Breaking it Down – Week Eight 2011
Andy Lopusnak
Thursday May 5, 2011
Very eventful week of AFL action on and off the field. Aaron Garcia topped 1,000 TDs, Arizona lost for the first time, the AFL Hall of Fame is back and the AFL is letting fans design its championship game logo. Buckle up, Breaking it Down's here folks.
Getting a thousand TDs is an impressive feat and it's awesome that the Pro Football Hall of Fame will display Aaron Garcia's jersey and the football from the four-digit score. Yes, the AFL is a much different game, but the magnitude of 1,000 TDs in a sport is astonishing. If you combined the career totals of the NFL's top two passing TD leaders (Brett Favre and Dan Marino), you'd still need 72 TDs to reach 1,000. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have played 35 seasons and have a combined 605 passing scores. The NFL's oldest franchise, the Cardinals, has played football for 91 years and has a combined 1,215 passing TDs.
This is a great feat, but when I watched it on YouTube because the NFL Network tape-delayed the broadcast to show the Top 100 NFL players of 2010, I stopped for a second when I hear someone say Garcia was the AFL's greatest QB. What? Really? QBs aren't measured on TDs. They're measured on wins. Garcia's had an amazing statistical career in the regular season, but in 18 years has yet to take a team to the ArenaBowl. The 2011 season looks promising as he guides the American Conference's top team, but that was the same story last year when the Sharks had the best record in the conference then lost in the first round.
One thousand is a huge number and with the increase to 18 games, this threshold will be surpassed in the future by many players. San Jose's Mark Grieb is poised to be the next. He's four years younger than Garcia is and would hit the mark early in the 2013 season if he plays that long.
Speaking of the Hall of Fame, the AFL finally is going to start inducting players in the AFL's Holy of Holies for the first time since 2002. I'm thrilled, but disturbed it took almost a decade to do this. There's no excuse. I know the league put everything on the backburner for NBC back in the day; but to give up on honoring the great players that played this game is a damn shame. That being said, the Hall's Board of Directors is full of people that love this game. Props, of course, go to ArenaFan alum Tom Goodhines, now the Soul's GM, for being part of the board.
Now the question is who gets into the first class since 2002? The obvious answer is anyone eligible that's on the 20 Greatest Players in AFL History that the league put out as part of the AFL's 20th anniversary five years ago. Not a single player should go in until all of these players get in. So, the class of 2011 should be (in order by 20 Greatest ranking): #1 Eddie Brown, #2 Barry Wagner, #3 George LaFrance, #5 Hunkie Cooper, #6 James Baron, #7 Sylvester Bembery, #8 Sherdrick Bonner, #9 Stevie Thomas, #12 Kurt Warner, #13 Sam Hernandez, #14 Cory Fleming, #14 Greg Hopkins, #17 Randy Gatewood and #20 Bob McMillen. One name on the list is still active and Aaron Garcia will obviously be a first-ballot guy when he's eligible.
There's a bunch of other players that are worthy of Hall, but none of their names should even be considered until this list is in. If any of them are in, then the 20 Greatest Player list is a joke and the entire 20th anniversary celebration five years ago was a sham.
The AFL announced that the ArenaBowl XXIV logo would be designed by the fans. After the debacle of last year's worst championship logo ever, I'm glad that the league won't be using that design company again. However, the league is giving the fans less than ten days to create a logo that a design company would take weeks or even months to create. Last year, the league had two ArenaBowl logos. The first was beyond horrible, and was replaced after NAPA bought the title sponsorship of the game. The entries are due by May 8, so I encourage everyone to think of a cool design and get it to the AFL ASAP. Next week, I will break down each of the final designs that the league will have fans vote for online.
With the NFL lockout in place, there might be an influx of undrafted college players coming into the AFL in the coming weeks. Normally these players would be signed the day after the NFL Draft, but since NFL teams are not allowed to sign anyone during the lockout these players are available. Some might make their way to the AFL if they are not signed by the CFL or go to the UFL, which had its draft on Monday.
Week Eight's best game was the West Division showdown pitting the defending ArenaBowl champions (Spokane) and the league's lone undefeated team (Arizona). The game came down to the final play, when a Rattlers field goal was blocked to preserve Shock win. In the game, Rattlers wideout Rod Windsor posted his third game with at least 15 catches. I believe this will be the first time in league history that a player has accomplished the feat, but cannot confirm it. Spokane is the first defending champion to beat the last undefeated team that was at least 6-0 since 1994 when the Storm (1993 champions) beat the Predators in the final game of the regular season. If Arizona would have pulled off the win, it would mark just the tenth time in league history a team started 7-0.
WEEK EIGHT RESULTS |
CLEVELAND 34, Tulsa 30
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Dallas 72, KANSAS CITY 63
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GEORGIA 58, Pittsburgh 39
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MILWAUKEE 50, Tampa Bay 33
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CHICAGO 50, New Orleans 28
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JACKSONVILLE 76, Orlando 55
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Philadelphia 76, IOWA 62
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SPOKANE 70, Arizona 69
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Home team in ALL CAPS
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BYE: San Jose, Utah
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CLEVELAND 34, TULSA 30
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Cleveland lost starting QB Kurt Rocco late in the third quarter to a hand injury. His backup, Dan Whalen, tossed a TD in his first career AFL pass attempt to bring the Glads within two points.
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Tulsa committed the lone turnover, an interception with five-minutes left, which Cleveland capitalized on and scored the game-winning TD with just 33 seconds left when Russell Monk ran in a four-yard score.
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Monk's ground score was on first and goal and gave the Talons enough time to run five plays to a potential game-winning TD. However, three of those five plays were incompletions, including the final one.
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I just don't get it. Final-minute clock management isn't that hard. You're trailing by two with 36 seconds left at the Talons four-yard line and Tulsa is out of timeouts. Take a knee and run some of that eternity in the game down. At least waste ten seconds. Giving your opponent over 30 seconds in this game when a TD would win it is ridiculous.
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The teams combined for ten converted third downs (five each) and four converted fourth downs (two each).
DALLAS 72, KANSAS CITY 63
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Vigilantes QB Dan Raudabaugh had more touchdown passes (seven) than incompletions (six) as Dallas won its third straight game and leads the Central Division. Raudabaugh completed 82.9% of his passes for 377 yards, seven touchdowns and no interceptions for a passer rating of 151.1.
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For Kansas City, QB J.J. Raterink tossed eight TDs and 343 yards, but his interception resulted in a Dallas TD late in the third quarter.
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There were three safeties in the game. Both QBs lost fumbles that resulted in safeties for the other team. Raudabaugh lost a fumble that netted KC two points and then was sacked for another Jefferson - both in the first half of play. Raterink's happened on the final play of the game.
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Dallas FB Derrick Ross added three more rushing scores and is tied with San Jose's Chad Cook for the league lead. Ross also gained 22 ground yards and his 285 on the year not only lead the league but rank 14th all-time in AFL single season history (and he's played just seven games).
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Vigilantes WR Matt Fields posted 14 catches for 149 yard and two scores, while teammate DeAndrew Rubin added 146 yards and three TDs on just seven grabs.
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Dallas LB Dusty Bear delivered a fantastic defensive performance. He had 1.5 sacks, a safety and shared a tackle on a fourth and one that ended a drive. On the final two plays, Bear shared a sack, then recorded a safety.
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Both teams missed field goals with no time remaining in the first half. Kansas City missed a 40-yarder as time expired. It was returned but there was kick-catch interference and Dallas had an untimed down and Remy Hamilton missed a 35-yard boot.
GEORGIA 58, PITTSBURGH 39
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Georgia's defense forced four turnovers (all by Power QB Anthony Morelli) that resulted in 17 points. After allowing two TDs on Pittsburgh's first two drives, Georgia's defense allowed just on score in the next six possessions.
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Pittsburgh led 13-7 and the game was tied at 13 entering the second quarter until Georgia outscored the Power 45-26 the rest of the way.
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Force QB Brett Elliott had eight passing scores and 261 yards, but completed just 58.8% of his passes.
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The Power ran for 101 yards and had two players run for over 30 yards in the game. Pittsburgh also attempted a league season high 14 third down conversions and converted seven of them.
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A measly 2,093 showed up on a Saturday night to watch this game. I never thought I see a team get fewer than the Milwaukee's 2,112 for a Monday night game. Last year, the Force was the Alabama Vipers that previously were the Tennessee Valley Vipers. During the ten years in the af2 or AFL, the Vipers never had an attendance this bad.
MILWAUKEE 50, TAMPA BAY 33
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The Storm led 14-7 at the end of the first quarter but the Mustangs scored the game's next 30 points to put it away.
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During Milwaukee's 30-point burst, the Mustangs took two interceptions to the house on back-to-back plays.
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Mustangs DB Andre Jones recorded six solo stops, an interception, forced a fumble, recovered two fumbles and broke up two passes.
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Ten different players rushed the ball in the game (seven by Milwaukee, three by Tampa Bay).
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The Storm is 0-2 against the Milwaukee Iron/Mustangs franchise since the AFL returned from the collapse.
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Milwaukee kicker Garrett Lindhom made three of his four field goal attempts.
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Tampa Bay's five losses are as many as it had in entire 2010 regular season when the team won the American Conference and played in the ArenaBowl.
CHICAGO 50, NEW ORLEANS 28
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The game was tied at seven, but the Rush was too much for the VooDoo. Entering the fourth quarter, Chicago was up 50-14.
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VooDoo do-it-all man P.J. Berry again was the lone bright spot for the gravely VooDoo. He accounted for 205 all-purpose yards and three touchdowns. Berry caught 12 balls for 132 yards and a score, then had 68 more yards in returns and added two TDs rushing. he even added a special teams tackle on the game's opening kickoff.
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Chicago QB Russ Michna tossed more TDs (six) than incompletions (five). He had 213 yards and six TDs.
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Rush WR Reggie Gray was his favorite target. Gray grabbed nine passes for 165 yards and three TDs.
JACKSONVILLE 76, ORLANDO 55
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The Sharks drew their largest crowd of the season thanks in part to the Predators owner's stupid billboard taunting the city of Jacksonville. So apparently, Jacksonville doesn't suck Brett Bouchy, do they?
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Jacksonville QB Aaron Garcia became the first player in pro football history to compile 1,000 passing TDs. He hit the mark with under four minutes left in the first half when hit connected with Jeron Harvey on a nine-yard TD strike. The score regained the lead for the Sharks, which never trailed again.
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Garcia finished with 274 yards and six scores. He completed 61.2% of his passes and was picked off twice. On his second INT, Garcia passed Clint Dolezel for the second most by any QB in AFL history (he trails Andy Kelly by eight for most all-time).
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Orlando QB Nick Hill accounted for all three Predators turnovers that resulted in three Sharks TDs. He was also sacked four times, including once for a safety.
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Predators WR/KR Josh Bush had 312 all-purpose yards and three TDs. He caught nine passes for 127 yards with three scores and had eight kickoff returns for 181 yards.
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Jacksonville has now won an AFL-high six straight games since losing in Week One at Arizona by three points.
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The two teams combined for seven fourth down conversions (Orlando was three-of-five and Jacksonville converted both attempts).
PHILADELPHIA 76, IOWA 62
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After Iowa struck first, Philly scored the game's next 21 points and began to pull away.
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Iowa scored the game's final 15 points to make the final score a lot closer than the game actually was.
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The Soul went back to Ryan Vena at QB and the former Barnstormers signal caller tore up his old team with 317 yards and eight TD passes.
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On the other side of the ball, Iowa QB Brad Banks had 397 yards through the air and nine scores, but was picked off twice.
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The Barnstormers had two players with 13 catches: Todd Blythe (13-187-4) and Errick McCown (13-123-3).
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Soul WR/KR Keith Stokes had 203 all-purpose yards and led the team with 11 catches for 159 yards and three scores.
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Philly wideout Donovan Morgan was held to a season-low three catches and 45 yards (one TD).
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Soul LB DeJuan Alfonzo recorded his eighth interception return for a TD in his career (on a 39-yard return). He is now tied for the third most in league history with Lawrence Samuels, Omarr Smith and Clevan Thomas (that's a heck of list). Yardage wise, Alfonzo is now eighth all-time. Not bad for a guy who ranks 29th all-time in interceptions.
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The game was the Soul's six on the road. Philly's final nine games feature six home games. However, the team is 0-2 at home this season.
SPOKANE 70, ARIZONA 69
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The Rattlers scored the game's final 13 points (within 41 seconds), but failed on a two-point try for the win with 11 seconds left. Arizona recovered the ensuing on-side kick, but had a 46-yad FG blocked as time expired.
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In the final minute, the Rattlers recovered two on-side kicks.
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The Rattlers are now 0-4 all-time against the defending champs.
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Arizona WR Rod Windsor posted 16 catches for 167 yards and a touchdown. He has posted at least 15 catches in three straight games.
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Spokane QB Kyle Rowley accounted for all nine offensive scores for the Shock (eight passing, one rushing). The other Spokane TD was on an Arizona on-side kick that WR Raul Vijil ran in from eight yards out. Vijil also had four receiving TDs on just five catches.
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Rattlers FB Odie Armstrong had 40 rushing yards and four scores on nine carries.
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The Shock was won two in a row (and scored 70 in both) after starting the season 1-4.
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Arizona QB Nick Davila, who won an ArenaCup with the Shock, completed 67.4% of his passes for 318 yards with six TDs and no interceptions. However, he lost a fumble (on the game's second play) that resulted in a seven Shock points.
BREAKING IT DOWN PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Kyle Rowley, Spokane QB
Ladies and gentlemen, we present the first back-to-back winner of the Breaking it Down player of the week. Rowley came up big against the last undefeated team in the league. He ran in the game's opening points, then tossed eight touchdown passes against one of the best defenses in the game. Rowley finished with 219 yards, eight passing TDs and an interception. He completed
2011 BREAKING IT DOWN PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
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Week
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Player, Team
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Stat Notes
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1
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Mark Grieb, SJ
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84%, 222 yds, six TDs, 143 rating
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2
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Tommy Grady, Utah
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67%, 306 yds, 9 TD (7 pass/2 rush)
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3
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Aaron Garcia, JAX
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89.5%, 308 yds, 8 TD, perfect 158.33 rating
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4
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Brad Banks, Iowa
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65%, 383 yards, 11 TD (10 pass/1 rush), 138.9 rating
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5
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Sergio Gilliam, KC
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3 interceptions, 5.0 tackles, 1 pass breakup
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6
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Rod Windsor, AZ
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16 receptions for 217 yards and five TDs
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7
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Kyle Rowley, SPK
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72%, 293 yards, 10 TD (8 pass/2 rush), 1 INT, 126.69 rating
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8
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Kyle Rowley, SPK
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67.7%, 219 yards, 9 TD (8 pass/1 rush), 1 INT, 114.11 rating
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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.