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AFL I Arena Football League (1987-2008)

Top-ranked Desperados true road warriors

April 5, 2006 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I) News Release


NEW YORK - The Dallas Desperados (8-2), the unanimous choice for the top spot in this week's AFLWA Schutt Sports Top 12 Poll after a 51-30 win over Columbus (5-5) last week, hope to continue their winning ways away from home this week as they attempt to become just the second team in AFL history to begin a season with six straight road wins. Dallas travels to the Big Apple to take on the New York Dragons (6-4) at the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum on Sunday at 1 p.m. ET on NBC.

Following is a list of the teams with the most road wins to begin an AFL season:

TEAM YEAR ROAD WINS
Arizona Rattlers 2000 7
Dallas Desperados 2006 6
San Jose SaberCats 2002 5
Nashville Kats 2000 5
Tampa Bay Storm 1998 5
Arizona Rattlers 1998 5
Orlando Predators 1997 5
Arizona Rattlers 1997 5
Tampa Bay Storm 1996 5
Orlando Predators 1994 5
Tampa Bay Storm 1992 5
Orlando Predators 1992 5
Detroit Drive 1991 5
Chicago Bruisers 1988 5

Of the 13 teams listed above, not including Dallas, each went at least as far as the Playoff Semifinals. Nine teams reached the ArenaBowl and San Jose in 2002, Arizona in 1997 and Tampa Bay in 1996 claimed the ArenaBowl Jim Foster Trophy.

Dallas quarterback CLINT DOLEZEL continues to rake in the awards, this time earning Offensive Player of the Month honors for March. He has earned Offensive Player of the Week honors twice (Weeks 7-8) and won the AFLWA Midseason Offensive Player Award. Dolezel leads the AFL with 67 touchdown passes.

The Dragons, who are in sole possession of second place in the Eastern Division two games behind Dallas, have won three of their last four games to climb back into the Drive to ArenaBowl XX Las Vegas.

The Chicago Rush (4-6) travel to Philadelphia to take on the Soul (5-5) at the Wachovia Center on Sunday at 1 p.m. ET on NBC. The game pits Rush co-owner and Pro Football Hall-of-Famer MIKE DITKA against Soul President RON JAWORSKI, two of the most respected minds in football.

Chicago Head Coach MIKE HOHENSEE could become only the third AFL head coach, joining Tampa Bay's TIM MARCUM (180 wins) and Utah's DANNY WHITE (144 wins), to reach the 100 victory mark this week. Hohensee earned his 99th career win two weeks ago with a 51-44 win over Grand Rapids.

Two of the AFL's most productive quarterbacks will go head-to-head when MARK GRIEB and the San Jose SaberCats (4-6) travel to Tampa Bay to take on SHANE STAFFORD and the Storm (6-4) on Friday at 7:30 p.m. ET on WB San Jose and AFL Net. Stafford leads the AFL with 3,093 yards but Grieb is right behind with 3,091.

White faces his former team when the Arizona Rattlers visit Salt Lake City on Friday at 9 p.m. ET on FSN Arizona (tape delay time 1:30 a.m. ET) and FSN Utah. He spent 13 seasons in Phoenix and led the team to two world championships with wins in ArenaBowls VIII and XI. White also was named AFL Coach of the Year in 1993 and was inducted into the Arena Football League Hall of Fame in 2002.

Blaze OS SIAHA BURLEY, who is second in the League in receptions (84), yards (1,212) and touchdowns (28), also has ties to Arizona. He spent the 2004-05 seasons with the Rattlers and last season, set a franchise record with 45 touchdown receptions.

The AFL's top rushing offense will take on the top overall defense this weekend when the Nashville Kats (6-4) travel to Las Vegas to take on the Gladiators (5-5) on Saturday at 3 p.m. ET on FSN South (tape delay at 4:00 p.m. ET) and FSN West2 (tape delay at 4:00 p.m. ET). Las Vegas is averaging an AFL-best 37.4 rushing yards per game while Nashville's defense is allowing a League-best 255.1 yards per contest and 5.1 yards per play.

Other games this week: Colorado at Grand Rapids on Friday, Los Angeles at Kansas City on Sunday, Orlando at Columbus on Sunday and Georgia at Austin on Sunday.

20 Greatest Moments in AFL History The 20 Greatest Moments in AFL history, as chosen by the 20th Season Historical Committee, were revealed today and JIM FOSTER'S inspirational moment at Madison Square Garden in 1981, which led to the creation of the indoor game and the Arena Football League, was voted No. 1. For the complete list, visit www.arenafootball.com.

This Week in AFL History

April 13, 2003: The Arizona Rattlers set an AFL record for most yards gained in a single game with 497 in a 82-76 overtime win over the Los Angeles Avengers.

AFLWA Schutt Sports Top 12 Poll

1. Dallas Desperados (17) 8-2 204
2. Colorado Crush 7-3 180
3. Austin Wranglers 7-3 177
4. Orlando Predators 6-4 138
5. Georgia Force 6-4 126
6. Nashville Kats 6-4 117
7. Tampa Bay Storm 6-4 111
8. New York Dragons 6-4 92
T9. Arizona Rattlers 5-5 49
T9. Las Vegas Gladiators 5-5 49
11. Columbus Destroyers 5-5 41
12. Philadelphia Soul 5-5 35
Others receiving votes: San Jose SaberCats 6, Chicago Rush 1.
Dropped out: Chicago Rush (12).

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Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from April 5, 2006


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