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Thursday Game Recap

July 5, 2002 - arenafootball2 (af2) News Release


Carolina 58, TORONTO 44 (5,629)

TORONTO, Ontario (Ticker) -- JOHN FITZGERALD threw six touchdown passes to help the Carolina Cobras snap their five-game losing streak in a 58-44 win over the Toronto Phantoms on Thursday night.

Fitzgerald earned game MVP honors after completing 25-of-36 passes for 287 yards with no interceptions for Carolina (5-7). He connected with AARON BAILEY for three scores and ran in a 16-yard touchdown midway though the fourth quarter to break a 44-44 tie.

RJ ANDERSON caught a career-high eight balls for 83 yards and two touchodwns for Carolina, which scored 21 points off of turnovers en route to a season-high in points.

PAT O'HARA completed 20-of-36 passes for 207 yards and four scores, but was intercepted three times and fumbled once for Toronto (5-7). ANTHONY DERRICKS matched a team-high with nine kick returns for 241 yards, including a 57-yard kick-off return for a touchdown, and recorded 7.5 tackles, earning Ironman of the Game honors. The loss marked the fourth straight at home for the Phantoms and the second consecutive week they gave up 58 points in a game.

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TONIGHT'S GAME

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INDIANA FIREBIRDS (5-6) AT SAN JOSE SABERCATS (11-0), 10:30 P.M. ET -- San Jose's quest for an undefeated season continues as two of the AFL's all-time greats -- San Jose WR/DB BARRY WAGNER and Indiana OS EDDIE BROWN - square off.

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PLAYERS OF THE MONTH -- JUNE

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OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE MONTH - New Jersey Gladiators, OS, MIKE HORACEK. The former Offensive Player of the Year has returned to his 2000 award-winning form during the month of June. Horacek (6-2, 205, Iowa St.) helped the Gladiators (7-4) to the top of the Eastern Division by tallying 36 receptions, 401 yards, and 12 touchdowns during a 3-2 month for New Jersey. The former Cyclone is currently leads the league in receptions (87) and No. 7 in scoring (132 points).

DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE MONTH - Georgia Force, DS, CLIFF GREEN.

The three-year AFL veteran has been making an impact in the Force secondary. Green (5-8, 185, Tennessee St.) recorded 37.5 total tackles, four interceptions, and 10 pass breakups for the month. His highlight game came against Grand Rapids when he tallied eight total tackles, two interceptions, and three pass breakups in the 42-41 last-second loss. Green is No. 3 in tackles (66.0), while he leads the Force in interceptions (6) and pass breakups (14).

IRONMAN OF THE MONTH - Los Angeles Avengers, WR/LB, GREG HOPKINS.

The former All-Arena and All-Ironman performer excelled on both sides of the ball in June. Hopkins (6-2, 205, Slippery Rock) hauled in 35 receptions, 421 yards, and 11 touchdowns on the offensive side. From the linebacker spot, he recorded 11.5 total tackles, recovered two fumbles, three interceptions, and three pass breakups. The Rock graduate also recorded his record-setting eighth interception return for a touchdown in his career on his way to securing Ironman of the Week honors in Week 10. Hopkins is ranked No. 3 in receptions (79) and receiving yards (989), while placing fifth in scoring (148).

ROOKIE OF THE MONTH - Chicago Rush, OS, ANTONIO CHATMAN.

The rookie Offensive Specialist came into his own during the month of June. Chatman (5-9, 180, Cincinnati) became BILLY DICKEN's favorite receiver, catching 39 passes for 471 yards and eight touchdowns. As a return man, Chatman averaged 24 yards a return, returning 27 kicks for 641 yards and two touchdowns. Chatman had more receptions and receiving yards in June than any other top receiver in the AFL. For the season, the former Bearcat is No. 2 in kickoff return average (23.0) and No. 4 in all-purpose yards (2,001 yards).

KICKER OF THE MONTH - Dallas Desperados, K, JASON WELLS.

The Desperados find themselves in the hunt for the playoffs thanks partly to the accurate leg of the second-year pro. Wells (6-2, 210, Furman) connected on 12-of-16 field goals and 32-of-34 on extra points. The former Paladin standout's highlight game came against Arizona when he made five field goals, including a 34-yard game-winner at the final buzzer. Wells currently leads the AFL in field goals (18) and field goal percentage (62.1).

PREVIOUS WINNERS
OFFENSIVE: APRIL: Chris Jackson (Los Angeles); MAY: Steve Smith (Grand Rapids) & Mark Grieb (San Jose)
DEFENSIVE: APRIL: Steve Konopka (Toronto); MAY: Donvetis Franklin (New York)
IRONMAN: APRIL: Chris Horn (Arizona); MAY: Chad Dukes (Los Angeles)
ROOKIE: APRIL: Clevan Thomas (San Jose); MAY: Dialleo Burks (Dallas)
KICKER: APRIL: Clay Rush (New York); MAY: Mike Black (Tampa Bay)

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QUICK HITTERS

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TURN ME AROUND, AND AROUND: If the New Jersey Gladiators (7-4) win 2 of 3 remaining games, they will have made the biggest season-to-season improvement in history after finishing 2-12 last year. Coach FRANK HAEGE now has a 44-5 (.899) record in Arena Football games, which includes a 37-1 record with the Steamwheelers of arenafootball2. Here's a look at the biggest turnarounds in the past decade:

6-GAME IMPROVEMENT:
San Jose 6-8 to 12-2 (1999-00)
Iowa 5-9 to 11-3 (1998-99)
Milwaukee 4-8 to 10-4 (1995-96)
Orlando 3-7 to 9-1 (1991-92)

5-GAME IMPROVEMENT:
Grand Rapids 6-8 to 11-3 (2000-01)
Iowa 7-5 to 12-2 (1995-96)
Albany 5-7 to 10-2 (1993-94)

THE RUNNING MAN - QB JAY MCDONAGH holds the Gladiators record for longest rush from scrimmage with a 31-yard scamper in Week 11, eclipsing the previous mark of 29 by CONNELL MAYNOR last year. McDonagh is No. 1 among QBs with 65 yards rushing on 19 attempts and tied with Maynor logging 5 TDs. Here's a look at this year's top 5 rushing QBs as well as some of the top rushing QBs throughout the AFL's 16 seasons:

PLAYER, TEAM ATT YDS TD
Jay McDonagh, NJ 19 65 5
Connell Maynor, Car/Orl. 13 61 5
Raymond Philyaw, Ind. 14 49 3
Tony Graziani, LA 12 37 3
Shane Stafford, TB 12 26 2

TODD HAMMEL - Set record for QBs with 222 career rushing attempts (1992-current); No. 4th overall with 61 career rushing TDs, tops among QBs. MAJOR HARRIS - Set milestones for QBs with 837 career rushing yards (1991-92, '94) and 429 in one season (1991, Columbus). MIKE HOLD - No. 9 with 209 career rushing attempts (1987-00). AARON GARCIA - Holds record among QBs with 15 rushing TDs in a season (1999, Iowa).

CITY OF BIG HANDS - Chicago Rush is the only team with 5 players having scored 10 or more TDs each, while on the other side of the ball, the Rush is No. 1 with 20 INTs (DAMEON PORTER - 8). Indiana is No. 2 with 18 this season. Here's a look at most INTs by a team in one season:

INTS TEAM, YEAR
29 Orlando, 1992
26 Albany, 1996
26 San Jose, 1998
25 Detroit, 1993
24 New Jersey, 1997
24 Orlando, 2001

SCORING MACHINE: With 3 games left, the SaberCats boast the highest scoring offensive unit in history, scoring 658 points in 10 games (65.8). last year' s NY Dragons hold the top spot with 898 (64.1). next highest scoring team this season is Chicago (53.8). Here's a look at the top 10 juggernauts in league history:

TEAM, YR PTS AVG/G
New York, 2001 898 64.1
Albany, 1996 873 62.4
San Jose, 2000 871 62.4
San Jose, 2001 831 59.4
Albany, 1999 822 58.7
Albany, 2000 815 58.2
Indiana, 2001 814 58.1
Iowa, 1997 803 57.4
G. Rapids, 2001 801 57.2
Iowa, 2000 797 56.9

THIEF IN THE NIGHT - Chicago's DAMEON PORTER is No. 1 with 8 INTs. last year, Porter was the league's top thief as well, with a record-tying 12 picks. the last time the same player led the league in INTs two straight seasons was Orlando's KENNY MCENTYRE in 1999 and 2000. McEntyre is No. 2 this season with 7. Hall of Fame DS, DURWOOD ROQUEMORE is the only other player to lead the league in that category twice - but not consecutively - in 1990 and '94.

.WITH FLYING COLORS - With 3 games remaining, Rampage QB CLINT DOLEZEL needs to average 290.3 ypg to become the first player to chalk up 4,000 passing yards in three different seasons. 3,129 so far this year. Dolezel also hit the mark in 1998 and '99 while NY's AARON GARCIA threw for 4,000+ in 2000 and '01.

NO SOPHOMORE JINX: SaberCats OS, JAMES HUNDON, playing in his second season, is No. 1 in scoring with 168 points (28 TDs). second-year star, CHRIS HORN of Arizona is tied with LA's CHRIS JACKSON at 164. not since EDDIE BROWN in 1994 has a first- or second-year player been crowned the scoring champ... Here's a look at standouts that have finished a season as No. 1 in scoring:

YEAR PLAYER, TEAM TD PTS EXP
1988 Carl Aikens, Chi. 22 132 1st
1989 George LaFrance, Det. 11 66 2nd
1992 Stevie Thomas, TB 27 162 2nd
1993 Barry Wagner, Orl. 28 170 2nd
1994 Eddie Brown, Alb. 48 288 1st

LA'S NEWEST DUO - While they may not be stealing headlines from Kobe and Shaq, the Avengers duo of CHRIS JACKSON and GREG HOPKINS is proving to be the most explosive scoring tandem in history, combining for 312 points and 51 TDs, good enough for fifth all-time. Jackson, in only 8 games, is No. 2 with 164 points while Hopkins is No. 5 with 148, making them the only teammates to be ranked in the top 10 in scoring. Here's a year-by-year look at teammates (non-kicking) ranked in the top 10 in scoring:

PTS TEAMMATES, TEAM YEAR
370 Alvin Ashley/Larry Willis, NJ 1998
338 Barry Wagner/Billy Owens, Orl. 1994
338 George LaFrance/S. Thomas, TB 1996
320 Gary Compton/Sean Riley, Mil. 2000
258 Andre Langley/B. Sargent, Det. 1993
242 Stevie Thomas/Andre Bowden, TB 1993
222 Carl Aikens/Reggie Smith, Chi. 1998
220 Barry Wagner/Herkie Walls, Orl. 1992
146 Fred Gayles/Tom Porras, Alb. 1991
120 Dwayne Dixon/Lenny Taylor, Wash. 1987
116 Carl Aikens/Mitchell Ward, Dal. 1990
72 Carl Aikens/Darryl Clark, Chi. 1989

THE GAME WINNERS: Trailing in the last few minutes of a game, Arizona's SHERDRICK BONNER and Dallas' ANDY KELLY are the men to have under center, at least according to this season's game winning drives. Twice they have guided their teams to victory in the closing seconds, while Tampa Bay's SCOTT MILANOVICH and Grand Rapids' CLINT DOLEZEL have also done their best JOHN ELWAY impersonation this season... Here's a look at the game winning drives by these four quarterbacks (all 6 are game ending drives):

· In Week 2 against Los Angeles, down 51-52 with 3:47 left, Bonner completed 4 passes for 42 yards including a 2-yard TD to HUNKIE COOPER for a 63-59 win.

· In Week 7 against Indiana, down 50-52 with 1:49 left, Milanovich went 2-for-4 for 15 yards to set up a MIKE BLACK 21-yard FG in a 53-52 win.

· In Week 8 against Carolina, tied at 42 in overtime, Bonner completed 3 consecutive passes for 48 yards before handing off to CHRIS HORN for a one-yard TD in a 48-42 win.

· In Week 9 against Arizona, tied at 33 with 23 seconds left, Kelly went 2-for-5 for 27 yards to get the Desperados in position for JASON WELLS' 34-yard FG that won the game, 36-33.

· In Week 10 against Georgia, with no time on the clock, Dolezel connected with STEVE SMITH on a 31-yard TD pass. BRIAN GOWINS nailed the extra point for a 42-41 victory.

· In Week 10 against Tampa Bay, Kelly hit SHANNON CULVER with a 16-yard pass in overtime to beat the Storm, 62-56.

THE "DUKES" OF HAZZARD - Avengers FB/LB CHAD DUKES is the league's rushing leader with 200 yards and 10 TDs. he is the only player to have led the league in rushing yards twice, in 1997 and '98 when he racked up 364 yards in each including totals of 17 and 10 TDs, respectively. last year's champ, Georgia's TRAVIS REECE, is No. 2 with 166 yards this season.

THE "TWO-YEAR QB PRODUCTION SNAPSHOT" - TOP TWO-YEAR TD PERFORMERS

Quarterback Years Year 1 Year 2 Total
Aaron Garcia, Iowa/New York 2000-01 92 104 196
Clint Dolezel, Grand Rapids 2001-02 80 64* 164
Clint Dolezel, Houston 1998-99 81 80 161
Aaron Garcia, Iowa 1999-2000 68 92 160
Andy Kelly, Nashville 1997-98 82 73 155
Mike Pawlawski, Albany 1998-99 74 79 153
Mike Pawlawski, Albany 1999-2000 79 70 149
Andy Kelly, Nashville 1998-99 73 67 140
Mike Perez, Albany 1995-96 56 84 140
Kurt Warner, Iowa 1996-97 61 79 140
BOLD - Active Streak
* - Through 11 games

Below is a list of the top 5 defensive line units, registering totals for Sacks, Tackles for Loss, Forced Fumbles, QB Hurries, Interceptions, and Tackles. The Score, or Total, is the sum of all of the categories:

TOP DEFENSIVE LINE UNITS
TEAM SACKS TFL FF QH INT TKLS TOTAL
Detroit 11.0 10.5 4 15 0 89.5 130.0
Toronto 9.0 15 6 15 0 74.0 119.0
Orlando 12.5 15 4 1 0 73.0 105.5
San Jose 12.5 13 4 0 2 64.5 96.0
Chicago 6.0 10 6 2 2 69.0 95.0
Indiana 5.5 8.5 2 8 0 65.5 89.5
Los Angeles 10.0 11.5 0 5 0 62.0 88.5
Arizona 11.0 8.5 2 0 0 52.0 73.5



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