Week Five Game Recaps
Published on May 20, 2002 under Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I) News Release
San Jose 77, ORLANDO 45
ORLANDO, Fla. (Ticker) -- MARK GRIEB threw for 190 yards and six TDs to help the San Jose SaberCats earn a decisive 77-45 triumph over the Orlando Predators.
Grieb converted 17-of-29 passes, found JAMES HUNDON six times for 80 yards and 3 TDs and has now thrown 154 consecutive pass attempts without an interception.
Six-time AFL Ironman of the Year BARRY WAGNER caught three passes for 31yards and a TD and also rushed five times for 22 yards and a pair of scores for San Jose (5-0), which reached the 70-point plateau for the second week in a row and won their franchise-best fifth straight game to open the season.
JAY GRUDEN completed 27-of-46 passes for 299 yards and seven TDs but was picked off twice for Orlando (1-4), which was outscored 20-0 in the first quarter and lost for its third consecutive game.
ANTONIO STANLEY had 11 catches for 118 yards and a pair of TDs in the loss for the Predators.
*******************************
Grand Rapids 64, CAROLINA 45
RALEIGH, N.C. (Ticker) -- STEVE SMITH caught a career-high five TDs and CLINT DOLEZEL threw for six TDs to lead the Grand Rapids Rampage past the Carolina Cobras, 64-45.
Smith, who set career-highs in receptions and receiving yards last week, caught 11 passes for 134 yards for Grand Rapids (3-2). The 28-year-old Utah State product hauled in three TD passes in a 27-point, third quarter and added two TDs in the fourth. His five TDs matches a franchise record.
Dolezel completed 21-of-34 passes for 252 yards. CURTIS CEASER opened the scoring with a 25-yard TD reception for the Rampage, who won their second straight after dropping two in a row.
AARON BAILEY had nine catches for 153 yards and two TDs for the Cobras (3-2). CONNELL MAYNOR, who has gone 3-0 after taking over the starting job for AARON SPARROW in Week One, completed 14 passes for 184 yards and three scores in the Carolina loss, snapping a three-game winning streak.
Carolina FB/LB ANDRE BOWDEN broke a three-year AFL record when he ran for a 49-yard TD in the third quarter. Orlando Predators TOMMY DORSEY had a 45-yard run against Albany on May 28, 1999.
*******************************
LOS ANGELES 38, Tampa Bay 24
LOS ANGELES, Calif. (Ticker) -- Quarterback TONY GRAZIANI threw three TD passes in the fourth quarter to help the Los Angeles Avengers rally to defeat the Tampa Bay Storm, 38-24.
Graziani broke a 17-17 tie with a 15-yard TD pass to KEVIN INGRAM to open the final stanza for Los Angeles (3-2). He connected with GREG HOPKINS for two more scores to supply a 38-17 cushion with just over a minute remaining. Graziani completed 21-of-37 attempts for 227 yards and five TDs without an interception.
Hopkins finished with four TD receptions and 127 yards for the Avengers, who allowed a season-low 24 points one week after giving up a season-high 77.
SHANE STAFFORD completed 23-of-40 passes for 253 yards with two TDs and an interception for Tampa Bay (1-4), which has been outscored 84-56 in the fourth quarter this season.
CARLOS JOHNSON collected nine passes for 111 yards and two TDs, including 56 kickoff-return yards for the Storm.
****************************
BUFFALO 49, Toronto 46
BUFFALO, N.Y. (Ticker) -- FRED MCNAIR threw three consecutive TD passes between the third and fourth quarters to help the Buffalo Destroyers edge out the Toronto Phantoms, 49-46.
McNair, who earned MVP honors last week by completing 21 passes for 237 yards and five TDs, tossed a 14-yard TD pass to Bret Cooper with 3:34 remaining in the third to cut the deficit to 38-35 and, three minutes into the fourth, connected with Carlos James from 13 yards out to give Buffalo (3-2) its first lead of the game.
McNair, who completed 13 passes for 218 yards, four TDs and three interceptions, hooked up with BRET COOPER one more time, capping a 38-yard drive with a 23-yard TD pass with just under four minutes left in the game for a 49-38 lead.
LAMONT COOPER, who caught five balls for 104 yards, hauled in a 28-yard bomb from McNair early in the first quarter and returned a kickoff 54 yards for a TD two minutes later. McNair added a pair of one-yard TD runs for the Destroyers, who produced a net yard total of 268 yards to win their second straight.
CHAD SALISBURY completed 23-of-36 attempts for 253 yards and five TDs, DAMIAN HARRELL produced his fourth consecutive 100-plus yard game with seven receptions for 109 and three TDs and DERRICKS ANTHONY returned six kickoffs for 148 yards for Toronto (3-2), which lost despite a five-minute ball possesion advantage and collecting three interceptions.
********************************
NEW JERSEY 76, New York 69 OT
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (Ticker) -- MIKE HORACEK caught his second TD of the contest in overtime to help the New Jersey Gladiators beat the New York Dragons, 76-69.
Horacek hauled in a 10-yard pass from JAY MCDONAGH less than five minutes into the extra period to help New Jersey (3-2) beat New York (1-4) for the first time in two years. He finished with five catches for 48 yards, including a TD catch in the second quarter.
SEDRICK ROBINSON caught a 29-yard TD from JAY MCDONAGH with 5:02 remaining in the fourth and returned a pair of kickoffs over 50 yards each within the final minute to help the Gladiators rally with 34 points in the final quarter. Robinson finished with 10 receptions for 116 yards and two TDs. He also returned six kickoffs for 208 yards and had a rushing TD in the first quarter to earn game MVP honors.
McDonagh finished 27-for-44 with 279 yards and six TDs, including a two-yard strike to DENNISON ROBINSON with no time remaining in regulation, tying the score at 69-69. New Jersey was able to pull out the win in spite of five turnovers, including four interceptions by McDonagh.
MATT NAGY finished with eight TDs, including three in the fourth to supply the Dragons with a 69-55 lead with 45 seconds remaining. Nagy completed 29-of-47 attempts for 317 yards and two interceptions. MIKE FURREY and SHON KING both had three TDs apiece for New York, which has lost its last three games. Furrey, who finished with a game-high 138 reception yards, also had three interceptions. King found the end zone twice within the fourth and TODD DOXZON scored two TDs for New York.
****************************
Indiana 55, DETROIT 34
DETROIT, Mich. (Ticker) -- RAYMOND PHILYAW threw three TD passes in the fourth quarter and VAN JOHNSON caught eight passes for 125 yards to help the Indiana Firebirds defeat the Detroit Fury, 55-34.
Philyaw connected with EDDIE BROWN, who caught seven passes, from eight yards out just 44 seconds into the final frame, tossed a one-yard pass to TERENCE DAVIS with just over four minutes remaining and hit Johnson from 18 yards out for his only TD of the game with 51 seconds to go.
Philyaw, who completed 27-of-46 attempts for 262 yards and five TDs, got Indiana (4-2) on the board first with a five-yard pass to Brown with 6:31 remaining in the first quarter and connected with JAY JONES from six yards out 1:20 into the second. ANDREW PAYNE kicked a pair of field goals and Brown rushed for a pair of TDs for the Firebirds, who never trailed in the contest.
DREW MILLER completed 17-of-31 passes for 185 yards, three TDs and an interception for Detroit (1-5), which returned eight kickoff returns for 212 yards.
CHUCK WINTERS was voted the Ironman of the game with seven receptions for 87 yards, a TD and five solo tackles. CHUCK LEVY caught four balls for 56 yards and TY GROVESTEEN had four receptions for 41 yards and a TD for the Fury, who produced only 175 total net yards and fumbled twice.
****************************
CHICAGO 70, Georgia 62
CHICAGO, Ill. (Ticker) -- BILLY DICKEN passed for 336 yards and equaled a season-high with seven TDs to lead the Chicago Rush past the Georgia Force, 70-62.
Dicken, who converted 18-of-25 passes, threw a 29-yard strike to ANTONIO CHATMAN with 5:13 remaining in the contest to help Chicago (3-2) withstand a 34-point fourth quarter by Georgia (1-4). Chatman and CORNELIUS BONNER both caught a pair of TDs for the Rush, who had eight different players haul in a pass. Chatman and Bonner both finished with five receptions apiece for 94 and 107 yards, respectively. JAMIE MCGOURTY added three scores, including a pair of TD runs, for Chicago.
DONNIE DAVIS, who replaced starter KEVIN MCDOUGAL in the second quarter for the Force, completed 21-of-26 passes for 304 yards and seven TDs, including four in the final quarter.
JARRICK HILLERY caught 10 passes for 138 yards and four scores and TYRONNE JONES added a pair of TD catches for Georgia, which suffered its fourth straight defeat.
** GEORGIA FORCE NOTE **
Force head coach ROBERT LYLES was relieved of his duties on Sunday. Georgia also announced the hiring of former Nashville Kats offensive coordinator and assistant coach MARTY LOWE to serve as the team's new head coach. Lowe most recently served as running backs coach and top-recruiter at the University of Texas El-Paso. Lowe, who played quarterback at the University of Louisville from 1991-95, spent two seasons in the AFL as QB for the St. Louis Stampede (1996) and the Texas Terror (1997), until a knee injury ended his playing career.
****************************
Arizona 53, DALLAS 30
PHOENIX, Ariz. (Team Reports) - The Rattlers claimed their fourth straight victory as SHERDRICK BONNER threw seven TD passes, including three apiece to RANDY GATEWOOD and MAURICE BRYANT, to defeat the expansion Dallas Desperados, 53-30.
The Rattlers held jumped out to an early 14-0 lead, holding the Desperados scoreless in the first frame. Bonner and Gatewood connected early in the second quarter to increase Arizona's lead to 21-0. With 44 seconds remaining in the half, ANDY KELLY, who was sacked three times in the contest, tossed a four-yard TD strike to ANDY McCULLOUGH to put the Desperados on the scoreboard.
Dallas opened the second half with another Kelly-to-McCullough scoring toss, pulling their team within seven, 21-14, as close as the Desperados would get. Arizona responded with four unanswered TDs, including a 53-yard missed field goal return by CHRIS HORN. Bonner earned game MVP honors, finishing the night 17-of-29 for 215 yards for the Rattlers (4-1).
DIALLEO BURKS led all receivers with 11 receptions for 135 yards for the Desperados, who drop to 2-3. Kelly completed 25 of 45 pass attempts for 225 yards and four TDs for Dallas, becoming the AFL's all-time career pass completions leader with 1,904 career completions (a mark previously held by TODD HAMMEL).
****************************
THIS WEEK IN AFL HISTORY
****************************
May 20, 1998: In a landmark announcement, the NFL amends its bylaws to allow NFL owners to apply for and purchase Arena Football memberships in their own markets.
May 22, 1999: Iowa QB AARON GARCIA became the 10th quarterback to reach 10,000 career- passing yards.
May 23, 1998: LES BARLEY becomes the first player to rush for 1,000 yards with seven against the Florida Bobcats.
May 23, 1998: New York 42, Albany 38. New York's MIKE PEREZ tossed a 26-yard TD pass to JAMES BOWDEN with three seconds to go against the Firebirds, giving the CityHawks a win to snap a nine-game losing streak that dated back to the 1997 season.
May 24, 1998: AFL purchases trademark, patent and copyrights associated with the Arena Football game on a worldwide basis from Gridiron Enterprises.
May 25, 2000: Barnstormers retire KURT WARNER's jersey (No. 13).
May 25, 2001: In a game against Nashville, defending Breakout Player of the Year, BEN BRONSON of Houston is lost for the season after sustaining a fracture of the right tibia for the second straight year.
May 26, 2001: When Orlando held San Jose scoreless in the first quarter of a Week 7 game, it ended a streak of 61 straight quarters of play in which the SaberCats had scored.
May 27, 1995: Not only did Arizona and Las Vegas combine for the highest score this season in history (141) at the time, but they also racked up 598 total yards of offense behind the arms of Rattlers QB AARON GARCIA (389 yards, six TDs) and Sting QB SCOOTER MOLANDER (259 yards, three TDs). Arizona won the duel, 72-69.
May 27, 1998: AFL approves application of New Orleans Saints owner TOM BENSON, thus becoming first NFL owner to apply for and purchase and Arena team.
May 27, 2000: San Jose's BARRY WAGNER hauls in career catch No. 673 against Los Angeles to become the league's all-time leader, surpassing EDDIE BROWN.
May 27, 2000: SHERDRICK BONNER becomes fourth player to eclipse 15,000 yards passing and 300 TDs against the Mustangs.
Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from May 20, 2002
- Week Five Game Recaps - AFL I
- Cobras Look to Bounce Back - Carolina Cobras
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.
