Two Kats Heartbreaks Among AFL's 20 Greatest Games
February 22, 2006 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Nashville Kats News Release
NASHVILLE (Feb. 22, 2006) - Two games the Nashville Kats would love to forget made the AFL's 20 Greatest Games list, which was released by the league on Wednesday as part of the continuing celebration of the AFL's 20th season.
Nashville's 41-38 loss to Orlando in ArenaBowl XIV on Aug. 20, 2000, tied as the 10th all-time greatest game. Orlando's David Cool connected on a 19-yard field goal at the buzzer to dash the Kats' championship hopes.
Perhaps the Kats' most heartbreaking regular season loss - a 61-59 defeat to eventual ArenaBowl champ Albany on July 9, 1999 - came in at number 18. Albany's Eddie Brown, who was recently chosen as the best AFL player of all time, caught a 35-yard pass off the net from quarterback Mike Pawlawski as time expired for the winning touchdown.
Here is a complete look at the AFL's 20 Greatest Games, as selected by the league's 20th Season Historical Committee, of which Nashville WR/LB Darryl Hammond is a member:
1. August 26, 1996: ArenaBowl X, Tampa Bay 42, Iowa 38
What do you get when you combine a hostile environment, two legendary quarterbacks, great defense and a little splash of controversy? The answer is the greatest game in AFL history.
ArenaBowl X was played on August 26, 1996 at Veteran's Memorial Auditorium in Des Moines, Iowa, a.k.a. "The Barn," between the defending ArenaBowl champion Tampa Bay Storm and the upstart Iowa Barnstormers.
Legendary quarterbacks JAY GRUDEN of Tampa Bay and KURT WARNER of Iowa put up 56 total first-half points but defense dominated the second half. With 4:09 left in the game, Iowa took possession trailing 42-38. Warner moved the Barnstormers to the one-yard line as the clock continued to tick.
"What I remember most about that game is how loud the inside of that arena was," says Gruden. "From kickoff to final buzzer, it was as noisy as any venue that I can remember playing in. It was such a great atmosphere."
Iowa failed to score the go-ahead touchdown on its first three chances from the one-yard line, including a desperate dive for the end zone near the boards. The ball was controversially marked short of the goal line.
"The goal-line controversy came with almost a minute left," says Gruden. "Even if the officials would have ruled it a touchdown, we still would have had a lot of time to score."
On fourth down with less than a minute remaining from the three-yard line, Warner's final pass to WILLIS JACOX fell short in the end zone. Tampa Bay successfully killed the clock and won their second consecutive championship.
"To cap off my career with the Storm with a fourth championship in six years obviously made it more special," says Gruden about his last game as Tampa Bay's quarterback. "We won it in typical Storm fashion."
ArenaBowl X finished on top of an impressive list of memorable AFL games. The Storm were a part of six of the 20 Greatest Games, the most of any franchise, followed closely by Albany and Arizona, who played in five each.
remaining 20 Greatest games Descriptions
2. August 18, 1995: Playoffs, Tampa Bay 56, Albany 49 - Albany mounts a fourth-quarter comeback to tie the game with 15 seconds left. Tampa Bay's Stevie Thomas returns the ensuing kickoff 54 yards for a touchdown.
3. June 19, 1992: Orlando 50, Detroit 49 - With Detroit leading 42-32, the "Miracle Minute" begins. In the final 46 seconds, Orlando's Barry Wagner scores two touchdowns, two two-point conversions, recovers an onside kick attempt, and makes a game-saving tackle to help lead the Predators to victory.
4. June 27, 2004: ArenaBowl XVIII, San Jose 69, Arizona 62 - San Jose returns an onside kick to give the SaberCats a seven-point lead late in the game. After marching down the field, Arizona QB Sherdrick Bonner's pass falls short of the end zone as time expires.
5. July 15, 2000: Iowa 77, Albany 76 - Iowa's Mike Horacek totals an AFL receiving-yardage record 285 yards in leading the Barnstormers to an explosive yet narrow triumph over Albany.
6. August 17, 1991: ArenaBowl V, Tampa Bay 48, Detroit 42 - Stevie Thomas' fourth touchdown catch of the day from Jay Gruden wins the championship for the Storm.
7t. August 16, 1996: Playoffs, Tampa Bay 55, Arizona 54 - An 18-yard Herb Duncan touchdown reception from Sherdrick Bonner with nine seconds left brings Arizona to within one. However, Tampa Bay stops Arizona's two-point attempt for the win.
7t. June 5, 2005: Playoffs, Colorado 49, Chicago 43 - Andy McCullough of the Crush catches a 22-yard touchdown pass in overtime to win the "Confetti Game," so named due to confetti being accidentally released onto the field before the end of regulation.
9. July 7, 2001: New York 99, Carolina 68 - New York scores a league-record 99 points. Both teams combine for 167 points, which is also a league-record. New York's Aaron Garcia sets an AFL record with 11 touchdown passes.
10t.September 2, 1994: ArenaBowl VIII, Arizona 36, Orlando 31 - Arizona upsets undefeated Orlando with a Sherdrick Bonner 24-yard touchdown pass to Calvin Schexnayder with 31 seconds left.
10t.August 20, 2000: ArenaBowl XIV, Orlando 41, Nashville 38 - Closely played match ends when Orlando's David Cool hits a 19-yard field goal as time expires.
12. August 27, 1994: Playoffs, Arizona 40, Albany 33 - With Arizona leading 29-20 going into the fourth quarter, Eddie Brown scores twice giving Albany the lead. Sherdrick Bonner leads a drive culminating with a 36-yard touchdown pass to Milton Vaughn for the victory.
13. August 16, 1997: Playoffs, Arizona 49, Tampa Bay 46 - Rich Fall hits a 30-yard field goal in overtime to give Tampa Bay the lead. On the next drive, Arizona wins the game on a 13-yard touchdown pass from Donnie Davis to Randy Gatewood.
14. June 12, 2005: ArenaBowl XIX, Colorado 51, Georgia 48 - Clay Rush hits a 20-yard field goal as time expires to give the Crush its first ArenaBowl championship.
June 9, 2000: San Jose 85, New England 76 - Anthony Derricks accumulates an AFL record 336 kick-return yards and a record four return touchdowns for New England in a losing cause.
16t.June 29, 1991: Tampa Bay 57, Albany 53 - Tampa Bay scores 21 points to overcome an 17-point fourth-quarter deficit.
16t. June 21, 1996: Iowa 59, Orlando 50 - Barry Wagner gains an AFL record 434 all-purpose yards for Orlando in a tough loss to Iowa.
18. July 9, 1999: Albany 61, Nashville 59 - Eddie Brown's last second 35-yard touchdown reception from Mike Pawlawski wins the game.
19. July 16, 1987: Chicago 64, Washington 61 - In the AFL's first season, Washington's Dwayne Dixon catches an AFL record 20 passes in a loss to Chicago. The record still stands.
20. June 20, 1987: Denver 52, Chicago 44 - In the league's second-ever game, a thrilling end of regulation leads to the first-ever overtime contest. Denver's STUART MITCHELL hits DURELL TAYLOR with a 39-yard TD pass, and Denver's defense holds Chicago to a stop for the win.
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The AFL's 20th Season kicked off Friday, January 27 and among the many activities, tributes and special events taking place is a season-long celebration of the league's history. As a result, the Arena Football League formed a historical committee to select the 20 Greatest Players, Games, Moments and Teams in league history. The results are being released throughout the season (see below). AFL fans will be able to voice their opinions on the AFL's Web site, www.arenafootball.com.
Remaining 20 Seasons Tributes
20 Greatest Moments March 29
20 Greatest Teams May 17
The esteemed Historical Committee consists of a diverse mix of AFL personalities all with a strong knowledge of the league and its history. The members are: Howard Balzer, a journalist who has covered the AFL since its inception; Hunkie Cooper, a former player and current assistant coach who holds the record for career all-purpose yards; DarRyl Hammond, an active player who will begin his 16th season this year; Mike Hohensee, head coach of the Chicago Rush and the first player to throw an AFL touchdown; Joe KaufFman, the president of ArenaFan Online; George LaFrance, a former player who won five ArenaBowl championships; Bill Niro, an AFL founder; and Gene Nudo, head coach of the Arizona Rattlers, whose career has spanned 19 of the AFL's 20 seasons.
Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from February 22, 2006
- Two Kats Heartbreaks Among AFL's 20 Greatest Games - Nashville Kats
- Rumble in the House in Philadelphia - AFL I
- ArenaBowl X Named Greatest Game - Tampa Bay Storm
- 20 greatest games in AFL history revealed - AFL I
- AFL week five injury report - AFL I
- New York Dragons game notes - New York Dragons
- AFL Collectable Player of the Week - AFL I
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
