Breaking it Down - ArenaBowl XXIV
Andy Lopusnak
Wednesday August 17, 2011
ArenaBowl XXIV featured a title-game record eleven lead changes, including four in the final 52 seconds. The last was the most dramatic and capped the greatest ArenaBowl in league history when Jacksonville QB Aaron Garcia hit receiver Jeron Harvey on a ten-yard strike as time expired that gave the Sharks an ArenaBowl title in just the team's second season. As usual, Breaking it Down will provide more insight into this great game than anywhere in the indoor football universe. Enjoy!
Jacksonville is the first ArenaBowl winner to win the game after trailing at halftime and the first to win after trailing after three quarters. In addition, the Sharks’ eleven-point deficit (with under ten-minutes to go) overcome to win is the largest in ArenaBowl history.
The Sharks become the third Sunshine State team to win an ArenaBowl joining Tampa Bay (five) and Orlando (two). Teams from Florida have won a third of the ArenaBowls played. Take out the first four AFL seasons when there were no teams from Florida, and Sunshine State teams have won 40% of the ArenaBowls played. Arizona is the only team to play all three of these teams in an ArenaBowl and now is 1-2 against them with its only win being in 1994 against Orlando.
Jacksonville is the eleventh team to win the ArenaBowl in its first title game appearance and third in a row (2008 Philadelphia, 2010 Spokane).
The AFL's first two ArenaBowl champions since the league missed the 2009 season are teams that were not part of the 2008 league. Spokane won it last season after spending four years in arenafootball2 and winning two ArenaCup titles. Jacksonville was an expansion team last season. In addition to winning the past two titles, both teams have been among the best in the league in attendance. The league should've been in these two markets a long time ago.
CLOSEST ARENABOWLS
The three-point Sharks win is tied with three other ArenaBowls as being the closest in league history. Here's a look at the closest ArenaBowls with how the final points were scored in each situation.
ARENABOWL
|
YEAR
|
FINAL SCORE
|
DECIDED BY
|
FINAL POINTS IN 4TH QTR
|
XXIV
|
2011
|
JAX 73, AZ 70
|
3 pts
|
00:00 (TD when trailing by winner)
|
XIX
|
2005
|
COL 51, GEO 48
|
3 pts
|
00:00 (FG breaking tie)
|
XIV
|
2000
|
ORL 41, NAS 38
|
3 pts
|
00:00 (FG breaking tie)
|
XXII
|
2008
|
PHI 59, SJ 56
|
3 pts
|
00:17 (TD by losing team)
|
X
|
1996
|
TB 42, IOWA 38
|
4 pts
|
08:26 (TD by losing team)
|
VIII
|
1994
|
AZ 36, ORL 31
|
5 pts
|
00:31 (TD when trailing by winner)
|
V
|
1991
|
TB 48, DET 42
|
6 pts
|
00:39 (TD when tied by winner)
|
XVIII
|
2004
|
SJ 69, AZ 62
|
7 pts
|
00:30 (TD by winner when winning)
|
BREAKDOWN: THE FINAL MINUTE
The final minute of ArenaBowl XXIV had a record four touchdowns scored. Let's look at how the final minute played out. Jacksonville scored with 1:26 left and kicked its extra point at the one-minute mark to give the Sharks a four-point advantage. After thwarting an onside kick by the Sharks, Arizona wasted little time and scored on a passing touchdown on its first offensive snap. The Rattlers attempted the onside kick but failed and Jacksonville scored 12 seconds later.
Arizona got the ball back with 40 seconds left (down by four) and marched down to the Sharks 12-yard line with under 30 seconds left. It was first and ten with both teams still with the full allotment of timeouts. Instead of milking the clock and forcing the Sharks to use its timeouts, Arizona went for the end zone and scored. However, there was 21 seconds left in the game - an eternity for indoor football.
Jacksonville got a great return by WR/KR Jeff Hughley that put the ball at its own 23. After an incompletion and a 17-yard completion, there were 2.9 seconds left on the clock. Garcia then found Harvey for the game winner. That night, the game-winning score was selected as the #1 in ESPN's Top 10 plays of the day. Sadly, the Sharks were also at the top of ESPN's Not Top 10 list in the same week for a fan mauling a player on a kickoff return in the American Conference championship game that was played just four days earlier.
LATE HITS, LOOSE BALLS AND POOR ONE-MINUTE CALLS KILLS SNAKES
Though the stats don't reflect it, Sharks QB Aaron Garcia was picked off twice, but both were erased when Rattlers linemen hit Garcia after his two errant passes were thrown. Once was obvious, while the other didn't seem like roughing the passer and could've easily not been called. Garcia went on to lead his team to touchdowns on both. The first was three plays later to give the Sharks their first lead of the game. The second came with Arizona up by 11 in the fourth quarter. Garcia hit Jamark Simmons on a seven-yard score three plays after the would-be interceptions. If the interception did occur, then likely the game would've been decided on that play.
Arizona DB/KR Virgil Gray didn't fumble in the regular season or the two playoff games leading up to the ArenaBowl. However, he lost two fumbles within three attempts in the first half. Both led to Jacksonville touchdowns. Gray became the first player in league history to earn multiple All-Arena honors in the same season. He was All-Arena Second Team as a defensive back and as a special teams player.
In the final minute of each half, Rattlers head coach Kevin Guy made a few play calls that might be considered questionable. The first went his way, while the second didn't. Down by three at the Sharks' 16 with 15 seconds and second down, Guy had Davila go for the end zone. He scored but left 12 ticks on the clock. Jacksonville nearly scored a touchdown with the remaining time but was stopped at the goal line as time expired in the first half.
With 25 seconds left in the game down by four, the Rattlers had the ball first and ten at the Jacksonville 12. Again, Guy had Davila go for the end zone, this time on a crossing pattern about five-yards deep into the end zone. The result was a touchdown, but again too much time remained on the clock. There were 21 seconds left and Jacksonville used every second and won the game. If the Sharks didn't score and Arizona would've won the game, none of this would matter. I'd still question it, as I've questioned all similar calls this season. If San Jose had used more clock in the final minute of games better, the SaberCats would've been 11-7 and made the playoffs, but instead finished 7-11.
GARCIA'S GREATEST EXAMINED
Here's a detailed look at Aaron Garcia's record-breaking performance by quarter and by half. Garcia posted a perfect rated first quarter and first half, but faltered in the third quarter, where he misfired on seven straight passes before returning to form in the fourth. If you take away Garcia's third quarter, he would've been 23-of-29 (79.3%) for 343 yards with seven scores and a near perfect 155.53 rating.
AARON GARCIA BY QUARTER
QUARTER
|
COMP
|
ATT
|
%
|
YARDS
|
TD
|
INT
|
RATING
|
First
|
5
|
6
|
83.3
|
97
|
2
|
0
|
158.33
|
Second
|
7
|
8
|
87.5
|
94
|
1
|
0
|
146.88
|
Third
|
5
|
13
|
38.5
|
59
|
1
|
0
|
72.28
|
Fourth
|
11
|
15
|
73.3
|
152
|
4
|
0
|
145.00
|
TOTALS
|
28
|
42
|
66.7
|
402
|
8
|
0
|
137.10
|
AARON GARCIA BY HALF
HALF
|
COMP
|
ATT
|
%
|
YARDS
|
TD
|
INT
|
RATING
|
First
|
12
|
14
|
85.7
|
191
|
3
|
0
|
158.33
|
Second
|
16
|
28
|
57.1
|
211
|
5
|
0
|
120.68
|
TOTALS
|
28
|
42
|
66.7
|
402
|
8
|
0
|
137.10
|
OPEN TO CLOSE
Garcia's first pass attempt in the ArenaBowl went for a 41-yard touchdown to Jomo Wilson and he tossed a 10-yard TD to end the game. In between, Garcia's other six scores went for 11, 31, 9, 7, 45 and 11 yards.
ARENABOWL INDIVIDUAL PASSING RECORDS - SINGLE GAME
Here's a look at Garcia's numbers from this title game compared to the previous 23 ArenaBowls. Arizona's Nick Davila also cracked the top five in passing yards and is tied with Garcia and Grieb (twice) for the second most passing touchdowns in an ArenaBowl.
COMPLETIONS
|
ATTEMPTS
|
||
1. Warner, IOWA (1997)
|
31
|
1. Warner, IOWA (1997)
|
51
|
2. Dietz, TB (2010)
|
29
|
2. Grieb, SJ (2008)
|
44
|
3. Garcia, JAX (2011)
|
28
|
3. Nagy, CMB (2007)
|
43
|
4. Five others
|
27
|
D'Orazio, PHI (2008)
|
43
|
|
|
5. Garcia, JAX (2011)
|
42
|
PASSING YARDS
|
PASSING TOUCHDOWNS
|
||
1. Garcia, JAX (2011)
|
402
|
1. Rowley, SPK (2010)
|
9
|
2. Bonner, AZ (2004)
|
367
|
2. Garcia, JAX (2011)
|
8
|
3. Dutton, COL (2005)
|
347
|
Grieb, SJ (2008)
|
8
|
Pawlawski, ALB (1999)
|
347
|
Grieb, SJ (2004)
|
8
|
5. Davila, AZ (2011)
|
338
|
Davila, AZ (2011)
|
8
|
GARCIA IN THE POSTSEASON
In the three playoff games, including the ArenaBowl, Garcia played some of his finest football. He was picked off once in the opening round, but posted back-to-back games with at least 300 yards and eight touchdowns in the conference championship and in the ArenaBowl. In the regular season, Garcia completed 71.5% of his passes with a rating of 125.39. His numbers in the postseason were better. Here's a look at each playoff performance.
GAME
|
COMP
|
ATT
|
%
|
YARDS
|
TD
|
INT
|
RATING
|
1st Rd vs. ORL
|
15
|
19
|
78.9
|
148
|
4
|
1
|
116.78
|
2nd Rd vs. GEO
|
22
|
28
|
78.6
|
313
|
8
|
0
|
152.83
|
AB 24 at AZ
|
28
|
42
|
66.7
|
402
|
8
|
0
|
137.10
|
TOTALS
|
65
|
89
|
73.0
|
863
|
20
|
1
|
138.25
|
ARENABOWL INDIVIDUAL RECORDS SET OR TIED
There were quite a few ArenaBowl records set or tied in the 24th edition of the game. Here's a detailed look into those.
CATEGORY
|
STAT
|
PLAYER, TEAM
|
Passing Yards
|
402
|
Aaron Garcia, Jacksonville
|
PATs Made
|
10
|
Jason Witczak, Arizona
|
PATs Attempted (tied)
|
10
|
Jason Witczak, Arizona
|
ARENABOWL TEAM RECORDS SET OR TIED
CATEGORY
|
STAT
|
TEAM
|
Points Scored
|
73
|
Jacksonville
|
Total Touchdowns Scored
|
11
|
Jacksonville
|
Total Offensive Touchdowns (tied)
|
10
|
Arizona
|
Total Offensive Touchdowns (tied)
|
10
|
Jacksonville
|
Points Scored, Fourth Quarter
|
35
|
Jacksonville
|
Points Scored, Any Quarter
|
35
|
Jacksonville
|
Points Scored, 2nd Half
|
41
|
Jacksonville
|
Points Scored, Any Half
|
41
|
Jacksonville
|
Total Offensive Yards
|
413
|
Jacksonville
|
Total Passing Yards
|
397
|
Jacksonville
|
100-yard receivers (tied)
|
2
|
Arizona
|
100-yard receivers (tied)
|
2
|
Jacksonville
|
ARENABOWL COMBINED TEAM RECORDS SET OR TIED
CATEGORY
|
STAT
|
JACKSONVILLE
|
ARIZONA
|
Total Points Scored
|
143
|
73
|
70
|
Total Touchdowns Scored
|
20
|
10
|
10
|
Total Touchdowns Scored
|
21
|
11
|
10
|
Total Offensive Yards
|
756
|
413
|
343
|
Total Passing Yards
|
725
|
397
|
328
|
Passing Touchdowns
|
16
|
8
|
8
|
Passing First Downs (tied)
|
38
|
19
|
19
|
Points Scored, 4th Quarter
|
63
|
28
|
35
|
Points Scored, Any Quarter
|
63
|
28
|
35
|
Points Scored, 2nd Half
|
76
|
41
|
35
|
Points Scored, Any Half
|
76
|
41
|
35
|
Kickoff Returns
|
17
|
7
|
10
|
Combined Kick Returns
|
17
|
7
|
10
|
100-yard receivers (tied)
|
4
|
2
|
2
|
300-yard passers (tied)
|
2
|
1
|
1
|
Fewest Combined FG Attempts
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
Fewest Combined FG Made (tied)
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
ALMOST RECORDS
Some other stats of note in the game were among the best in ArenaBowl history. There's likely more near records, but since the league doesn't provide full box scores to each ArenaBowl, I'm unsure if there's more. For example, I believe that Rattlers DB/KR Virgil Gray's two lost fumbles on kickoff returns is the most ever by a non-QB, but cannot confirm this without looking at the game books. Here's a look what I found...
TEAM RECORDS
|
STAT
|
TEAM(S)
|
AB RANK
|
Rushing TD, both teams
|
4
|
2 JAX, 1 AZ
|
T-4th
|
Fumbles Lost, both teams
|
3
|
1 JAX, 2 AZ
|
T-4th
|
Kickoff Return Yards, both teams
|
244
|
108 JAX, 136 AZ
|
2nd
|
Points Scored
|
70
|
Arizona
|
2nd
|
Points Scored, Fourth Quarter
|
28
|
Arizona
|
2nd
|
Points Scored, Any Quarter
|
28
|
Arizona
|
T-2nd
|
Points Scored, 2nd Half
|
35
|
Arizona
|
T-4th
|
Points Scored, Any Half
|
35
|
Arizona
|
T-4th
|
Passing Touchdowns
|
8
|
Jacksonville
|
T-2nd
|
Passing Touchdowns
|
8
|
Arizona
|
T-2nd
|
Passing Yards
|
328
|
Arizona
|
5th
|
Kickoff Returns
|
10
|
Arizona
|
2nd
|
Kickoff Return Yards
|
136
|
Arizona
|
3rd
|
Pass Attempts
|
42
|
Jacksonville
|
5th
|
Pass Attempts, both teams
|
82
|
42 JAX, 40 AZ
|
2nd
|
Completions
|
28
|
Jacksonville
|
3rd
|
Completions, both teams
|
53
|
28 JAX, 25 AZ
|
T-2nd
|
Combined Kick Returns
|
10
|
Arizona
|
2nd
|
PLAYER RECORDS
|
STAT
|
PLAYER
|
AB RANK
|
Passer Rating
|
137.1
|
A. Garcia, JAX
|
2nd
|
Completions
|
28
|
A. Garcia, JAX
|
3rd
|
Pass Attempts
|
42
|
A. Garcia, JAX
|
5th
|
Passing Yards
|
338
|
N. Davila, AZ
|
5th
|
Passing Touchdowns
|
8
|
A. Garcia, JAX
|
T-2nd
|
Passing Touchdowns
|
8
|
N. Davila, AZ
|
T-2nd
|
Tackles
|
9.5
|
M. Floyd, AZ
|
4th
|
Kickoff Returns
|
8
|
V. Gray, AZ
|
2nd
|
Kickoff Return Yards
|
125
|
V. Gray, AZ
|
6th
|
Receptions
|
10
|
C. Jackson, AZ
|
T-9th
|
Receiving Yards
|
138
|
J. Wilson, JAX
|
T-6th
|
Receiving Yards
|
136
|
C. Jackson, AZ
|
8th
|
Rushing Attempts
|
7
|
K. Griffin, JAZ
|
T-3rd
|
PLEASE RETIRE THE IRONMAN AWARD - THIS IS RIDICULOUS
For the first time in ArenaBowl history, the AFL gave the ArenaBowl Ironman to a player that failed to record any statistics in the game other than being flagged for two penalties. This year, Jacksonville lineman Jason Holman received the award. He was called for a false start on an extra point (that eventually was missed) and leg whipping an Arizona player that wiped out a 21-yard gain. Worst ArenaBowl Ironman ever? Yup.
JACKSON DOES IT AGAIN
Arizona WR Chris Jackson became just the second player in ArenaBowl history to be named Offensive Player of the Game twice joining San Jose's Mark Grieb. The AFL created the Offensive Player of the Game (as well as Defensive Player of the Game) and dumped ArenaBowl MVP from 2004-2007 because the league decided that the game awards should match the sponsored awards from the regular season. It was brought back in 2008 when Mitsubishi gave that year's recipient, Philadelphia's Matt D'Orazio, a brand-new car. In that same ArenaBowl, Jackson caught eleven of D'Orazio's passes for 146 yards with three scores to earn Offensive Player of the Game honors. This time, Jackson caught ten passes for 136 yards with three TDs. He is the first to earn ArenaBowl Offensive Player of the Game honors as a member of the losing team.
Jackson has helped guide his past three teams to the ArenaBowl in his first season with each team. When he played the entire season with a team like 2008 with Philadelphia, his team has won the ArenaBowl. However, when he didn't play the entire season, both Georgia and Arizona lost ArenaBowls. In 2005, Jackson joined the Force after a trade with Grand Rapids midway through the season. This year, Jackson joined the Rattlers in the final two weeks of the season.
ARENABOWL
|
RESULT
|
REC
|
YARDS
|
AVG
|
TD
|
AB 19 w/ GEO
|
LOST
|
7
|
84
|
12.0
|
1
|
AB 22 w/ PHI
|
WON
|
11
|
146
|
13.3
|
3
|
AB 24 w/ AZ
|
LOST
|
10
|
136
|
13.6
|
3
|
TOTALS
|
1-2
|
28
|
366
|
13.1
|
7
|
HOMEFIELD ADVANTAGE? NOT REALLY
There have been twenty non-neutral site ArenaBowls. With Arizona's loss, the ArenaBowl home team is now 10-10. The Rattlers have lost the last two home ArenaBowls they've played, which happen to be the last two times that a home ArenaBowl team has lost. All indications are that the AFL will be going back to neutral-site ArenaBowls next season with New Orleans getting its third straight neutral-site title game. I hope the league stops doing back-to-back ArenaBowls at the same venue.
THAT AIN'T RIGHT
For the eighth year in a row, the AFL Coach of the Year failed to win the ArenaBowl. In the 24 years of the award, there have been just five AFL Coach of the Year winners to win the ArenaBowl in the same season (Tim Marcum, 1987; Fran Curci, 1991; Mike Dailey, 1999; Michael Trigg, 2001; and Darren Arbet, 2002). So only 15.5% of AFL Coach of the Year winners go on to win the ArenaBowl in the same season.
In all reality, Marcum never won the award in 1987 as the league didn't give out an actual award in 1987 and only named him as the recipient years later (he didn't get a trophy or anything from the league for the 1987 "award"). Marcum's lone Coach of the Year trophy came in 1998 after he had won six of the league's first eleven ArenaBowls (he didn't participate in 1990 or 1994). Therefore, he won two thirds of the ArenaBowls he could possibly compete for and the league didn't honor him. Nevertheless, this isn't anything new with this league. Jay Gruden won two ArenaBowls (both within his first three AFL seasons) and never received the award. Though Darren Arbet is a two-time Coach of the Year winner, he received the award only once during one of his three ArenaBowl winning seasons. Danny White received the award in 1993, but won ArenaBowls in different seasons (1994 & 1997).
Apparently, the Coach of the Year award is the kiss of death for an ArenaBowl title. Ask Perry Moss, the father of Jacksonville head coach Les Moss, who won the award three times and lost ArenaBowls in all three seasons. Two-time winners like Doug Plank and John Gregory didn't win ArenaBowls in the years they were named Coach of the Year either. The other two multi-Coach of the Year winners (Arbet and Marcum) did win one ArenaBowl in a year named Coach of the Year, but didn't in the other year.
REGULAR SEASON DOESN'T MATTER?
Just eight times in league history has the team with the best regular season record won the ArenaBowl. In the last eight ArenaBowls, only two top seeds have won the title (2010 Spokane; 2008 Philadelphia). During the AFL’s first 12 years, the top seed advanced to the ArenaBowl all 12 years, but had just four wins. In the next ten seasons, the top seed won just three titles.
OTHER INTERESTING NOTES FROM ARENABOWL XXIV
· For the first time in ArenaBowl history, neither team attempted a field goal.
· There were at least 35 team and individual ArenaBowl records set or tied.
· The first points of ArenaBowl XXIV were scored via the run, which is the most popular means of first points in ArenaBowl history (this was the tenth time and second straight year).
· For the first time since ArenaBowls XVII through XX has the television announcers been the same in back-to-back seasons. Back then, NBC had the same announcers for all four of its ArenaBowl broadcasts.
· The Rattlers have lost a record four straight ArenaBowl appearances. No other team has lost more than two straight ArenaBowl appearances - the last being the Nashville Kats (2000-01).
· Five different players scored three touchdowns in the game. Two from Arizona (Jackson: 3 receiving; Armstrong: 2 rushing, 1 receiving) and three from Jacksonville (Wilson: 2 receiving, 1 fumble; Harvey: 3 receiving; Simmons: 2 receiving, 1 rushing).
· Sharks WR/KR Jeff Hughley had 192 all-purpose yards. I think it ranks between fourth and sixth in ArenaBowl history, but without access to full game books; it's unknown where this ranks.
· Both teams were five-of-seven on third-down conversions.
· Sharks kicker Marco Capozzoli missed three extra points and had a two-point passing conversion nullified with a penalty. He did recover the first fumble of the night that lead to Jacksonville's first lead of the game.
· With the win, the league has its first father-son connection to win ArenaBowls as head coach. Les Moss won this time. His father, AFL Hall of Famer Perry, won ArenaBowl IV as the Detroit Drive's head coach the year Tim Marcum left the AFL to be an assistant at the University of Florida. The following season, Marcum was back with the Drive and Perry Moss became the first head coach of expansion Orlando Predators.
BREAKING IT DOWN PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Aaron Garcia, Jacksonville QB
Garcia entered the game as the oldest starting QB to ever reach the ArenaBowl by five years (Arizona's Sherdrick Bonner was 25 when he lost ArenaBowl XVIII). From the start, he didn't show his age connecting for a touchdown on his first offensive snap and setting an ArenaBowl record with 402 passing yards. Garcia saved his best for his very last pass when he found Jeron Harvey in the end zone to win the game for the Sharks as time expired. His eight passing scores are tied for the second most and his 137.1 passer rating is second best in ArenaBowl history.
2011 BREAKING IT DOWN PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
|
||
Wk
|
Player, Team
|
Stat Notes
|
1
|
Mark Grieb, SJ
|
84%, 222 yds, six TDs, 143 rating
|
2
|
Tommy Grady, Utah
|
67%, 306 yds, 9 TD (7 pass/2 rush)
|
3
|
Aaron Garcia, JAX
|
89.5%, 308 yds, 8 TD, perfect 158.33 rating
|
4
|
Brad Banks, Iowa
|
65%, 383 yards, 11 TD (10 pass/1 rush), 138.9 rating
|
5
|
Sergio Gilliam, KC
|
3 interceptions, 5.0 tackles, 1 pass breakup
|
6
|
Rod Windsor, AZ
|
16 receptions for 217 yards and five TDs
|
7
|
Kyle Rowley, SPK
|
72%, 293 yards, 10 TD (8 pass/2 rush), 1 INT, 126.69 rating
|
8
|
Kyle Rowley, SPK
|
67.7%, 219 yards, 9 TD (8 pass/1 rush), 1 INT, 114.11 rating
|
9
|
Tommy Grady, Utah
|
73.3%, 344 yards, 10 TD, 0 INT, 134.63 rating
|
10
|
Nick Hill, ORL
|
79.3%, 267 yards, 8 TD (6 pass/2 rush), 0 INT, 144.61 rating
|
11
|
Tommy Grady, Utah
|
71.9%, 319 yards 10 TD (9 pass/1 rush), 0 INT, 143.1 rating
|
12
|
Dan Raudabaugh, DAL
|
87.8%, 433 yards, 10 TD, 0 INT, 156.37 rating
|
13
|
Bobby Sippio, ORL
|
9 receptions, 124 yards, 6 TDs
|
14
|
J.C. Neal, TUL
|
6.0 tackles, 2 INT returned for touchdowns, 95 INT yards
|
15
|
Tommy Grady, Utah
|
79.5% (31-of-39), 313 yards, 10 TD, 0 INT, 139.69 rating
|
16
|
Aaron Garcia, JAX
|
81.5%, 289 yards, 9 TD, 0 INT, 150.69 rating
|
17
|
Nick Davila
|
79.3%, 291 yards, 9 TD, 0 INT
|
18
|
Tiger Jones, DAL
|
17 catches for 208 yards with five touchdowns
|
19
|
Kyle Rowley, SPO
|
77.4%, 281 yards, 9 TD (8 pass/1 rush), 0 INT, 144.0 rating
|
20
|
Benji McDowell, GEO
|
Game-winning rushing TD, 4.0 sacks, 1 FF, 6.5 tackles
|
DIV RD
|
Jeff Hughley, JAX
|
Two 57-yard kickoff returns for touchdowns
|
CONF.
|
Aaron Garcia, JAX
|
78.6%, 313 yards, 8 TD, 0 INT, 152.83 rating
|
AB 24
|
Aaron Garcia, JAX
|
AB record 402 pass yards with 8 TD, 137.1 rating
|
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.