Breaking it Down - 2008 Week 14
Andy Lopusnak
Wednesday June 4, 2008
Three more teams punched their tickets to the postseason, while Columbus became the first to bow out. The league has a new receptions king and don’t look now but Georgia and San Jose are the hottest teams in each conference. This and much, much more is featured in the fourteenth installment of Breaking it Down.
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WEEK 14 RESULTS
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NEW ORLEANS 83, Columbus 61
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GEORGIA 56, Tampa Bay 55
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Dallas 68, CLEVELAND 52
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Arizona 60, ORLANDO 53
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CHICAGO 52, Kansas City 47
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San Jose 66, LOS ANGELES 56
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Utah 63, GRAND RAPIDS 56
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New York 73, COLORADO 65
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BYE: Philadelphia
WEEK 14’S EIGHT GAMES FEATURED:
- Six touchdowns scored on returns: fumble (1), interception (2), kickoff return (2) and net recovery (1).
- Two safeties.
- Two players had 200 or more all-purpose yards.
- Three quarterbacks had 300 or more yards passing.
- 18 players had 100 or more yards receiving.
COMEBACK KIDS
Chicago, Georgia had come-from-behind victories. The Rush used a one-yard QB keeper by Russ Michna to take the lead with eleven seconds left, and then sealed the win with a safety to beat Kansas City 50-47. Georgia QB Chris Greisen also had an in a keeper from a yard out, but as time expired to lift the Force to a 56-55 win over Tampa Bay. The TD was set up by a 42-yard interception return by DB Tony Tiller. Also, Arizona won its game with five-seconds left after Orlando tied it with 42 ticks on the clock.
GEORGIA FORCES WAY INTO DIVISION LEAD
Five games ago, the Force were 3-5 and were dead last in the Southern Division. After a five-game winning streak, Georgia can win out and clam its second straight division crown and a first-round bye. What seemed impossible has become possible thanks to the play of QB Chris Greisen, who has completed 78.2% of his passes for 1,544 yards in that timeframe with 28 touchdowns, three interceptions and a passer rating of 134.7. Additionally, he has only been sacked once in his last seven games.
DESTROYED
Columbus became the first team to have its postseason aspirations crushed when the Destroyers lost 83-61 at New Orleans. The Destroyers are the first ArenaBowl runner-up to not make the playoffs since 2005 when the Arizona Rattlers went 7-9 after appearing in the previous three ArenaBowls. Additionally, the 1991 Dallas Texans (4-6) did not make the playoffs after losing in ArenaBowl IV. As did the 1998 Iowa Barnstormers (5-9), after losing in ArenaBowl XI, and the 2002 Georgia Force (6-8), which was the Nashville Kats in 2001 when they lost to Grand Rapids in ArenaBowl XV.
LAW DOG IS TOP DOG
Tampa Bay WR/LB Lawrence Samuels became the league’s all-time leader in receptions during the Storm’s 56-55 loss at Georgia when he surpassed Barry Wagner. Samuels is now the league’s all-time leader in receptions, most games with a reception, games played, seasons played and fumble recoveries. He needs just six catches to become the first player in league history and sixth player in professional football history to reach 1,000 receptions. Yet he has never been named All-Arena First Team. Though he has been named to the Second Team three times, including the last two years.
ALL TOLIVER IT
Orlando WR/KR T.T. Toliver set a new team record for all-purpose yards in a season during the Predators loss to Arizona. He leads the AFL (as he has every single week) with 2,917 all-purpose yards and needs just 83 to become the ninth player in league history with 3,000 yards in a season. Toliver is not likely to break Antonio Chatman’s AFL record of 3,669 set in 2003 with Chicago. He would need to average 376.5 yards per game over the final two games to do so. Right on Toliver’s coattails is Los Angeles WR/KR Timon Marshall, the two-time reigning all-purpose champion, who is averaging just 7.6 yards less than Toliver per game. In addition to leading the league in all-purpose yards, Toliver leads it in receiving yards (by almost 150 yards) and is third in kickoff return yards (Marshall leads this category). Assuming Marshall can get 390 all-purpose yards total in the final three games (130 per game), it will mark the first time in league history that two players reached 3,000 all-purpose yards in the same season.
NATIONAL CONFERENCE SNAKE BIT AGAIN BY ARIZONA
The Rattlers finished their six-game set with the National Conference 5-1 after topping the Orlando Predators 60-53. All other American Conference teams are a combined 6-28 in 34 matchups against the National Conference. Three teams have not even beaten a National Conference foe this season (Grand Rapids, San Jose and Utah). Arizona is just 2-5 against its own conference and would have to win three games against the American Conference in the playoffs to go for the sixth win against the Nationals in ArenaBowl XXII.
RECORDS AGAINST NATIONAL CONFERENCE
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TEAM
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RECORD
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REMAINING GAMES VS. NATIONALS
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Arizona
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5-1
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None
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Colorado
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2-4
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None
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Kansas City
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2-4
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None
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Chicago
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1-2
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At Cleveland, At Georgia
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Los Angeles
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1-4
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At Tampa Bay
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Grand Rapids
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0-4
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At Columbus, At New Orleans
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San Jose
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0-4
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Tampa Bay, Georgia
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Utah
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0-6
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None
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BRETT BOUCHY – 2008 AFL EXECUTIVE OF THE YEAR
With its impressive win over Orlando, Arizona clinched a playoff berth. As a result, it should be a no-brainer that the Rattlers’ managing partner should be the runaway winner of this award for having the guts and the deep pockets to risk $2 million by guaranteeing that his team would make the postseason. This after the Rattlers hired a rookie head coach (Kevin Guy), lost its franchise player (QB Sherdrick Bonner to free agency) and returned just five players a 4-12 season in 2007.
“SAUK” IT TO ME
A year ago, Matt Sauk started two games for the Grand Rapids Rampage before being cut. He then played briefly in the af2 before retiring. Last week, he made his return to the indoor game and led the Arizona Rattlers to a 60-53 win over Orlando. Sauk completed 66.7% of his passes for 289 yards with six touchdowns and two interceptions for a passer rating of 105.6. Sauk is the third different quarterback to start a game for the playoff-bound Rattlers.
D-ROB PICKS TWELFTH
Chicago DB Dennison Robinson recorded his AFL-leading twelfth interception of the season and is just one pick away from tying the league all-time mark. It’s been an eventful four seasons for Robinson on his way to a likely AFL Defensive Player of the Year award. In 2005, he was cut by the Las Vegas Gladiators and was not signed by a team until the lowly Grand Rapids Rampage picked him up in Week Four. He signed with Chicago prior to 2006 and then went on to be ArenaBowl XX Defensive Player of the Year and followed up that with career highs in tackles, pass breakups and interceptions. This year, he has already shattered his interception mark by five picks (with two games to go). Additionally, his 157 interception return yards rank fifth all time – he would need 48 more yards to break Eddie Moten’s record from last season.
BORN TO RUN
Cleveland FB/LB Marlion Jackson moved into tenth place all-time in single-season rushing during the Gladiators’ loss to Dallas. On his current pace, Jackson will finish sixth with 359 yards.In addition, Jackson and Tampa Bay’s Torrance Marshall each have 22 rushing TDs, which are tied for fourth most in league history. Dan Alexander shattered the previous league mark of 26 last season when he galloped for 41 ground scores. Prior to 2007 when the AFL eliminated the substitution rules, there had been just five total players with 20 or more rushing touchdowns. Over the last two, there have been four.
RUNNING WILD
Five players have already hit 200 or more rushing yards with potentially three more doing so before the season ends. The record for most players with 200 or more yards rushing in a single season is six (2004). Overall, prior to this season there has been just 40 times a player reached 200.
TAKE IT ON THE RUN
Chicago FB Dan Alexander became the fourth player in league annuals to rush for 200 or more yards in back-to-back seasons when he ran for 30 yards in the Rush’s win over Kansas City. Tampa Bay’s Torrance Marshall set an AFL record for most games with at least two rushing scores when he pounded out four ground scores against Georgia. His new AFL mark is six games with at least two rushing touchdowns.
DISPLACED AMEY TOPS LEAGUE
Cleveland WR Otis Amey was the eleventh player selected in the 2008 AFL Dispersal Draft that contained teams for Austin and Nashville that folded after the 2007 season. Amey surpassed Philadelphia’s Chris Jackson for the league’s overall lead in points scored and touchdowns thanks to his four-touchdown performance in the loss against Dallas. The second-year player has quietly had an outstanding season. He has posted at least two receiving TDs in all but two games and has had at least four scores in five games. The teams that passed over Amey were: Arizona, Grand Rapids (twice), Los Angeles, New Orleans, Columbus, Colorado, Utah and Philadelphia.
“PET”TIS ROCKS
Dallas WR/DB Will Pettis pretty much secured his second straight AFL Ironman of the Year award during the Desperados’ 68-52 win over Cleveland. Pettis caught 13 balls for 118 yards with four touchdowns. He also threw a touchdown and ran in another, while recording six tackles on defense. If Pettis does indeed earn his second consecutive Ironman of the Year honor, he will join Hunkie Cooper (twice) and Barry Wagner (six times) has the only players with multiple awards. Cooper did his in 1999 and 2000, while Wagner earned the award his first six AFL seasons (1992-98).
WEEKLY PLAYOFF UPDATE
Three teams had the opportunity to clinch playoff berth and all three did so. Arizona and Dallas won their respective games to punch their tickets to the postseason, while Philadelphia got in despite not playing a game due to Cleveland’s loss to Dallas. Additionally, Columbus has been eliminated. The remaining 16 teams are still alive and potentially could be in it until Week 17. After starting 0-9, the Utah Blaze has moved into the American Conference’s sixth seed after winning four of its last five games. San Jose will clinch the Western Division and a first-round bye with a win or a Rattlers loss (the SaberCats have a bye this week). Chicago clinches home-field advantage throughout the American Conference playoffs with a win or a San Jose loss.
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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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Dallas – Y
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11-2
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1
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Chicago – X
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10-2
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2
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Georgia
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8-5
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2
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San Jose – Y
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9-5
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3
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Philadelphia – Y
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10-3
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3
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Arizona – Y
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7-6
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4
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New Orleans
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8-5
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4
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Colorado
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4-8
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5
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Orlando
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8-6
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5
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Los Angeles
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4-9
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6
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Cleveland
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7-6
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6
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Utah
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4-10
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X = won division and first-round bye
Y = clinched playoff berth
WEEK 14’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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C.J. Johnson, CMB
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112
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10
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1
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Derek Lee, CMB
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112
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9
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2
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James Jordan, NO
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121
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8
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3
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LaShaun Ward, LA
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134
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8
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3
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James Roe, SJ
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117
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10
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2
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Cleannord Saintil, SJ
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107
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6
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1
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Donovan Morgan, CHI
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153
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14
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2
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Siaha Burley, AZ
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105
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8
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3
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T.T. Toliver, ORL
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105
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8
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2
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Will Pettis, DAL
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118
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13
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4
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Robert Redd, CLE
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127
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10
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0
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Otis Amey, CLE
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132
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9
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4
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Carl Morris, GEO
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157
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15
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3
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Tiger Jones, GEO
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113
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12
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1
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J.J. McKelvey, UTAH
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146
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5
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2
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Cole Magner, GR
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114
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9
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2
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Kenny Higgins, GR
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107
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9
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2
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Chad Owen, COL
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132
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10
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4
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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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John Dutton, COL
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340
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8
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1
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Matt Nagy, CMB
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339
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7
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0
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Joe Germaine, UTAH
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304
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4
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1
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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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Timon Marshall, LA
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228
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3
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Chad Owen, COL
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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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Calvin Spears, NO
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10.5
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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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1.0
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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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0
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0
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Isaiah Trufant, AZ
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6.0
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1
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0.0
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2
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0
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1
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0
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Dustin Barno, AZ
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3.0
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0
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1.0
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0
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0
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1
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0
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Donvetis Franklin, DAL
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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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4
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0
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Traco Rachal, TB
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13.5
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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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Tony Tiller, GEO
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7.5
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1
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0.0
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0
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0
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1
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0
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Ron Jones, SJ
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2.5
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0
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2.0
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0
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0
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1
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0
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Omarr Smith, SJ
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8.5
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0
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0.0
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1
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1
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0
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0
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OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
San Jose QB Mark Grieb completed 71.4% of his passes for 298 yards with seven touchdowns and no interceptions for a passer rating of 136.7. Over the past four games, the two-time ArenaBowl MVP has completed 74.1% of his passes for 1,141 yards with 32 touchdowns to just two interceptions and a passer rating of 131.6.
HONORABLE MENTION: Cleveland WR Otis Amey caught nine passes for 132 yards with four touchdowns in the Gladiators’ loss to Dallas.
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Arizona DB Isaiah Trufant helped the Rattlers to their fifth win in six tries against the National Conference by tallying six stops, forcing two fumbles, picking off a pass and breaking up a pass in the team’s 60-53 win over Orlando.
HONORABLE MENTION: San Jose DL Ron Jones sacked Los Angeles QB Sonny Cumbie twice, broke up a pass and tallied 2.5 stops in the SaberCats win over the Avengers.
IRONMAN OF THE WEEK
Dallas WR/DB Will Pettis essentially locked up Ironman of the Year with his performance against Cleveland. He accounted for six touchdowns (four receiving, one rushing and one passing) and had six tackles in the win. He finished with 13 grabs for 118 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.
