9 p.m. ET. The Soul will hope to win the rematch after losing the inaugural game XX-XX. The Soul knocked off New York last week and are in the postseason mix while Offensive Player of the Year candidate OS DAMIAN HARRELL (85 receptions for 1,315 yards and 34 TDs) looks to keep Colorado in the ArenaBowl hosting hunt.

Games for Week 13 include: Columbus at Carolina, Austin at Grand Rapids, New York at Dallas, Arizona at Los Angeles and New Orleans at San Jose on Saturday; Indiana at Las Vegas, Philadelphia at Colorado, Chicago at Detroit (NBC) and Tampa Bay at Orlando (NBC) on Sunday. Georgia has a bye week.

ARENA FOOTBALL LEAGUE WRITERS' ASSOCIATION (AFLWA) POLL
RANK TEAM RECORD VOTES (FIRST PLACE)
1 San Jose SaberCats 9-2 118 (13)
2 New Orleans VooDoo 9-2 107 (2)
3 Colorado Crush 8-
4 87 4 Los Angeles Avengers 7-4 74
5 Chicago Rush 7-4 54
6 Arizona Rattlers 7-5 43
7 Austin Wranglers 6-5 18
8 Orlando Predators 6-5 16
Also receiving votes: New York Dragons 9, Dallas Desperados 8, Indiana Firebirds 5, Philadelphia Soul 1.

COLUMBUS DESTROYERS (3-8) AT CAROLINA COBRAS (4-7)
SATURDAY, MAY 1, AT 7:30 P.M. ET

The Cobras are 3-1 when leading after three quarters... They are 4-2 when scoring 50 points or more... Carolina OS DAMIEN GROCE has 55 catches for 663 yards and a career-high 17 TDs this season... Groce needs 126 receiving yards to reach 1,500 career yards... WR/DB JARRICK HILLERY is No. 1 on his team with an 18.9 KO return average and 26.5 tackles... Hillery needs 120 receiving yards for 2,500 career and five rush attempts for 100... FB/LB TRAVIS REECE needs 35 rushing yards for 500... Destroyers QB RYAN VENA has passed for 1,968 yards and 32 TDs, while rushing for 130 yards (No. 8 in the AFL) and eight TDs (Tied for No. 7 in the AFL)... Possible Ironman of the Year candidate WR/LB SEDRICK ROBINSON currently ranks No. 2 on the team with 44 receptions and No. 2 with 560 receiving yards and 10 TDs... Robinson averages 21.1 yards per KO return and has 13.0 tackles on defense... Columbus DS JOJO POLK has a team-high 50.5 tackles and nine passes defended... Polk also has two INTs, two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries... Both Carolina and Columbus hold the easiest schedule in the League in the final five weeks of the season, playing teams with a 19-37 (.339) record.

AUSTIN WRANGLERS (6-5) AT GRAND RAPIDS RAMPAGE (1-10)
SATURDAY, MAY 1, AT 7:30 P.M. ET

Austin is No. 1 in total offense with 3302 total yards (251 rushing, 3051 passing)... Wranglers' QB JOHN KALEO (252-of-388 for 3034 yards, 62 TDs, 10 INTs) is ranked No. 8 of all QBs in the League... WR CHARLIE DAVIDSON is No. 12 in the League in all-purpose yards (1345) and tied for No. 12 in receptions (66)... Rookie OS TACOMA FONTAINE is No. 13 in the League for leading scorers (122 points), No. 10 in receiving yards (919) and No. 18 in all-purpose yards (1181)... Grand Rapids Rampage OS STEVE SMITH is No. 2 in the League in kickoff returns... He has 51 returns for 1217 yards (23.9 avg.) and five TDs, the most KO return TDs in the AFL... Smith is No. 2 in the League in All-Purpose yards with 1891 (-1 rushing, 513 receiving, 1379 kick returns)... Rampage DS CECIL DOGGETTE leads the League in passes defensed (19).

ARIZONA RATTLERS (7-5) AT LOS ANGELES AVENGERS (7-4)
SATURDAY, MAY 1, AT 10:30 P.M. ET
(TV: FOX SPORTS WEST2 – BILL MACDONALD and ED CUNNINGHAM)
(TV: FOX SPORT ARIZONA – KENT DERDIVANIS and GENE NUDO)

Arizona has won four games straight... Rattlers QB SHERDRICK BONNER needs 247 yards to reach 30,000... Bonner also needs seven TDs to reach 600... Arizona OS SIAHA BURLEY is No. 2 in the League in receptions (95), tied for No. 5 in scoring (156 points), and No. 5 in receiving yards (1096)... DS BRYAN HENDERSON leads the League in sacks (7.0)... The Rattlers are now ranked No. 6 in the AFL Playoff race... Arizona has the toughest remaining schedule in the AFL, with their opponents owning a combined record of 29-15... The Rattlers forced three Firebird turnovers last Sunday... This Saturday's game will be the 200th career game for Head Coach DANNY WHITE, and for the Rattlers franchise... The L.A. Avengers are No. 2 in the League in turnover differential (+14)... L.A. has turned over the ball the least amount of times in the League... QB TONY GRAZIANI (229-of-343 for 2993 yards) is No. 1 in TDs (72) and has thrown only one INT in 2004... Graziani earned Offensive Player of the Week honors by leading the Avengers to a 71-35 victory over the AFLWA's No. 3-ranked Chicago Rush (7-4) on Sunday... The Offensive Player of the Year candidate completed 19-of-25 passes for 261 yards, eight TDs and no INTs... OS CHRIS JACKSON has had five 100-yards or more receiving games... Last week against Chicago, Jackson caught seven passes for 135 yards and four TDs... Jackson is No. 3 in the League in scoring (31 TDs, 188 points)... In seven games versus L.A.'s Western Division rivals, Jackson has racked up 65 receptions for 1,004 yards and 27 TDs... That averages out to 9.3 catches for 143.4 yards and 3.9 TDs per game against Arizona... L.A.'s four losses this season have come by a combined total of 12 points... The Avengers won the first meeting this season, 51-32 at America West Arena.

NEW ORLEANS VOODOO (9-2) AT SAN JOSE SABERCATS (9-2)
SATURDAY, MAY 1, AT 10:50 P.M. ET
(TV: COX SPORTS, N.O. – TODD KALAS, FRED MC AFEE and HARRY MC CULLA)

San Jose and New Orleans share the best record in the AFL at 9-2... FB/LB DAN CURRAN (56 rushes for 246 yards, 16 TDs) leads the League in rushing... Curran is the only player in the AFL to rush for over 200 yards this year... In 2004, VooDoo QB JOHN FITZGERALD has thrown for 2,289 yards and 43 TDs on 180-of-319 passing... Last week, OS AARON BAILEY had seven catches for 116 yards and two TDs... Curran rushed four times for 15 yards and a pair of TDs...Rookie DS MONTY MONTGOMERY is No. 4 in the AFL in solo tackles (60) and No. 2 in passes defensed (18)... The SaberCats are 5-0 at home this season and have won eight straight regular season home games dating back to last season... The SaberCats need three wins for 100 overall in franchise history... SaberCats Head Coach DARREN ARBET needs two wins for 70 career... San Jose's win at Georgia on 4/25 gave MARK GRIEB a career record of 50-10 (.833) in 60 regular-season starts as the SaberCats' QB... WR/DB BARRY WAGNER needs 143 receiving yards to become AFL's all-time leader, six solo tackles for 600 career and two TD catches for 50 in his San Jose career... WR/LB JAMES ROE needs two TD catches for 100 career... OS JAMES HUNDON needs four TD catches for 100 career... The SaberCats are the only team to reach 50 points in all 11 games this season and have scored 50-or-more points in a game at least 11 times in each of the past five seasons... The SaberCats have reached the 50-point mark 82 times in their 137 regular season game history and are 67-15 (.817) when scoring 50-or-more points in a game.

INDIANA FIREBIRDS (6-6) AT LAS VEGAS GLADIATORS (4-7)
SUNDAY, MAY 2, AT 3 P.M. ET

Indiana is No. 1 in the League in turnover differential (+15, 26 take-aways, 11 give-aways)... Offensive Player of the Year candidate MARCUS NASH has had five 100-yards or more receiving games... Last week in a win against Detroit, Nash had 7 receptions for 90 yards and 4 TDs... Currently, Nash is No. 1 in the League in scoring (206 points)...QB CLINT DOLEZEL (264-of-392 for 3072 yards, 65 TDs, eight INTs) is No. 2 in the League in TDs and the No. 3 ranked passer in the AFL... Defensive Player of the Week for his play last week against the Detroit Fury, Las Vegas WR/DB COCO BLALOCK recorded three receptions for 43 yards and one TD on offense... He added four KO returns for 140 yards, including a 56-yard TD on special teams... On defense, Blalock tallied 4.0 total tackles... Gladiators DS MARVIN TAYLOR had two INTs last week against the Fury and has made his mark with five INTs on the season (No. 2 in the League)... Taylor is also currently leading the team in total tackles with 45.5... Nash is making a run at the League record of 138 receptions set by EDDIE BROWN in 1999 for the Firebirds... Nash needs to average seven receptions per game over the final five games to reach the mark... Nash is 10 points shy of breaking the Gladiator single-season record set last season by current Indiana Firebird MIKE HORACEK (214)... The last and only meeting between the teams was in 2001 when the Gladiators dropped the Firebirds in OT 62-61 in New Jersey.

NEW YORK DRAGONS (6-5) AT DALLAS DESPERADOS (6-5)
SUNDAY, MAY 2, AT 3 P.M. ET

Tied for the lead in the Eastern Division, both the Dragons and Desperados sit in a four-way tie for the final two playoff-spots... Dragons QB AARON GARCIA (200-of-319 for 2544 yards, 65 TDs, six INTs) is No. 2 in the League for TDs and is ranked No. 5 among all QBs in the AFL... Dragons LINCOLN DUPREE is No. 8 in the AFL with 81 MFG return-yards and tied for No. 1 with one TD while ranking No. 6 averaging 27.0 yards per return... As a kick returner, Dupree is No. 4 in the League, averaging 21.4 yards/return... The Dragons average 48.5 PPG allowed on defense (No. 9 in AFL) and 16.4 rushing yards (No. 4 in AFL)... The Dragons have won their six games by an average score of 55-41... Dallas WR/LB WILL PETTIS is No. 1 in the AFL for all-purpose yards (2241 total: 28 rushing, 809 receiving, 1404 kick returns)... Rookie of the Year candidate BOBBY SIPPIO leads all rookies in scoring, with 23 TDs for 140 points... Through 11 games, the Dallas defense is allowing opponents to convert on third downs only 46.4 percent of the time, No. 5 in the League... Dallas has out scored the Dragons 71-42 in the fourth quarter to secure all three victories.

PHILADELPHIA SOUL (5-6) AT COLORADO CRUSH (8-4)
SUNDAY, MAY 2, AT 3 P.M. ET

Colorado OS and Offensive Player of the Year candidate DAMIAN HARRELL has seven games of 100-yards or more in receiving... Last week, he had a season-high of 176 yards for five TDs... Harrell is No. 2 in the League in scoring (34 receiving TDs for 204 points), No. 4 in receptions (85) and No. 1 in receiving yards (1315)... Harrell is only two points behind Gladiators' WR MARCUS NASH in scoring... DS RASHAD FLOYD leads the League in combined tackles (93.5: 83 solo, 21 assists)... WR/DB KEVIN MCKENZIE ranks No. 2 on the team in receptions with 66 for 800 yards and nine TDs... McKenize is tied for No. 4 in the AFL in both INTs (two) and is also tied for No. 2 in fumble recoveries (two)... The Soul defense is ranked No. 2 in the League in red-zone defense... Soul opponents have had 47 possessions inside the 10-yard line and have only given up 33 TDs and 234 points... Soul opponents have been flagged a league high 112 times for 702 yards, an average of 63.8 YPG... The Soul has one of the hardest remaining schedules in the League, facing opponents with a 31-25 record (.554)... Soul opponents average drive start begins on the 11.3 yard-line, the best start for a defense in the League... The Soul are 5-3 when scoring more than 40 points in a game... Soul QB TODD HAMMEL is tied for No. 5 in the league in passing yards/attempts... Hammel has attempted 139 passes for 1154 yards, an average of 8.3 yards per attempt... Hammel ranks No. 2 in yards per catch, completing 82 for a 14.1 yards per catch average.

CHICAGO RUSH (7-4) AT DETROIT FURY (4-7)
SUNDAY, MAY 2, AT 3 P.M. ET
(TV: NBC – ALLEN BESTWICK, RAY BENTLEY and MARTY SNYDER)

Detroit QB ANDY KELLY needs three TDs to reach 600 career... When the Rush and Fury met at Allstate Arena on March 28, Fury QB Kelly scored on a three-yard run with just three seconds remaining, giving the Fury a 72-71 victory... Kelly completed 22-of-32 passes for 306 yards and seven TDs... That same game, Detroit WR/LB THABITI DAVIS caught 12 passes for 194 yards and five TDs... Chicago Rush WR/LB and Rookie of the Year candidate ETU MOLDEN is No. 2 in scoring among all rookies in the League with 126 points (three rushing TDs, 16 receiving TDs and 1 KO return TD)... OL/DL JOHN MOYER is No. 3 in the League in sacks this season with 6.0... OL/DL JAMES BARON is tied for No. 1 in forced fumbles with four... Last week, Chicago suffered its worst loss in franchise history, a 71-35 loss to the L.A. Avengers... QB RAYMOND PHILYAW suffered a mild sprain of the MCL in his right knee in the second quarter of last Sunday's game, and is expected to miss 1-4 weeks... QB CHAD SALISBURY will make his first start of the season this week against Detroit... Salisbury is 1-1 in road games... This year, Salisbury has taken snaps in three games (Philadelphia, Orlando and LA), connecting on 19-of-28 passes for 177 yards and three TDs... The Rush now has lost back-to-back games for the first time in more than a year (3/23/03 vs. New York and 3/29/03 at Grand Rapids)... The Rush broke its last two-game losing streak with a 62-45 win in Detroit on April 4, 2003, starting a stretch in which the team won four of its next five... The Rush have gained 310 yards and scored 32 TDs on the ground this season... The Rush may break their team record of 333 rushing yards in a season... The last time Chicago and Detroit met, Kelly passed for 306 yards against the Rush defense, marking only the seventh time in the team's history that it has allowed a 300-yard passer.

TAMPA BAY STORM (5-7) AT ORLANDO PREDATORS (6-5)
SUNDAY, MAY 2, AT 3 P.M. ET
(TV: NBC – TOM HAMMOND, PAT HADEN and LEWIS JOHNSON)

The win against Columbus was the second straight for Tampa Bay, marking the first time the Storm have won back-to-back games this season... Orlando has won three in a row... Orlando Head Coach JAY GRUDEN is one win away from 50th career win... CORY FLEMING has five 100-yard or more receiving games... Last week, Fleming had 11 receptions for 124 yards and four TDs... Fleming is No. 3 in receptions (89) and No. 4 in receiving yards (1131)... DS KENNY MCENTYRE helped lead the Orlando Predators to a 64-49 victory over the Dallas Desperados on Sunday with 5.0 total tackles, one pass breakup and two INTs... With his first INT, McEntyre became the AFL's sole career leader in INTs, breaking a tie with DURWOOD ROQUEMORE (50). The Glove has 52 career INTs and is tied for the League lead with six... Tampa Bay Storm WR/DB T.T. TOLIVER returned a kickoff 58 yards for a TD last week against Columbus, marking the third time in the past two weeks that Toliver scored on a KO return. This season, Toliver ranks No. 5 in the League in KO return yards and KO return average... Toliver had returned 44 kickoffs for 933 yards... The Storm held the Destroyers to just 36 points and 206 yards of total offense. The Storm moved up one spot to No. 2 in the AFL in total defense... They now reside behind only the Orlando Predators' defense in that category... In the Storm's five wins this season, the Tampa Bay defense has allowed an average of 38.0 points per game... The Predators lead the league with 21 QB sacks this season.



Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from April 28, 2004


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