Week 17 AFL quick hitters
May 19, 2005 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I) News Release
MUST-SEE MATCH UP: New Orleans QB ANDY KELLY has tied his season high in touchdown passes at 93 and needs seven more touchdowns to become the second quarterback in history to record a 100-touchdown season (AARON GARCIA 2001, 2003). Orlando DS KENNY MC ENTYRE and Orlando's No. 7-ranked passing defense will make it tough on Kelly, as both New Orleans (9-6) and Orlando (9-6) look to clinch a playoff berth with a win this Sunday on NBC at 1 p.m. ET. Kelly has thrown at least seven touchdowns in five games this season, but was held to only five in a 63-52 Week 7 loss to Orlando. Last season, QB TONY GRAZIANI was sitting on 94 touchdown passes as the Avengers took on the Predators in the final game of the season and the Predators' defense held Graziani to five touchdown passes and 99 on the season.
MOST TOUCHDOWN PASSES IN A SEASON
PLAYER TEAM YEAR TOUCHDOWNS
Aaron Garcia New York Dragons 2001 104
Aaron Garcia New York Dragons 2003 100
Tony Graziani Los Angeles Avengers 2004 99
Jim Kubiak Dallas Desperados 2003 97
Tony Graziani Los Angeles Avengers 2003 96
ANDY KELLY* NEW ORLEANS 2005 93
Andy Kelly Detroit Fury 2003 93
Aaron Garcia Iowa Barnstormers 2000 92
*Through Week 16
MUST-WIN FOR PLAYOFF PERENNIAL: The Tampa Bay Storm, the only charter AFL franchise remaining, have yet to miss the postseason. They have their backs against the wall this week on the road at Nationwide Arena on Sunday at 3 p.m. ET when the Columbus Destroyers (2-13) attempt to prevent the Storm (9-6) from securing their 19th straight playoff berth. Following are the longest current streaks of playoff appearances:
ACTIVE LEADERS IN CONSECUTIVE PLAYOFF BERTHS
TEAM CONSECUTIVE APPEARANCES
TAMPA BAY STORM* 18
Orlando Predators 13
Arizona Rattlers 12
San Jose SaberCats 8
*Made playoffs as Pittsburgh Gladiators, 1987-90
ONE FOR THE RECEPTION BOOKS: Arizona OS SIAHA BURLEY (5-10, 185, Central Florida), the League leader in touchdown receptions (43), is averaging three touchdown receptions a game and is on pace to break the single-season record of 46. With one game remaining, Burley needs only three TDs this week against the Las Vegas Gladiators (8-7) to finish the season with 47. Entering Week 17, Burley has already had two five-touchdown reception games, three four-touchdown reception games and four triple-touchdown reception games. Burley caught four touchdown passes against the Gladiators' in a 66-63 loss earlier this season.
SINGLE-SEASON TD RECEPTIONS
PLAYER TEAM YEAR TDs
SIAHA BURLEY ARIZONA 2005 47
Mike Horacek Iowa 2000 46
Chris Jackson Los Angeles 2003 46
Mike Furrey New York 2003 46
Marcus Nash Las Vegas 2004 46
TACKLING THE RECORD: Colorado DS RASHAD FLOYD (5-10, 180, Portland State) needs 2.0 tackles to break the AFL single-season record that he set last season (122.0). Through 15 games, Floyd has recorded a League-high 120.5. The former Viking has posted seven games this season with 10-or-more tackles, including a record-tying 17-tackle performance in Week 5. Floyd will look to tackle the record when the Central Division Champion Colorado Crush (10-5) take on the Eastern Division Champion New York Dragons (9-6) this Saturday at 7 p.m. ET on FSN New York, FSN North-Minnesota, FSN Pittsburgh, FSN Rocky Mountain and FSN Arizona-No. New Mexico.
SINGLE-SEASON TACKLES
PLAYER TEAM YEAR TACKLES
Rashad Floyd Colorado 2004 122.0
Cornelius Coe Indiana 2001 121.5
RASHAD FLOYD COLORADO 2005* 120.5
Damon Mason Orlando/Grand Rapids 2005* 109.0
Damon Mason Orlando 2000 108.0
*-one game remaining
I'LL TAKE THAT: The Eastern Division Champion New York Dragons lead the League in interceptions with 27 and are within three of breaking the League record (29) set by the Orlando Predators in 1992. A large reason for the success of the Dragons' defense has been the play of rookie DS BILLY PARKER (6-0, 195, William & Mary). Parker leads the League with nine interceptions and is also with in three of breaking the single-season rookie record of 11 (Tony Scott 1992, Falanda Newton 1993, Corey Johnson 1998). Parker has four interceptions in his last four games and has recorded multiple interception games twice this season. Parker and the Dragons (9-6) look to break the record against the Central Division Champion Colorado Crush (10-5) this Saturday at 7 p.m. ET on FSN New York, FSN North-Minnesota, FSN Pittsburgh, FSN Rocky Mountain and FSN Arizona-No. New Mexico. New York's defense tied the League record for most interceptions in a game (6) in win over the Arizona Rattlers earlier this season.
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Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from May 19, 2005
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- Week 17 AFL quick hitters - AFL I
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- AFL week 17 must-see matchups - AFL I
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