Things Are Heating Up For the AFL on NBC
April 30, 2004 - arenafootball2 (af2)
Quad City Steamwheelers News Release
DAVENPORT, Iowa â With the Arena Football League regular season slowly winding down, each game becomes more crucial than the last. Almost every game has playoff implications in one form or fashion.
That will be the case this Sunday, when the Chicago Rush (7-4) and the Detroit Fury (4-7) go to battle on the AFL on NBC, seen locally on KWQC-TV6. Kickoff is set for 2 p.m.
Former Steamwheelers quarterback Billy Dicken was a backup to Fury quarterback Andy Kelly, and even took over for Kelly in last weekends game against the Las Vegas Gladiators.
Dicken had a productive game, as he completed 15 of 25 passes for 172 yards, three touchdowns and an interception. The effort was not enough to overcome the Gladiators as the Fury fell 60-34.
In the game, Dicken suffered a broken elbow and will miss the remainder of the season, leaving everything in the hands of Kelly. Below is the "Must See Matchup" for this weekend's game.
DETROIT QB ANDY KELLY vs. CHICAGO DEFENSE One of the premier AFL quarterbacks of all time, Detroit QB ANDY KELLY, needs just four passing touchdowns this Sunday to become the second passer in AFL history to throw 600 in his career (New York's AARON GARCIA, 609), but he will be facing one of the toughest defensive fronts in the AFL â the Chicago Rush.
Now in his 10th AFL season, Kelly (6-3, 220, Tennessee) holds AFL career passing records for yards (30,745), attempts (4,491) and completions (2,743). The former Volunteer became the first AFL quarterback to surpass 30,000 career-passing yards earlier this season in the Fury's Week 9 win over the Georgia Force. In 2004, he has completed 240-of-407 passes for 2,898 yards, 48 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. The Chicago defense is one of the AFL's stingiest. Led by All-Arena and Lineman of the Year candidates JAMES BARON (6-4, 260, Virginia Tech) and JOHN MOYER (6-3, 265, Eastern Illinois), the Rush's quick and physical group keeps quarterbacks second-guessing. The Rush are among the league leaders in scoring defense (47.1, No. 6), turnover ratio (+9, No. 4) sacks (17.0, No. 2) and interceptions (11, tied-No. 1).
Be sure to catch the AFL on NBC every Sunday, seen locally on KWQC-TV6.
There are currently 14 former Steamwheelers in the AFL and with the 2004 Steamwheelers off to a 3-1 start there is a good chance that more will move up after this season. Don't miss your chance to see the stars of tomorrow today.
This weekend the Steamwheelers are playing host to the Green Bay Blizzard (1-2) at The MARK of the Quad Cities on Saturday night. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m.
Former Steamwheeler Randall Lane is now the starting offensive specialist for the Blizzard and his making his return to The MARK on Saturday night. Good tickets are still available and may be purchased at The MARK box office or through TicketMaster by calling 563-326-1111 or visiting www.ticketmaster.com.
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