AFL I Arena Football League (1987-2008)

Week Four Previews

Published on May 10, 2002 under Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I) News Release


SAN JOSE, WHERE THE WEST IS WON? SaberCats, Avengers Battle For Supremacy In The Western Division

Are the Los Angeles Avengers for real? Well, this weekend's showdown against Western Division leader San Jose SaberCats will let the rest of the league find out the answer. The Avengers (2-1) will have to go to battle without the AFL's leading scorer, OS CHRIS JACKSON (78 points), who was placed on injured reserve with a broken wrist. Will the Shaq-less . err, Jackson-less Avengers shine without their star? WR/LB GREG HOPKINS and J.J. WASHINGTON will look to step up to help fill the void on offense. The SaberCats (3-0) lead the league in total offense (332.0 YPG) and have the league's leading passer and front-runner for Offensive Player of the Year in QB MARK GRIEB (151.0 rating and 936 yards are No. 1 in AFL). Grieb's eyes have been focused on OS JAMES HUNDON (29 receptions and 60 points are No. 2 in the AFL), but it's his ability to spread the ball to and SHALON BAKER, JERRY REESE, and BARRY WAGNER that makes him one of the best in the business.

The Arizona Rattlers (2-1) are always in the mix for the Western Division lead, but they will be tested by coach ROBERT LYLES and his Georgia Force offense (58.0 PPG is No. 1 in AFL). Arizona QB SHERDRICK BONNER (20 TDs, No. 1 in AFL) has the hot hand and has DANNY WHITE's offensive machine, that scores a league-leading 76.5 percent of the time, clicking on all cylinders. The Force (1-2) lead the league in scoring despite only averaging 204.0 YPG (second worst in the AFL). DS/KR RON CARPENTER leads the AFL in MFG returns (33.5 return average) and will need a big game to set up the Force offense, which has benefited from good field position.

Will Tampa Bay pick their first victory of the 2002 season against a tough Chicago Rush squad? Turnovers (-5, second worst in the AFL) have cost the Storm and coach TIM MARCUM. The Storm line (6 sacks allowed, second worst in AFL) needs to provide their QBs SHANE STAFFORD and SCOTT MILANOVICH time to throw so they can get into the end zone (53.9 scoring percentage, ranked last in the AFL). Coach MIKE HOHENSEE's offense (52.0 PPG, No 4 in AFL) put up 71 point against the defending champion Grand Rapids Rampage last week. CEDRIC WALKER (24.5 tackles, No. 2 in AFL) leads the Rush defensive backfield, but it might be the defensive front of JAMES BARON, RICH MCKENZIE, and JOHN MOYER that could dictate the results in Tampa.

Detroit got the better of Buffalo last week with a 50-48 victory in the Motor City. The two will turn around and tee-it-up in western New York on Saturday night. OS LAMONT COOPER will be licking his chops after putting up 415 all-purpose yards (second best all-time) against the Fury last week. WR/DB CHUCK LEVY (leads team with 22 receptions and 9 TDs) has shined, but OS ROBERT GORDON is due to break out and have a big game against the Buffalo defense (56.7 points allowed per game, worst in the AFL).

The expansion Dallas Desperados (1-2) have not been showing their youthfulness. Three games into the season and they are 4 points away from being 3-0. Veteran gunslinger ANDY KELLY (14 TDs and 737 passing yards) has found a stable of capable receivers in Rookie of the Year candidate DAILLEO BURKS (leads team with 17 receptions and 5 TDs), JAKE HOFFART (11 receptions), and ADRIAN LUNSFORD (9 receptions). New York Dragons coach JOHN GREGORY will hope that MATT NAGY (13 TDs and only 2 INTs) can get the ball into the hands of playmaker STEVE PAPIN. The two-time "Don't Blink" Player of the Year only caught 2 passes last week against Indiana, but both were TDs (He also added a 55-yard KO return for a TD in the 52-45 loss).

Between the two Orlando and Grand Rapids have won 3 out of the last 4 ArenaBowl championships. Grand Rapids QB CLINT DOLEZEL (16 TDs and 895 passing yards) will try to match pass-for-pass with Orlando QB JAY GRUDEN (13 TDs and 714 passing yards). But, the key match-up will come when the Rampage offense (306.0 YPG, No. 4 in the AFL) tries to move the ball against the Predators' defense (204.0 YPG, No. 2 in the AFL).

A big game that will affect two different divisions will take place in New Jersey on Saturday night. With a victory the Carolina Cobras (2-1) would secure their lead in the Southern Division, while a Gladiators (2-1) win would keep them even with the Phantoms for the top spot in the East. Will QB JAY MCDONAGH (888 passing yards and 13 TDs) continue to find ways to get the job done or will ArenaBowl-tested CONNELL MAYNOR (7 TDs with just two starts) continue to lead the Cobras charge to the top of the Southern Division standings?

The Toronto Phantoms (3-1) remain atop the Eastern Division with last night' s 45-36 win over the Indiana Firebirds (2-2).

WEEK FOUR SCHEDULE/RESULTS (All times ET)

Thursday, May 9
TORONTO 45, Indiana 36 (7,912)

TONIGHT -- Friday, May 10
Arizona at GEORGIA, 7:30 p.m.
Chicago at TAMPA BAY, 7:30 p.m.

Saturday, May 11
Detroit at BUFFALO, 7:00 p.m.
Dallas at NEW YORK, 7:00 p.m. (UPN 21)
Orlando at GRAND RAPIDS, 7:30 p.m.
Carolina at NEW JERSEY, 7:30 p.m. (YES Network)
Los Angeles at SAN JOSE, 10:30 p.m. (Fox Sports West 2)

THURSDAY NIGHT RECAP

TORONTO 45, Indiana 36

TORONTO, Ontario (Ticker) -- CHAD SALISBURY threw for 223 yards and three TDs to help the Toronto Phantoms down the Indiana Firebirds, 45-36.

Salisbury completed 22-of-31 passes and connected with DAMIAN HARRELL 10 times for 121 yards and a TD and found KERRY BROWN six times for 38 yards and a pair of TDs.

JERMAINE YOUNGER rushed for 16 yards and two TDs, including the go-ahead score with just under 10 minutes remaining in the contest for Toronto (3-1), which has held its opponents to a league-leading average of 40.1 points-per-game.

RAYMOND PHILYAW converted 17-of-32 passes for 215 yards and four TDs and EDDIE BROWN accrued two TDs and a game-high 131 receiving yards on nine catches for Indiana (2-2), which was held to below 40 points for the first time this season.

WEEK FOUR INJURY REPORT (UPDATED)

ARIZONA: OUT: DS Derek Stingley (shoulder), FB/LB John Peaua (ankle), WR/DB Bobby McGowens (knee), DS Cecil Doggette (knee); QUESTIONABLE: OL/DL Tim Croff (ankle); PROBABLE: WR/LB Chris Horn (knee), WR/LB Hunkie Cooper (back), OL/DL Stacy Evans (lower leg).

BUFFALO: OUT: OL/DL Eric Miller (knee); PROBABLE: OS Lamont Cooper (hamstring).

CHICAGO: OUT: FB/LB Jamie McGourty (lower extremity), OS Joe Douglass (abdominal); PROBABLE: OL/DL Anthony Hutch (lower extremity), WR/DB Dameon Porter (lower extremity).

DALLAS: PROBABLE: FB/LB Patrise Alexander (R groin strain), OL/DL Bernard Holsey (L hamstring strain), OL/DL Chad Pegues (L thumb strain).

DETROIT: PROBABLE: DS Kevin Scott (R hamstring strain), WR/DB Torey Hunter (L hamstring strain), OL/DL Marvin Thomas (L ankle strain).

GEORGIA: OUT: FB/LB Rupert Grant (L achilles), OL/DL Jimmy Brumbaugh, Wr/DB Jason Bray (L hamstring), OS Tyronne Jones (L rib), K Stan Whitlock (L knee).

GRAND RAPIDS: OUT: WR/LB Michael Baker, OS Ricky Ross; PROBABLE: FB/LB Michael Blair, OS Terril Shaw.

INDIANA: OUT: WR/DB Donnie Caldwell (ankle), DS Evan Hlavacek (knee), FB/LB Umar Muhammad (ankle sprain), K Nelson Garner (groin), WR/LB Drew O'Connor (R ankle).

NEW JERSEY: OUT: WR/DB Jamaine Blalock (L achilles rupture), DS Marc Williams (L knee tear); QUESTIONABLE: OL/DL Hunter Adams (R ankle sprain), WR/DB Alvin Ashley (R ankle sprain), WR/LB James Bowden (R thumb inflamation), FB/LB Frank Carter (R knee contusion).

ORLANDO: OUT: OS Rodney Brown, FB/LB Chris Johnson, FB/LB Brian Goolsby, WR/DB Lamont Moore; DOUBTFUL: QB Craig Whelihan, OL/DL Fred Ray; QUESTIONABLE: OL/DL Angel Rubio, OL/DL B.J. Cohen, DS Kenny McEntyre.

SAN JOSE: PROBABLE: DS Clevan Thomas (shoulder sprain), QB Mark Grieb (quad contusion), FB/LB Matt Kinsinger (hip pointer).

TORONTO: OUT: Ol/DL John Summerday (knee), WR/DB Ty Law (quad strain), WR/DB Jerald Long (wrist sprain); PROBABLE: Ol/DL Connel Spain (knee sprain), Ol/DL Kevin Ingram (groin strain), OL/DL Steve Konopka (hamstring strain), Ol/DL Doug Lytle (heel bruise), OS Damian Harrell (ankle sprain).

RECENT ARENAFOOTBALL.COM WEB POLLS

Q: WHO IS YOUR EARLY SEASON FAVORITE FOR OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR?
MARK GRIEB, San Jose - 22% (Leads the AFL in passing yards) Other - 21%
CHRIS JACKSON, Los Angeles - 18% (Leads the AFL in scoring and receptions)
SHERDRICK BONNER, Arizona - 17% (Leads the AFL in passing TDs)
CHAD SALISBURY, Toronto - 15% (Early Eastern Division leaders)
MIKE HORACEK, New Jersey - 7% (Former Offensive Player of the Year and currently No. 3 in receptions)

In Week Three, Carolina's ANDRE BOWDEN was recognized as the league's "ADT" Defensive Player of the Week. However, in a recent arenafootball.com Web poll, Arizona's JERRICK BLEDSOE took top defensive honors. Here are the voting results.

Q: WHO DO YOU THINK SHOULD BE THE "ADT" DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK?
JERRICK BLEDSOE (Arizona), 3 INTs, 1.5 tackles in victory over Toronto - 30%
SHEA SHOWERS (New York), 11 tackles in loss to Indiana - 27%
KENNY MCENTYRE (Orlando), 7.5 tackles, 2 INTs, 4 PDs in loss to New Jersey - 21%
ANDRE BOWDEN (Carolina), 4.5 tackles, 2 sacks, safety, rushing TD; MVP and Ironman of the Game in victory over Tampa Bay - 16%
CHARLIE DAVIDSON (Toronto), 9.5 tackles, FF in loss to Arizona - 6%

QUOTE OF THE DAY

"This is a long season; we're not going to panic."
-- Tampa Bay head coach TIM MARCUM on his team's 0-3 start. The Storm has won four ArenaBowl championships and never failed to make the playoffs. Tampa Bay hosts Chicago tonight.

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Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from May 10, 2002


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