Top 25 games in AFL history: The Top 10

Saturday July 28, 2012

 CHICAGO – During the 2012 Arena Football League season, the Silver Anniversary Committee has been tasked with voting on a number of “Top 25” lists to celebrate 25 seasons of Arena Football. The Committee has voted on categories ranging from the Best Uniforms of the last 25 years to the 25 Greatest Players in AFL History.

The latest Top 25 list announced by the Silver Anniversary Committee ranks the 25 Greatest Games in AFL History. The Committee, which consists of longtime League executives, coaches, media members and former players, was asked to weigh in on which AFL games have been most exciting, unpredictable and significant over the past 25 seasons.

These are the Silver Anniversary Committee’s selections for the 10 Greatest Games in AFL History:

1. June 27, 2004: ArenaBowl XVIII, San Jose 69, Arizona 62

With 30 seconds left in the game, Arizona Rattlers QB Sherdrick Bonner, beginning at his own 11-yard line, drove the Rattlers to the San Jose five. With two seconds to play, the final pass sailed over the head of WR Orshawante Bryant, incomplete, preserving the win for Mark Grieb and the San Jose SaberCats.

2. June 19, 1992: Orlando 50, Detroit 49

Orlando Predators rookie WR/DB Barry Wagner orchestrated the “Miracle Minute”, catching a pair of touchdown passes, a game-winning two-point conversion, recovering an onside kick and recording the game-saving tackle – all in the final 60 seconds of play.

3. August 16, 1996: Playoffs, Tampa Bay 55, Arizona 54

The Tampa Bay Storm clinched a spot in ArenaBowl X by denying Bo Kelly and the Arizona Rattlers on a two-point conversion attempt with nine seconds to play.

4. August 12, 2011: ArenaBowl XXIV, Jacksonville 73, Arizona 70

With two seconds left in regulation, Jacksonville Sharks QB Aaron Garcia dodged a sack on the Arizona Rattlers’ 10-yard line to hit receiver Jeron Harvey for the game-winning score as time expired.

5. August 26, 1996: ArenaBowl X, Tampa Bay 42, Iowa 38

The Tampa Bay Storm defense stopped the Kurt Warner-led Iowa Barnstormers on fourth-and-goal from the three-yard line with less than a minute to play, securing a second=straight championship for the Storm.

6. June 5, 2005: Playoffs, Colorado 49, Chicago 43

With a trip to ArenaBowl XIX on the line, Colorado scored 10 points in the final three minutes of regulation to tie Chicago and send the game to overtime, where QB John Dutton would find Andy McCullough for his fourth touchdown of the night and the game-winning score.

7. July 15, 2000: Iowa 77, Albany 76

Leonard Conley’s one-yard touchdown run put the Barnstormers up 77-70 with 27 seconds to play. On the ensuing drive, Albany’s Mike Pawlawski connected with Quincy Jackson on an 11-yard touchdown, but the Firebirds two-point conversion attempt failed and Iowa escaped with the win.

8. August 18, 1995: Playoffs, Tampa Bay 56, Albany 49

Albany mounted a fourth quarter comeback to tie the game with 15 seconds left, but Tampa Bay’s Stevie Thomas returned the ensuing kickoff 54 yards for the game-winning touchdown.

9. June 12, 2005: ArenaBowl XIX, Colorado 51, Georgia 48

Colorado kicker Clay Rush drilled a 20-yard field goal as time expired to give the Crush an ArenaBowl championship victory in just their third year in the League.

10. September 2, 1994: ArenaBowl VIII, Arizona 36, Orlando 31

Game MVP Sherdrick Bonner hit WR Calvin Schexnayder on the game-winning 24-yard touchdown pass with 31 seconds left in regulation to give Arizona its first ever ArenaBowl championship.

25 Greatest Games in AFL History

(As selected by the Silver Anniversary Committee)

1. June 27, 2004: ArenaBowl XVII, San Jose 69, Arizona 62

2. June 19, 1992: Orlando 50, Detroit 49

3. August 16, 1996: Playoffs, Tampa Bay 55, Arizona 54

4. August 12, 2011: ArenaBowl XXIV, Jacksonville 73, Arizona 70

5. August 26, 1996: ArenaBowl X, Tampa Bay 42, Iowa 38

6. June 5, 2005: Playoffs, Colorado 49, Chicago 43

7. July 15, 2000: Iowa 77, Albany 76

8. August 18, 1995: Playoffs, Tampa Bay 56, Albany 49

9. June 12, 2005: ArenaBowl XIX, Colorado 51, Georgia 48

10. September 2, 1994: ArenaBowl VIII, Arizona 36, Orlando 31

11. August 16, 1997: Playoffs, Arizona 49, Tampa Bay 46

12. June 29, 1991: Tampa Bay 57, Albany 53

13. July 27, 2008: ArenaBowl XXII, Philadelphia 59, San Jose 56

14. August 20, 2000: ArenaBowl XIV, Orlando 41, Nashville 38

15. August 4, 2002: Playoffs, Arizona 61, Carolina 59

16. July 9, 1999: Albany 61, Nashville 59

17. June 19, 1993: Orlando 46, Tampa Bay 45

18. August 27, 1994: Playoffs, Arizona 40, Albany 33

19. August 14, 1993: Playoffs, Tampa Bay 55, Orlando 52

20. August 17, 1991: ArenaBowl V, Tampa Bay 48, Detroit 42

21. June 21, 1996: Iowa 59, Orlando 50

22. May 26, 2012: San Jose 84, Chicago 77

23. August 20, 1994: Playoffs, Massachusetts 58, Tampa Bay 51

24. July 7, 2001: New York 99, Carolina 68

25. June 15, 1991: Detroit 43, Albany 42