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Week 3 Re-match sets stage for Playoff Quarterfinals

May 30, 2003 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Georgia Force News Release


The Georgia Force advances to the Quarterfinal Round in the Drive to ArenaBowl XVII this week when it travels to the HP Pavilion to face the number one seed and defending AFL World Champion San Jose SaberCats on Saturday, May 31st at 3:00 p.m. ET on NBC. Earlier this season, the Force defeated the SaberCats in its home opener 51-49 on February 16th when James Brown completed a touchdown pass to Darryl Hammond as time expired. This season, Georgia is 7-2 in games aired on NBC and 3-0 against teams hailing from the Western Division.

Last week Georgia became just the second twelve seed in AFL playoff history to beat a number five seed since the 12-team playoff format was adopted in 2000. No 12-seed has ever beaten a one-seed. Only once has a number one seed lost in the Quarterfinal round of the AFL playoffs when in 1999 top seeded Tampa Bay loss 41-19 to Orlando. The Predators, the eighth and last seed, moved on to become the lowest seed ever to advance to the ArenaBowl.

Game Preview:

The AFL Quarterfinal Round is set to begin this Saturday when the No. 12 Georgia Force travel to HP Pavilion to face the No. 1 San Jose Sabercats at 3 p.m. ET on NBC.

The teams met previously on February 16, where the Force handed San Jose one of their four losses this season with a 51-49 victory. San Jose head coach Darren Arbet has an offensive unit that is No. 1 in scoring (averaging 60.4 points per game) and rushing (169 attempts for 589 yards and 47 touchdowns) as well as being No. 2 in turnover margin (+15).

The SaberCats are led by QB Mark Grieb, who has recorded 65-of-109 completed passes (59.6 percent) for 775 yards, 13 touchdowns and three interceptions in his last three games. WR/DB Barry Wagner is No. 1 in rushing touchdowns with 18 on the season.

Georgia DS Kevin Gaines (21.5 tackles; five interceptions in last five games) and OL/DL Jermaine Smith (6.5 tackles; 2.0 sacks in last five games) who combined for 5.0 tackles against the Sabercats in Week 3.

Force head coach Marty Lowe is looking for continued playoff success after last weeks narrow victory over Dallas. His offensive group is headed by rookie QB Leon Murray (73-115; 928 yards; 18 touchdowns; one interception in last three games) and veteran WR/LB Darryl Hammond (41 receptions for 453 yards and 10 touchdowns in last five games).

Attempting to stop them is Sabercats DS/KR Clevan Thomas (14 combined returns for 300 yards against the Force) who is No. 1 in passes defended (35) this season and set a regular-season record for interceptions (13) in 2003.

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Wild Card Must-See-Matchup:
Georgia Receivers
vs.
San Jose Secondary

Analysis by Director of Arena Football Operations, Tennessee Titans, Pat Sperduto and Grand Rapids Head Coach Michael Trigg.

Trigg: Georgia's Tyronne Jones(5-9, 170, Grambling) will need to elevate his game to a different level this week, with injuries slowing him from being mentioned with the AFL elite. Jones plays with heart and exceptional quickness, but must find a way to stay healthy and be on the field for every series to combat the aggressive cover style of San Jose.

Four-year AFL veteran Jarrick Hillery (6-0, 200, Tennessee State) is the "Jack of All Trades" receiver in the mix that runs the ball well in the open field like he did in college at running back. Georgia likes to get him the ball out of the backfield on tosses and handoffs, quick screens, and crossing the field on the move. He is not easy to tackle and plays physical.

Three-year veteran Scott Thomas (6-2, 205, Azusa Pacific) runs short routes well and is also productive in catch-and-run situations as he accelerates well and has good size. If you don't keep an eye on Thomas, he will run by you.

I've saved the best for last with Darryl Hammond (6-3, 220, Virginia). He has dazzled for 13 years in the AFL as a productive, high-level, big-time player. His kind of leadership is what All-Rookie QB Leon Murray (6-2, 212, Tennessee State) can lean on in the huddle that only Mark Grieb (6-3, 205, Cal-Davis) has in San Jose with Barry Wagner (6-4, 218, Alabama A&M). Hammond, a sure-fire Hall of Famer, has taken a physical beating over the years – searching for the ring that keeps him ticking. Georgia head coach Marty Lowe has the tools to keep the SaberCats at bay by using quick passes, screens and periodic shots downfield to Jones and Thomas that may keep San Jose from pinning their ears back and attacking Murray.

Sperduto: The best middle safety in the AFL is Clevan Thomas (5-10, 197, Florida State). He is a guy who can catch and run with the motion man with a high rate of success. This skill is something that many have tried and most have failed. Thomas allows a good pass rush to be great. He will make the opposing quarterback hold the football," Sperduto said.

Second-year DS Wendell Davis (5-11, 200, Oklahoma) is a solid complement to Thomas, Davis is a corner who physically can bump and jostle with the big receivers. He has solid cover skills and rarely has to mess with the motion man. Anthony Cobbs (6-1, 201, UCLA) and six-time Ironman of the Year, Wagner, make up the two-way tandem. Cobbs has good cover skills. Wagner may have lost a step or two, but he knows all the angles and will not allow himself to be caught in a bad position.

Four-year veteran James Roe (6-2, 196, Norfolk State) has turned himself into a solid jack linebacker. Roe, Wagner, and Kevin McKenzie (5-11, 185, Washington State) will not hurt their team defensively. They have the ability to step up against the run and use their big bodies to get in passing lanes.



Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from May 30, 2003


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.

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