Breaking it Down - 2008 Week Ten
Andy Lopusnak
Wednesday May 7, 2008
It took ten weeks, but now every team in the league has at least one win and one loss thanks to Cleveland knocking off previously unbeaten Philadelphia and previously winless Utah topping Kansas City. Six of the eight home teams won and six of eight games were decided by at least two scores. This and much more await your journey below in this week’s Breaking it Down.
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WEEK TEN RESULTS
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CLEVELAND 67, Philadelphia 55
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COLORADO 63, Grand Rapids 28
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GEORGIA 66, New Orleans 39
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Dallas 48, COLUMBUS 45
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ORLANDO 61, San Jose 35
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UTAH 67, Kansas City 50
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LOS ANGELES 66, Arizona 59
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Chicago 51, TAMPA BAY 46
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BYE: New York
WEEK TEN’S EIGHT GAMES FEATURED:
- Eleven touchdowns scored on returns: fumble (4), interception (2), kickoff (2) and net recovery (3).
- Three quarterbacks had 300 or more yards passing.
- Four players had 200 or more all-purpose yards.
- Eighteen players had 100 or more yards receiving.
SOUL DROPS FIRST GAME, ALSO LOSES D’ORAZIO
The Gladiators overcame a 14-point deficit to beat the previously unbeaten Soul 67-55 thanks to a third-quarter net recovery for a TD and two turnovers by Tony Graziani, who threw an interception on his first pass of the game after coming in the game after Matt D’Orazio exited with a left ankle sprain. It is unclear at this time if Graziani or D’Orazio will start this week when the Soul head south to play the Georgia Force next Monday night.
DESPITE LOSS, PHILADELPHIA STILL AMONG LEAGUE ELITE, HISTORICALLY
With the Soul losing its first game of the season, Philadelphia is just the fourth team in league history to start at least 9-0. The previous three only lost once in the regular season and all made it to the ArenaBowl. However, only the 2002 SaberCats won the ArenaBowl.
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STARTED
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TEAM, YEAR
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FIRST LOSS
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END RESULT
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12-0
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San Jose, 2002
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Week Thirteen at Arizona
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13-1, ArenaBowl champions
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11-0
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Orlando, 1994
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Week Twelve at Tampa Bay
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11-1, lost ArenaBowl
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9-0
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Philadelphia, 2008
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Week Ten at Columbus
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??????????????
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9-0
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Chicago Bruisers, 1988
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Week Ten vs. L.A. Cobras
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10-1-1, lost ArenaBowl
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BLAZE GETS FIRST WIN
In the same weekend as the league’s last undefeated team lost, the league’s last winless team won. The game pitted the league’s two worst teams, in terms of wins, with the Blaze coming out victorious 67-50. Utah is the eighth team in league history to start the season 0-9 or worse. None of them made the playoffs, but with the American Conference as weak as it is, the Blaze are just two games back of the final playoff seed. In fact, only two of the previous seven teams even won a game, but neither won a second contest. The two wins came against non-playoff teams (not good news for Kansas City). More bad news for Danny White, only one team (the 1991 Columbus Thunderbolts) brought back their head coach after starting 0-9 or worse the previous season (Columbus moved the Cleveland though).
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STARTED
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TEAM, YEAR
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FIRST WIN
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FINAL RECORD
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0-16
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Carolina, 2003
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Did not win
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0-16
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0-14
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Memphis, 1996
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Did not win
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0-14
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0-14
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Milwaukee, 1994
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Did not win
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0-14
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0-12
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Buffalo, 1999
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Week 13 vs. Portland (30-23)
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1-13
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0-11
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Texas, 1996
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Week 13 at Minnesota (54-51)
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1-13
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0-10
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New Orleans, 1992
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Did not win
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0-10
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0-10
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Columbus, 1991
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Did not win
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0-10
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0-9
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Utah, 2008
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Week Ten vs. Kansas City (67-50)
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????
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RUNNING WILD
Cleveland FB Marlion Jackson literally ran all over Philadelphia in the Gladiators’ 67-55 win. Jackson ran the ball eleven times for 49 yards with a career-high four rushing touchdowns. He began his AFL career with the Soul in 2004, then was traded to the Gladiators midway through 2005. Jackson leads the AFL in rushing yards (231) and rushing touchdowns (16). He also slipped into 29th place all-time in league history during the game and needs 75 yards to move into the top 20 all-time. In his previous four seasons, Jackson had a total of eight rushing TDs. He is on pace for 406 rushing yards (fourth-most in AFL history) and 28 rushing TDs (second most).
DOLEZEL NOTCHES ANOTHER RECORD
Dallas QB Clint Dolezel, professional football’s all-time leader in TD passes, surpassed Any Kelly as the AFL’s all-time leader in passing yards during the Desperados 48-45 win over Columbus. Dolezel also ranks second in pass attempts (Kelly has over 700 more than Dolezel) and second in completions (Kelly has almost 300 more). He is also second in interceptions thrown (Kelly has nine more).
JACKSON TOPS 300
In the Soul’s 67-55 loss to Columbus, Philadelphia WR Chris Jackson reached the 300 receiving touchdown mark becoming just the third player in league history to do so. He needs just two receiving scores to pass Eddie Brown for second place and is nine behind Damian Harrell, who plays for Chicago. Jackson leads the AFL in receiving touchdowns (33) and is on pace for 53, which would be tied for the second most in league single-season history (Bobby Sippio, 2007). Harrell had 61 in 2006 with Colorado. Jackson would also become the first player in AFL history with four seasons with at least 40 receiving touchdowns.
HAPPY RETURNS FOR ORLANDO
The Predators used four returns for touchdowns to beat San Jose 61-35 to become the first team in league history to win at least seven games in 17 straight seasons. Defensive back Kenny McEntyre returned a pair of interceptions for scores, WR/KR T.T. Toliver had a 58-yard kick return for a TD and DB Jason Perry fell on a loose ball in the end zone for another touchdown for Orlando. McEntyre now has 78 career picks, which is 34 more than the closest active player (San Jose’s Clevan Thomas, 34). The two interceptions returned for touchdowns give him four “picks for six” on the season which is a new AFL single-season record. McEntyre also has the league all-time career mark with 18 INTs returned for TDs, which is eight more than the next closest player (Greg Hopkins, 10).
WRIGHT DOES IT ALL
San Jose WR/KR Rodney Wright complied 329 all-purpose yards in the SaberCats’ 61-35 loss at Orlando. It is the most all-purpose yards gained this season in the AFL. There have been just two 300-yard all-purpose games in the league this season and both were done by SaberCats. Aside from Wright’s 329, Cleannord Saintil had 312 in the loss to Dallas earlier this season.
LAW DOG STILL PLAYING FETCH
Tampa Bay WR/LB Lawrence Samuels tied the AFL mark for consecutive games with a reception during the Storm’s 51-46 home loss to Chicago. He did it on the first points of the game when he grabbed a 14-yard touchdown pass from QB Brett Dietz that gave Tampa Bay a 7-0 lead. The catch was his 128th consecutive game with a catch, which ties former Nashville & Orlando receiver Corey Fleming’s AFL record.
MILLENNIAL MAN
Los Angeles WR/KR Timon Marshall surpassed the 2,000 all-purpose yardage mark for the third straight season. He is just the sixth player in league history to have three straight 2,000 yard seasons. The first player to reach three straight 2,000 all-purpose yard seasons was George LaFrance (four seasons, 1995-98). Marshall is attempting to become the second player to lead the league in all-purpose yards for three straight seasons (Steve Papin, 1998-2000). With Marshall reaching 2000, it marks the 92nd time a player has done so in a single-season with Hunkie Cooper being the first in 1993 as a rookie. The league record for most 2,000-yard seasons in a career is four held by LaFrance, Papin, Cooper and Will Pettis. Chris Jackson and Siaha Burley can join Marshall with three straight 2,000-yard seasons later this season. They both would also have four career 2,000-yard seasons. Pettis can become the first player with five seasons with 2,000 all-purpose yards with 443 more yards.
JUST A HEADS UP…
The defending champions are having a big problem when it comes to playing teams with winning records. They are 0-5 against them (and 0-4 against the National Conference) and 5-0 against teams with losing records. Luckily for the SaberCats, the remaining six games on their schedule are against six teams with losing records (Arizona, Utah, Colorado, Los Angeles, Tampa Bay and Georgia) and four of those are at home, where San Jose hasn’t lost a regular season game to a team with a losing record since 2001 when the 2-3 Predators beat the SaberCats 59-35 – Orlando went on to an 8-6 record and a playoff berth.
BAD NIGHT/SEASON FOR 2007 KICKER OF THE YEAR
Last season, Mark Lewis had a dream year for the Austin Wranglers. Saturday night was a nightmare. He missed two extra points (one blocked) and two field goals in the Destroyers’ three-point loss to Dallas. Lewis missed a 47-yard field goal as the fourth quarter opened and then with a second left in the game had his 25-yard attempt hit the upright. On the year, Lewis has already missed more extra points than last season with half as many attempts and almost as many field goals. Columbus could have used former kicker Peter Martinez, who booted a 58-yard field goal in the Brigade’s loss to Utah. It is the longest field goal made this season.
GEORGIA PUTS THE VOODOO ON THE VOODOO
For the first time this season, New Orleans did not force a takeaway. As a result, the VooDoo suffered its worst defeat of the season (27 points). In the previous nine games, the VooDoo had an interception in each contest, but failed to touch Georgia QB Chris Greisen, who had a season-high 74.2 completion percentage against the New Orleans defense.
WEEKLY PLAYOFF UPDATE
If there was an eight-team playoff with no distinction between conferences for playoff seeding, then there would be only two American conference teams in the playoffs at this time and all eight teams would have non-losing records. However, that’s not the case and four teams with losing records are sitting pretty at this point for the American Conference. Chicago and Philadelphia can clinch playoff berths this upcoming weekend.
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NATIONAL CONFERENCE
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AMERICAN CONFERENCE
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SEED
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TEAM
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RECORD
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SEED
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TEAM
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RECORD
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1
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Philadelphia
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9-1
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1
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Chicago
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8-2
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2
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New Orleans
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7-3
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2
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San Jose
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5-5
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3
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Dallas
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8-1
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3
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Colorado
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4-5
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4
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Orlando
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7-3
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4
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Arizona
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4-5
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5
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New York
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5-4
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5
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Grand Rapids
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3-6
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6
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Cleveland
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5-4
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6
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Los Angeles
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4-6
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WEEK TEN’S TOP STATISTICAL PREFORMANCES
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100-YARD RECEIVERS
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PLAYER, TEAM
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RECEIVING YARDS
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RECEPTIONS
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TOUCHDOWNS
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Derek Lee, CMB
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160
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12
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2
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Larry Brackins, PHI
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146
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14
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2
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Troy Bergeron, GEO
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137
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9
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4
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Marcus Nash, DAL
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130
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10
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4
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Terrill Shaw, TB
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129
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7
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0
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Ces’are Manning, KC
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128
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13
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2
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T.T. Toliver, ORL
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125
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7
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1
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Kenny Higgins, GRR
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122
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7
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2
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Timon Marshall, LAA
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120
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9
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2
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Willie Quinnie, COL
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118
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10
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0
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Huey Whittaker, UTAH
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117
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11
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4
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Rodney Wright, SJS
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111
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8
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1
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LaShaun Ward, LAA
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111
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4
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2
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Aaron Boone, UTAH
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110
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5
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1
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Robert Redd, CLE
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109
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9
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0
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Otis Amey, CLE
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107
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7
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4
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DeAndrew Rubin, NO
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107
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7
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2
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Lawrence Samuels, TB
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100
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9
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2
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300-YARD PASSERS
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PLAYER, TEAM
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PASSING YARDS
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PASS TDs
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INTERCEPTIONS
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Joe Germaine, UTAH
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337
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8
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1
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Tim Hicks, LAA
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328
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6
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0
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John Dutton, COL
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319
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5
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0
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200 YARDS OR MORE ALL-PURPOSE
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PLAYER, TEAM
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ALL-PURPOSE
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TOTAL TDs
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Rodney Wright, SJS
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329
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1
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Will Pettis, DAL
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265
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3
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Trandon Harvey, AZ
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259
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3
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T.T. Toliver, ORL
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225
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2
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DEFENSIVE LEADERS
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PLAYER, TEAM
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TACKLES
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INT
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SACKS
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FF
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FR
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PBU
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DEF TD
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Brandon Hefflin, CLE
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9.0
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0
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0.0
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0
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0
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2
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0
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Aaron McConnell, COL
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3.5
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0
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3.0
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2
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0
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0
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0
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Rashad Floyd, COL
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6.0
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0
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0.0
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0
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0
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3
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0
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Nick Rogers, COL
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3.0
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0
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1.0
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1
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1
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0
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1
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Pete Hunter, DAL
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11.0
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0
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0.0
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0
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0
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0
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0
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Kenny McEntyre, ORL
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2.0
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2
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0.0
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1
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0
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1
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2
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Marquis Floyd, SJS
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6.0
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2
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0.0
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0
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0
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2
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0
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OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Cleveland FB Marlion Jackson ran down the previously unbeaten Philadelphia Soul thanks to four rushing touchdowns on eleven carries for 49 yards. He currently leads the AFL in rushing yards and rushing touchdowns.
HONORABLE MENTION: Georgia receiver Troy Bergeron caught nine passes for 137 yards with four touchdowns. He also ran the ball twice for 19 yards in the Force’s surprising 66-39 walloping of New Orleans.
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Orlando DB Kenny McEntyre returned two interceptions for touchdowns and added2.0 stops, a forced fumble and a pass breakup in the Predators’ 61-35 win over San Jose.
HONORABLE MENTION: Colorado lineman Aaron McConnell had 3.5 tackles, 3.0 sacks and two forced fumbles in the Crush’ 63-28 win over Grand Rapids.
IRONMAN OF THE WEEK
Tampa Bay WR/LB Lawrence Samuels had 4.0 tackles, an interception and a pass breakup on defense, then added 100 receiving yards on nine catches with two touchdowns in the Storm’s 51-46 loss to Chicago. Samuels also tied the AFL record for consecutive games with at least one reception (128 shared with Corey Fleming).
HONORABLE MENTION: San Jose WR/KR Rodney Wright put up a league season-high 329 all-purpose yards in the SaberCats’ 61-35 loss at Orlando. He caught eight balls for 111 yards with one touchdown then returned ten kickoffs for 218 yards.
Andy Lopusnak is an 11-year AFL front office veteran, spending time with the Tampa Bay Storm, San Diego Riptide and Grand Rapids Rampage. He works as a statistician for NFL and college sports for CBS Sports and is a freelance photographer. Lopusnak received two Bachelor of Arts degrees from the University of South Florida and has been a fan of ArenaBall since its inception.
