Week five AFL must-see matchups
Published on February 23, 2006 under Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I) News Release
COLORADO QB JOHN DUTTON vs. PHILADELPHIA QB TONY GRAZIANI
QB JOHN DUTTON (6-4, 225, Nevada) and the defending champion Colorado Crush (3-1) are set to battle QB TONY GRAZIANI (6-3, 200, Oregon) and the Philadelphia Soul (3-1) as both look to take sole possession of first place in their respective divisions. JON BON JOVI's co-owned Soul looks for their first win against JOHN ELWAY's co-owned Crush when the teams meet at the Wachovia Center this Sunday at 1:00 p.m. ET on NBC.
Dutton (109-169, 1,160 yards, 22 TDs and 3 INTs) leads the league's top offense (56.8 PPG), featuring OS DAMIAN HARRELL (6-3, 200, Florida State), who has caught at least one touchdown to in every game this season. Harrell looks to continue his streak of consecutive games with a touchdown reception (53). Crush OL/DL DUSTIN BARNO (6-2, 280, East Stroudsburg), tied for second in the AFL in sacks (3.0), will apply constant pressure on the defensive side of the ball.
Graziani (40-64, 588 yards, 9 TDs, and 2 INTs) returned from injury last week to lead the Soul to a 75-59 win over the New York Dragons. The Soul are undefeated at home this season (3-0). WR/DB SEAN SCOTT (6-2, 200, Millersville), who earned Ironman of the Week honors in Week 4, is a triple-threat with 76 rushing yards, 247 receiving yards, seven total TDs, nine tackles and one INT.
SAN JOSE WR/LB CALVIN SCHEXNAYDER vs. CHICAGO OS C.J. JOHNSON
Former MVP WR/LB CALVIN SCHEXNAYDER (6-0, 190, Washington State) has overcome injury and age and leads the San Jose SaberCats (1-3) against OS C.J. JOHNSON (5-10, 175, Tennessee State) and the resurgent Chicago Rush (2-2) at Allstate Arena this Sunday at 1:00 p.m. ET on NBC.
San Jose QB MARK GRIEB (6-3, 208, California-Davis) has excelled this season with Schexnayder in the fold. Schexnayder has been solid this season hauling in 28 passes for 402 yards and eight touchdowns (7 receiving, 1 rushing). The aerial attack also features Ironman of the Week from Week 3, WR/DB CHARLES PAULEY (5-10, 165, San Jose State), who has contributed 22 receptions for 258 yards and five touchdowns.
Johnson has been a threat for the Rush since Week 1 amassing 20 receptions for 258 yards and two touchdowns, while also returning a field goal for a touchdown. His ability to stretch the field has allowed FB/LB BOB MCMILLEN (6-3, 260, Illinois Benedictine) and QB MATT D'ORAZIO (6-4, 215, Otterbein) to productive on the ground. D'Orazio is currently third in the AFL in rushing yards (69) and first in rushing touchdowns (5), while McMillen is five yards away from setting the AFL's all-time rushing record with 1,383 yards.
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