Arena Football Preview - Week Five
March 30th, 2007
New York, NY (Sports Network) - Here are this week's Arena Football League match-ups for Week Five.
FRIDAY, MARCH 30
GEORGIA FORCE (4-0) AT COLUMBUS DESTROYERS (1-2), 7:00 P.M. ET
FORCE: Going for first 5-0 start in franchise history...First team in AFL history to score 60+ points in first four games of season...Only team that has not allowed sack this season...4-1 all-time in fifth game of the season... Offense ranks fifth in points per game (63.5)...Ranks third in yards per game (310.8)...Ranks first in yards per play (8.5). Ranks fourth in passing yards per game (293.5). First in passing yards per play (9.6). Second in passing TDs per game (7.75)...AFL Offensive Player of Month QB CHRIS GREISEN leads League in passer rating (135.0). Also leads League in TDs (30) and ranks third in yards (1,174)...WR CHRIS JACKSON leads League in receiving yards (494) and total yards from scrimmage (496). Tied for third with 26 first downs (Harrell, Colorado & Dudley, Orlando)...DL WILLIE GARY ranks third in tackles with 30.5...K XAVIER BEITIA ranks first in field goal pct. (100.0)...DESTROYERS: Offense ranks third in AFL in third-down pct. (80.0)...Special teams ranks second in kick return average (23.9)...Head coach DOUG KAY going for 10th career victory as Destroyers head coach...QB MATT NAGY ranks first in AFL in third-down passing (127.2)...WR DAMIEN GROCE ranks third in kickoff return average (26.3)...OL/DL LAKENDRICK JONES tied for second in TFL (4.0)...K PETER MARTINEZ ranks fifth in field goal pct. (3-for-5 for 60.0 pct.).
ARIZONA RATTLERS (1-3) AT KANSAS CITY BRIGADE (1-2) 8:00 P.M. ET
FIRST meeting between two franchises...RATTLERS: Last time began season 1-3 made playoffs (2006)...Offense ranks third in scoring (64.5 ppg.)...Leads League in red zone pct. (95.0)...QB SHERDRICK BONNER ranks second in League in passing yards (1,196)...All-time AFL leading rusher FB/LB BO KELLY ranks second in League in rushing yards (113). Projected to end season with second- highest rushing total in a season in AFL history (452). All-time leader in attempts with 497, he is projected to end season with all-time attempts mark of 152...Rookie WR TRANDON HARVEY leads team and ranks second among rookies in all-purpose yards (430)...Defense ranks first in rushing yards allowed per game (0.8)...DB KEYOU CRAVER tied for second among rookies in interceptions with 1 (Dozier, New York)...BRIGADE: Going for second home win of season...AFL Rookie of the Month WR/DB CHARLES FREDERICK leads team in receiving (25-305-4) and rushing (20-74-6). Only player in AFL to lead team in both categories. Projected to Leads all rookies in kickoff return average (18.3)...Defense leads League in yards allowed (253.7)...Ranks first in total defensive yards allowed (761)...Ranks second in League in passing yards allowed (233.7)...All- time AFL interceptions leader (66) DB KENNY MCENTYRE leads team in interceptions with two. Can become first player in AFL history with 70 interceptions with four more. Leads team in passes defensed (5).
SATURDAY, MARCH 31
ORLANDO PREDATORS (2-2) AT NEW ORLEANS VOODOO (2-2) 8:00 P.M. ET
PREDATORS: 4-0 all-time against VooDoo...WR DEANDREW RUBIN leads team and ranks fifth in AFL in all-purpose yards (630)...WR/DB JAVARUS DUDLEY leads team in total yards from scrimmage (419). Tied for third in first downs with 25 (Harrell, Colorado & Jackson, Georgia)...Defense leads League in red zone pct. (45.5)...WR/DB RYAN BOWERS is tied for second in INTs with 3 (six players tied)...DL GREG WHITE is tied for League lead in sacks (4.0) and TFL with 5.0 (Taylor, New Orleans)...DB LIN-J SHELL ranks second in tackles with 32.0... VOODOO: Have not lost at home to a division opponent since May 9, 2005 (Orlando)...10-3 all-time at home against division opponents. Two of three losses to Orlando...2-0 all-time in fifth game of the season...WR/DB TYRONNE JONES leads League in receptions (36). Ranks second in AFL in all-purpose yards (848). Top active player in career all-purpose yards (13,613), seventh all-time...Defense ranks second in yards allowed (261.8)...DL HENRY TAYLOR is facing former team for first time. Tied for League lead in TFL (5.0) (White, Orlando).
AUSTIN WRANGLERS (1-3) AT DALLAS DESPERADOS (4-0) 8:00 P.M. ET
WRANGLERS: One of two teams to defeat Dallas last season (Philadelphia twice)...QB ADRIAN MCPHERSON is one of two QBs to also lead team in rushing (DOrazio, Chicago). Leads all QBs in rushing yards (75)...WR OTIS AMEY leads all rookies in receiving yards (313). Also has 23 receptions and four touchdowns...WR/DB KEVIN NICKERSON is tied for third in AFL in third-down receptions with 6 (four players tied)...Defense leads League in third-down percentage (30.4)...AFL Kicker of Month K MARK LEWIS leads all kickers in points (43) and percentage (.667). One of only three kickers to have only missed one PAT (25-26)...DESPERADOS: Going for first 5-0 start in franchise history...Five-game regular season winning streak matches franchise best...4-1 all-time in fifth game of the season...Defeated Austin by an average of 18 points in two victories...QB CLINT DOLEZEL leads League in passer rating (135.9)...AFL Ironman of the Month WR/DB WILL PETTIS leads League in first downs (28). Ranks third in AFL in all-purpose yards (713). Second in League in scoring (90 pts.)...FB/LB JOSH WHITE leads League in rushing yards (132). On pace to end season with all-time record for yards in a season with 528...Defense tied for first in turnover differential with +6 (Philadelphia)...WR/DB JERMAINE JONES is tied for second in INTs with 3 (six players tied).
TAMPA BAY STORM (0-4) AT SAN JOSE SABERCATS (1-2) 10:30 P.M. ET
STORM: 3-0 all-time in San Jose during regular season...QB STONEY CASE is making first career start...WR T.T. TOLIVER ranks fourth in all-purpose yards (683)...WR/DB LAWRENCE SAMUELS tied for third in receptions with 34 (Jackson, Los Angeles). Top active player in receptions with 811. Needs 22 to move into fourth place...DL TOM BRIGGS tied for third in League in sacks (3.0)...B JEROID JOHNSON ranks fourth in AFL in solo tackles (27)...DL MARK WORD is tied for League lead among rookies in TFL with 3.0... SABERCATS: 1-0 all-time in home openers following three consecutive road games to open season...Began season 1-2 four times in team history and advanced to playoffs each time...Head coach DARREN ARBET going for 95th career regular- season victory...WR BEN NELSON leads team in all-purpose yards (410). Ranks second in first downs (26)...WR/DB RODNEY WRIGHT ranks second in AFL in kickoff return average (27.6)...Defense ranks third in total defense (799 yards allowed)...OL/DL GEORGE WILLIAMS leads team in TFL with 2.5.
SUNDAY, APRIL 1
PHILADELPHIA SOUL (3-0) AT NEW YORK DRAGONS (1-2) 1:00 P.M. ET
SOUL: Going for first 4-0 start in franchise history...Five game win streak is longest in team history (includes 2006)...Week 4 Offensive Player of Week QB TONY GRAZIANI ranks third in League in passer rating (133.7)...WR CHARLES PAULEY leads team in total yards from scrimmage (411). His 202 receiving yards in Week 4 is second-highest receiving total of season in AFL (235, Prentiss, LVG- Week 2)...WR LARRY BRACKINS tied for lead in AFL in special teams tackles with 6.5 (Rupp, Arizona)...Defense tied for first in turnover differential with +6 (Dallas)...DB EDDIE MOTEN is tied for second in INTs with 3...DRAGONS: 3-0 all-time against Soul at home...ade playoffs three of five seasons began year with 1-2 record...oing for 50th career victory since moving from Iowa...WR/DB WILL HOLDER leads team in interceptions (1), return yards (245) and ranks second on team in tackles (13.5)...WR/LB MIKE HORACEK leads team in all-purpose yards (313)...DB UKEE DOZIER tied for second among rookies in interceptions with 1 (Craver, Arizona)DL JONATHAN NIX leads all rookies in sacks (2.0) and is tied for rookie lead in TFL (3.0).
LOS ANGELES AVENGERS (2-1) AT CHICAGO RUSH (3-1) 1:30 P.M. ET
Avengers head coach ED HODGKISS (1997-2001) and Rush head coach MIKE HOHENSEE (1994-96) coached under Colorado Crush head coach MIKE DAILEY (1990-2003) on Albany Firebirds staff...AVENGERS: Have made playoffs each time began season 2-1 (2002, 2004-05)...QB SONNY CUMBIE is only starting QB in AFL who has not thrown an INT. Second in League in third-down passing...WR/DB LENZIE JACKSON tied for third in receptions with 34 (Samuels, Tampa). Leads team in total yards from scrimmage (388)...DB DAMIEN WHEELER is tied for second in INTs with 3 (six players tied)... RUSH: Current 4-1 streak ties longest in team history (includes 2006)...QB MATT DORAZIO is one of two QBs to also lead team in rushing (McPherson- Austin)...WR BOBBY SIPPIO leads League in scoring (96 pts.). On pace to set single-season record for points scored with 384...ADT Defensive Player of Month DL E.J. BURT leads League in forced fumbles (4). Tied for League lead in sacks (4.0). Tied for second in TFL (4.0) (K. Jones, Columbus)...DB DEJUAN ALFONZO leads AFL in fumble recoveries (3), with two recovered for touchdowns.
NASHVILLE KATS (2-2) AT COLORADO CRUSH (2-2) 3:00 P.M. ET
KATS: Looking for first three-game win streak since 2005...Going for first consecutive road victories since 2005...QB JEFF SMOKER is 2-0 as a starter. Leads all rookie QBs in passer rating (125.8)...WR CORNELIUS BONNER ranks second in AFL in receiving yards (483) and total yards from scrimmage (483)...ADT Defensive Player of Week for Week 4 DB AHMAD HAWKINS leads AFL in INTs with 4...Rookie DB KEON RAYMOND is tied for second in INTs with 3 (six players tied)...CRUSH: 2-0 all-time vs. Nashville in Colorado... 8-2 last 10 home games...4-0 all-time in fifth game of the season...QB JOHN DUTTON ranks third in passing yards (1,183)...WR DAMIAN HARRELL looking to continue consecutive game with TD streak to 70. Ranks second in AFL in receptions (35). Third in receiving yards (448) and all-purpose yards (448)...DB RASHAD FLOYD leads AFL in tackles with 37.5.
UTAH BLAZE (3-1) AT LAS VEGAS GLADIATORS (1-3) 6:00 P.M. ET
BLAZE: 83 points in Week 4 highest scoring output of season in AFL...3-1 is best start in team history...Going for third three-game winning streak in team history (2006)...Offense is highest-scoring in League (69.0 PPG)...Ranks first in TDs per game (10)...Ranks first in passing TDs per game with 7.75...Second in League in red zone pct. (94.4)...QB JOE GERMAINE leads League in passing yards (1,355). On pace to set single-season passing mark with 5,420 yards. Ranks second in TDs (29)...WR/DB SIAHA BURLEY leads League in kickoff return average (30.0). Ranks fourth in receiving yards (444)...WR/DB ORSHAWANTE BRYANT is tied for second in INTs with 3 (six players tied)...LAS VEGAS: Head coach DANTON BARTO going for second career victory...QB SHAUN KING ranks first among rookies in passing yards (1,095), TDs (18), and third-down passing (114.4). Ranks second among rookie QBs in passer rating (97.0)...WR ETU MOLDEN ranks fifth in AFL in receiving yards (427). Leads team in total yards from scrimmage (438)...DB VONTEZ DUFF ranks second among rookies in kickoff return average with 14.3...K STEVE AZAR leads all rookie kickers in points with 35.