Force QB Bryant Moniz undergoes surgery on torn MCL
Mike Delrio
Wednesday August 1, 2012
Georgia Force quarterback Bryant Moniz underwent surgery Tuesday to repair his left MCL, which was torn in Saturday’s Arena Football League playoff loss to the Jacksonville Sharks. ‘Mighty Mo’ was carried from the field early in the third quarter of the last second 58-56 loss that ended Georgia’s season. The surgery was successfully and Coach Dean Cokinos said Moniz “is expected to fully recover in 3-4 months.”
Moniz became the Force starting quarterback in Week 16 when Georgia traveled to Utah, and was making his fifth consecutive start in the first-round playoff game when the injury occurred. The former University of Hawaii star was 2-2 as a regular season starter and quickly became a fan favorite while compiling a 95.18 QB efficiency rating. ‘Mo’ totaled 875 passing yards with 16 touchdowns and two interceptions while averaging 218.8 passing yards per game and also carried the ball 14 times for 39 yards and three TDs.
The AFL postseason continues Friday night when the Philadelphia Soul play host to the Jacksonville Sharks in the American Conference title game, while the National Conference champ will be decided Saturday when the Utah Blaze will face the Arizona Rattlers on the road.
Philadelphiafinished the regular season with the best record (15-3) in the league and won the East Division by seven games and has to be favored to win this contest going away. Jacksonville (10-8) had the second best record in the conference, but will not be able to keep up with the offensive firepower of the Soul. Philadelphia led the AFL in scoring (68.2 PPG), while the Sharks were 12th (51.7).
While the Utah (12-6)-Arizona (13-5) game will be more competitive, the West Division champion Rattlers defense will be the deciding factor in advancing Arizona to ArenaBowl XXV. As evidenced by their points-per-game numbers, both the Blaze (62.7, 3rd in the league) and Rattlers (62.1, 4th in AFL) can light up the scoreboard, however the Arizona defense has surrendered an average of almost 10-points per game less than the Blaze unit. The Rattlers were 2nd in the AFL in scoring defense, allowing 48.9 points-per-game, while the Blaze were 15th out of 17 teams, giving up 58.4 PPG.
ArenaBowl XXV will be played Friday, August 10th in New Orleans and this writer expects the combatants to be the Philadelphia Soul, representing the American Conference, and the Arizona Rattlers, representing the National Conference.
Coach Dean Cokinos reflects on Georgia’s season in exclusive interview later this week
The Georgia Force are members of the South Division of the American Conference in the AFL. The Force play home games at the Arena at Gwinnett Center, located off I-85 on Sugarloaf Parkway in Duluth.
Mike began his third season reporting on the Georgia Force in March, 2012. Coverage includes weekly game previews and recaps, exclusive interviews and AFL news. Mike has been a Gwinnett County resident (the home of the Force) for two decades and provides coverage of the counties other pro sports franchises, the Gwinnett Braves (Braves Triple-A affiliate) and the Gwinnett Gladiators (ECHL, player development deals with both the Phoenix Coyotes and Buffalo Sabres) as well.
