Two Matchups Between All Four 2007 Division Champions Highlight Kickoff Weekend
Published on February 27, 2008 under Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I) News Release
NEW YORK - The Arena Football League's 22nd season and the Mitsubishi Motors Drive to ArenaBowl XXII New Orleans takes the national stage as two nationally-televised matchups feature all four division champions from 2007.
The second season of the AFL's ESPN on ABC coverage begins with the year's first of two regular-season installments of Russell Athletic ESPN Arena Football Saturday on March 1, at 1 p.m. ET on ABC (ABC HD) as the defending Mitsubishi Motors Southern Division Champion Georgia Force welcome the two-time (2006-07) defending Mitsubishi Motors Eastern Division Champion Dallas Desperados to The Arena at Gwinnett Center.
Georgia QB CHRIS GREISEN (4,851 YDs, 117 TDs, 12 INTs), who set the single-season record for passing touchdowns with 117 in 2007, completed 25-of-37 passes for 357 yards and 10 touchdowns as the Force gave Dallas their only loss of the regular season in 2007 with a 78-63 victory.
Dallas QB CLINT DOLEZEL (4,475 YDs, 107 TDs, 9 INTs) completed 28-of-40 passes for 338 yards and eight touchdowns in a losing effort.
The defending ArenaBowl XXI Champion San Jose SaberCats begin their title defense on the road as they travel to Allstate Arena to face the Chicago Rush, the defending Mitsubishi Motors Central Division Champion in a rematch of the 2007 American Conference Championship.
In the season's first installment of Russell Athletic ESPN Arena Football Monday, March 3 at 9 p.m. ET on ESPN2, the Rush debut an overhauled offense that features one of the 20 greatest players in AFL history in QB SHERDRICK BONNER (4,036 YDs, 83 TDs, 13 INTs), two-time (2005-06) Offensive Player of the Year in WR DAMIAN HARRELL (132 REC, 1,547 YDs, 47 TDs), and FB DAN ALEXANDER (165 ATT, 426 YDs, 41 TDs), who shattered the previous single-season record of 26 rushing touchdowns with 41 in 2007.
The Philadelphia Soul welcomes the Orlando Predators to the Wachovia Center on Saturday, March 1, at 7 p.m. ET in a matchup scenario that has only occurred one other time in AFL history.
The Soul have won two in a row at the Wachovia Center, each against Orlando. This will mark the second time in AFL history that one team has hosted another for three consecutive home contests.
Philadelphia QB TONY GRAZIANI (2,841 YDs, 64 TDs, 8 INTs) has thrown for 721 yards and 14 touchdowns in the two matchups, as the Soul won both - one a regular season game, the other a postseason game - by an average of 14 points.
Predators QB SHANE STAFFORD (4,284 YDs, 76 TDs, 10 INTs) returns for his second season in Orlando after leading the team to its 16th consecutive playoff appearance.
The 2008 season kicks off in Los Angeles as the Avengers host the New Orleans VooDoo at the STAPLES Center on Friday, February 29, at 10:30 p.m. ET.
QB SONNY CUMBIE (4,370 YDs, 83 TDs, 13 INTs), who led the Avengers to their first playoff win in team history in 2007, completed 28-of-42 passes for 223 yards and four touchdowns in a 48-36 victory over New Orleans in their teams only meeting of 2007.
Led by QB STEVE BELLISARI (2,287 YDs, 47 TDs, 12 INTs) look to bounce back from a fourth-place finish in the Southern Division in 2007.
To obtain the latest AFL information, including team and League releases, publications, game notes, statistics, schedules and transactions, please visit www.aflmedia.com.
The Arizona Rattlers begin their season on the road as they travel to EnergySolutions Arena in Salt Lake City to face the Utah Blaze on Saturday, March 1, at 9 p.m. ET in an early Mitsubishi Motors Western Division matchup.
This game marks the beginning of WR SIAHA BURLEY'S (166 REC, 2,129 YDs, 49 TDs) second stint as an Arizona Rattler and it comes against his former Blaze teammates.
In 2007, Burley, the reigning Offensive Player of the Year, set single-season records in receptions (166) and receiving yards (2,129) becoming the first player in professional football history to amass more than 2,000 receiving yards in a single season.
The Blaze are led by QB JOE GERMAINE (5,005 YDs, 107 TDs, 12 INTs), who set a single-season record by passing for 5,005 yards, becoming the first quarterback in AFL history to break the 5,000 yard plateau.
The Cleveland Gladiators host their inaugural game in Cleveland as they welcome the New York Dragons to Quicken Loans Arena on Monday, March 3, at 7 p.m. ET.
The Gladiators are led on offense by QB RAYMOND PHILYAW (4,338 YDs, 85 TDs, 11 INTs), who ranked fifth in the AFL in passer rating in 2007 (124.1).
The Dragons are led by QB AARON GARCIA (1,724 YDs, 45 TDs, 4 INTs) who stands 18 completions away from becoming the fourth player in AFL history to record 3,000 career. He also needs 147 passing yards to become the fourth player to throw for 38,000 career.
This week's other games include: Tampa Bay at Kansas City on Saturday; Columbus at Colorado on Sunday.
AFLWA PRE-SEASON TOP TWELVE RANKINGS
RANKING TEAM POINTS 1 Dallas Desperados 181
2 San Jose SaberCats 178
3 Chicago Rush 155
4 Philadelphia Soul 109
5 Georgia Force 105
6 Tampa Bay Storm 100
7 Los Angeles Avengers 85
8 Orlando Predators 74
9 Columbus Destroyers 66
10 Kansas City Brigade 60
11 Utah Blaze 47
12 Colorado Crush 36
Also receiving votes: New York Dragons (28), New Orleans VooDoo (13), Arizona Rattlers (7), Grand Rapids Rampage (4).
Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from February 27, 2008
- In the Arena - OSC Original by Tim Peterson
- Crush Defensive Back Named to Preseason All-AFL Defense Team - Colorado Crush
- Week 1 - Preview and Predictions (Pt. 1) - OSC Original by S.W. Cooley
- Dallas activates Garnett, places Brown on IR - Dallas Desperados
- Dallas' Hamilton Kicks For All-Time Field Goal Record On ABC - AFL I
- Two Matchups Between All Four 2007 Division Champions Highlight Kickoff Weekend - AFL I
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