2008 AFL season one for the record books

Wednesday June 25, 2008

Major Milestones and Records Set During Regular Season

NEW YORK – The AFL saw some of the League’s most prestigious and longstanding records – including career passing yards, career receptions, and career touchdown receptions – fall during the 2008 regular season.

Following are some of the League and team records broken during the 2008 regular season:

1-900-TD-PASS: On May 10, Dallas Desperados QB CLINT DOLEZEL became the first player in professional football history to throw for 900 career passing touchdowns. New York Dragons QB AARON GARCIA became the third player in professional football history to throw for 850 passing touchdowns and sits 20 shy of the 900 plateau.

CATCHING ON: Tampa Bay Storm WR/LB LAWRENCE SAMUELS became the first player in AFL history to record 1,000 career receptions. On May 31, Samuels passed BARRY WAGNER for the AFL’s all-time lead for career receptions with 992. Samuels also set an AFL record with a reception in 135 consecutive games. Philadelphia Soul WR CHRIS JACKSON is currently tied with Wagner and sits one reception shy of passing him for second all-time with 992 career.

RUSH TO THE TOP: Chicago Rush WR DAMIAN HARRELL joined EDDIE BROWN as the only other receiver with 300 career touchdown receptions and then passed Brown on the all-time list with career touchdown reception 304 in Week 4. Philadelphia Soul WR CHRIS JACKSON would become the third member of the elite group in Week 10.

GOING THE EXTRA YARD: Philadelphia Soul WR CHRIS JACKSON and Chicago Rush WR DAMIAN HARRELL became the second and third players, respectively, to surpass 13,000 career receiving yards. Jackson needs 135 receiving yards to pass BARRY WAGNER for first all-time with 13,364 career.

THREE-ALARM FIRE: Utah Blaze WR AARON BOONE, WR J.J. MCKELVEY, and WR/LB HUEY WHITTAKER became the first trio of teammates in professional football history to finish the season with 1,500-plus receiving yards, 100-plus receptions and 20-plus touchdown receptions. Whittaker also tied the AFL record for most receptions in a single-game with 20 on April 25.

SWEET 15: Tampa Bay Storm QB BRETT DIETZ became the first quarterback to throw for 4,000 yards in the first 15 games of his career, surpassing Los Angeles Avengers QB SONNY CUMBIE who reached the mark in 16 games.

40,000 CLUB: New York Dragons QB AARON GARCIA became the fourth player in AFL history to throw for 40,000 career passing yards on May 18 and finished the season with 41,376.

COLORADO CONSISTENCY: Colorado Crush QB JOHN DUTTON became the first player in AFL history to throw for 4,100 yards in five consecutive seasons, finishing the season with 4,547.

MR. EVERYTHING: Dallas Desperados WR/DB WILL PETTIS became the first player in AFL history to throw for a touchdown, run for a touchdown, catch a touchdown pass and return an interception for a touchdown in the same game in Week 13. In Week 14, Pettis posted a touchdown pass, a touchdown run and a touchdown reception.

SIX-PACK: Tampa Bay Storm FB/LB TORRANCE MARSHALL rushed for two-or-more touchdowns in an AFL record six consecutive games.

TACKLE BOX: Colorado Crush DB RASHAD FLOYD finished the regular-season with 117.5 total tackles, allowing him to become the first player in AFL history to record 110-or-more tackles in five consecutive seasons.

COACHING MILESTONES: San Jose SaberCats head coach DARREN ARBET and Colorado Crush head coach MIKE DAILEY joined Tampa Bay’s TIM MARCUM, Utah’s DANNY WHITE and Chicago’s MIKE HOHENSEE as the fourth and fifth coaches in League history with 100 career regular-season victories. Georgia Force head coach DOUG PLANK tallied career win 43, which gives him the most wins by a head coach in his first four seasons on the job in AFL history.

PICKED OFF: Chicago Rush WR/DB DENNISON ROBINSON tied the AFL record for interceptions in a single-season with 13. The mark had previously been reached by AHMAD HAWKINS, EDDIE MOTEN and CLEVAN THOMAS.

THE GLOVE: Orlando Predators DB KENNY MCENTYRE set an AFL single-season record with four interceptions returned for touchdowns.

50 SACKS: Chicago Rush DL JAMES BARON recorded career-sack 50.5 on May 24 and became the second player in AFL history to post 50-career sacks.

ROOKIE RECOVERY RECORD: Utah Blaze LB KELVIN MORRIS set the AFL’s rookie record for defensive fumble recoveries in a single season with six.

MANY HAPPY RETURNS: Grand Rapids Rampage WR/DB CHRIS MARTIN set the AFL rookie return record for return yards in a single-season with 1,663 in Week 17. In the same game, he set the AFL rookie record for returns in a single-season with 82.

TAKE IT TO THE HOUSE: Georgia Force DB CAM NEWTON and New Orleans VooDoo DB NORMAN LEJEUNE each tied the AFL’s rookie record for most interceptions returned for a touchdown in a single-season with three.

FIRST TO 10,000: Tampa Bay Storm WR SEDRICK ROBINSON became the first player in AFL history to reach 10,000 kick return yards on June 21.

DOZENS AND DOZENS AND DOZENS OF WINS: The Dallas Desperados became the first team in AFL history to post three consecutive 12-win regular seasons.

SCORING RAMPAGE: The Grand Rapids Rampage set AFL scoring records in three different categories during the 2008 regular season. In Week 4, Grand Rapids scored 92 points in a 92-52 victory of the Kansas City Brigade, giving them the most points ever scored by a road team. They followed that performance with an 84-59 victory over the Los Angeles Avengers in Week 5, giving them the most points in back-to-back games with 176. The Rampage posted 84 points in Week 15 and 86 points in Week 17, making them the first team in AFL history to score 80-or-more points four times in a single-season.

TEAM RECORDS

ARIZONA RECORDS: The offense set team highs in points in a quarter (36), points in a half (49), longest scoring drive (50 yards), and rushing touchdowns in a single game (5). On April 26, the Rattlers set a team record by opening the game with three consecutive touchdown passes on the first three offensive plays to three different receivers. QB JEFF SMOKER connected on a 49-yard touchdown pass to WR ATNAF HARRIS tying the team record for the longest touchdown pass in franchise history. DL WENDALL GAINES set a single-game team record with 3.0 sacks and the Defense set a single-game team record with 4.0 sacks in Week 2 against the Los Angeles Avengers.

CLEVELAND RECORDS*: Offense set a team record with 901 points, passing the mark previously set in 2004 (868). QB RAYMOND PHILYAW set a single-season franchise record with a completion percentage of 68.5, passing the previous mark set by Clint Dolezel (65.7) in 2004. WR OTIS AMEY set single-season franchise records in points (302), receiving touchdowns (48) and total touchdowns (50). K JASON BALL converted a single-season franchise-best 99 extra point attempts.
* - Includes Gladiators seasons in New Jersey and Las Vegas.

COLORADO RECORDS: Offense set single-season franchise records in total yards (4,772), passing yards (4,575), pass completions (450), and first downs (356). QB JOHN DUTTON set a single-season franchise record in passing yards (4,547), completions (450), and completion percentage (66.1). WR CHAD OWENS returned a kickoff for a touchdown for a team-record 56 yards. DL AARON MCCONNELL posted a single-season team-best in sacks in a single game (3.0) and sacks in a single season (9.0).

DALLAS RECORDS: Set franchise-records in consecutive regular-season victories (15) and consecutive regular-season victories at home (17). Tied a franchise-record with seven consecutive road wins. QB CLINT DOLEZEL became the first quarterback in team history to pass for 10,000 yards and currently posts 12,144 for his Desperados’ career. WR MARCUS NASH tied a franchise record with six touchdowns scored in a single game vs. Grand Rapids Rampage in Week 11. DE COLSTON WEATHERINGTON tied a franchise-record with 3.0 sacks in a single-game vs. the Arizona Rattlers in Week 12.

GEORGIA RECORDS: Set a franchise record in consecutive regular-season victories (7) and tied a franchise record with three consecutive road wins. Set single-season team records in total yards (5,259), passing yards (4,964), and pass completions (399). QB CHRIS GREISEN set single-season Force record in passing yards (4,946) and completions (398). Became the Force all-time leader in passing yards (9,797), completions (790), and touchdowns (214). WR TROY BERGERON became Force all-time leader in receiving yards (4,353) and receptions (328). WR TIGER JONES set a single-game team record for receiving yards with 224 and tied single-game Force records with 15 receptions and six touchdown receptions. WR/LB CARL MORRIS tied a franchise record with 15 receptions. DB WILLIE GARY surpassed KEVIN GAINES (26) and became the Force all-time leader in passes defensed with 29. K CARLOS MARTINEZ set single-season franchise-records in made extra points (112) and points by a kicker (127).

GRAND RAPIDS RECORDS: Set a franchise record in points (952), points in a single-game (92), and most points in a quarter (37). QB JAMES MACPHERSON set a single-game franchise-record in passing touchdowns (10) on June 7 vs. Colorado Crush. MacPherson also completed 35 passes in a single game, tying the franchise mark set by CLINT DOLEZEL in 2001. WR COLE MAGNER matched THOMAS BAILEY (1999) for a franchise-best 15 receptions in a single game on May 16. DB AHMAD HAWKINS set a single-season franchise record with 97.5 tackles. Hawkins also tied the franchise-record with six interceptions in a single-season. DL MICHAEL MCFADDEN matched a franchise-best with 3.0 sacks in a single-game on April 25. WR/DB CHRIS MARTIN set a Rampage record for kickoff return yards in a single-game (249) and kickoff returns for a touchdown in a single-game (3) on March 30, against the Los Angeles Avengers. Martin also returned six kickoffs for a touchdown this season, matching the franchise record set by TIMON MARSHALL in 2001. K BRIAN GOWINS connected on a single-season Rampage-high 119 extra points. Gowins hit a franchise–record 12 extra points on two separate occasions this season, in Week 4 at Kansas City and Week 5 against Los Angeles.

KANSAS CITY RECORDS: Offense set single-season franchise-records in rushing yards (533), rushing touchdowns (36), and kick return yards (1,859). QB D. BRYANT set a single-game franchise-record with five rushing touchdowns on May 18. WR JEREL MYERS set single-season franchise-records in receptions (134), kick return yards (983), kick returns for a touchdown (2), and all-purpose yards (2,327). Myers also set single-game marks in receptions (15), receiving yards (168), and longest kick return (56 yards). Myers is the all-time franchise leader in receptions (360), receiving yards (3,732), touchdowns (59) and touchdown receptions (56). FB DAWAN MOSS set a team record with 242 rushing yards. Moss is also the all-time franchise leader in rushing touchdowns (24). Defense intercepted a franchise-best 20 passes. DL GILLIS WILSON matched the franchise-record for sacks in a single season with 6.5, a mark previously set by B.J. COHEN. DB JERALD BROWN set a single-season franchise record with 77 tackles. DB MONTY MONTGOMERY set a Brigade record with 12 tackles in a single game in Week 2. K PETER MARTINEZ kicked a franchise-long 58-yard field goal on May 3 vs. Utah Blaze.

NEW YORK RECORDS: WR JASON WILLIS set a franchise record for receptions in a season with 135. WR KEVIN SWAYNE became the Dragons’ all-time leader in receptions (638), receiving yards (8,464), points (1,186) and most seasons with 100+ points (5). WR KERON HENRY tied the franchise record for rushing touchdowns in a single game with three in Week 15 vs. New Orleans VooDoo. DB JOHN WALKER tied a franchise record for interceptions in a game with 3 in Week 6 vs. Grand Rapids Rampage.

ORLANDO RECORDS: QB SHANE STAFFORD bested his 2007 single-season franchise record (76) by throwing 81 touchdown passes. WR T.T. TOLIVER set single-season franchise records in receiving yards (1,645) and all-purpose yards (2,876).

PHILADELPHIA RECORDS: Captured first-ever Eastern Division championship. Set a franchise record for wins in a single season with 13. Won a franchise-record nine-straight games. Offense posted a single-season best 992 points. QB MATT D’ORAZIO became the first Soul player to rush for over 200 yards in a single season and finished with 227. WR CHRIS JACKSON set single-season franchise records with 140 receptions, receiving yards (1,719), 49 touchdown receptions and 294 points. DL GABE NYENHUIS set a single-season Soul record with 9.5 sacks. K CONNOR HUGHES set a single-season franchise record for made extra points with 123.

SAN JOSE RECORDS: QB MARK GRIEB set a single-season franchise record in completions (415). Grieb tied the single-season franchise record with 100 passing touchdowns. He also set a single-game mark in pass completions with 38 in Week 6 vs. New Orleans VooDoo. WR CLEANNORD SAINTIL (Week 4) and WR/LB JASON GEATHERS (Week 6) each set the single-game SaberCats record with 18 receptions. Saintil tied the single-game touchdown reception record with seven in Week 17 vs. Georgia Force. WR RODNEY WRIGHT set SaberCats single-season records with 134 receptions, seven 10+ reception games, and 10 100+ receiving yard games. Defense forced a franchise-best 43 turnovers. DB OMARR SMITH set single-season franchise records in tackles (114.0) and solo tackles (101). LB STEVE WATSON tied the single-season franchise record with 9.5 tackles for loss. Watson also set the franchise single-game record for sacks with 3.0 on May 31 vs. the Los Angeles Avengers. K A.J. HAGLUND posted single-season team-bests with 179 points, 21 made field goals, 59 consecutive successful point-after attempts and 12-straight made field goals. Haglund had a team-best 19 points in Week 3 vs. Arizona Rattlers.

TAMPA BAY RECORDS: Offense scored 70+ points in three consecutive games for the first time in franchise history in Weeks 15-17. Offense set single-season record for points (903) and touchdowns (126). Offense tied for the most passing touchdowns (86) and rushing touchdowns (32) in single-season franchise-history. QB BRETT DIETZ threw for a single-game franchise record 10 touchdown passes in Week 16 vs. San Jose SaberCats. Dietz also tied the franchise mark for most passing touchdowns in a season with 86. WR/LB LAWRENCE SAMUELS surpassed STEVIE THOMAS (150) as the Storm’s all-time leader in touchdown receptions with 159. FB/LB TORRANCE MARSHALL set the franchise single-season record with 23 rushing touchdowns. K SETH MARLER became the franchise-leader in points scored by a kicker (285) and made extra points (204). Marler surpassed MATT GEORGE (97 in 2005) for most extra points in one season with 112.

UTAH RECORDS: Offense set single-season franchise records in first downs (357), passing yards (4,930) and total offense (5,199). QB JOE GERMAINE threw for a single-game franchise record 36 completions on April 25. FB/LB RODNEY FILER ran for single-game franchise-best 49 yards and three rushing touchdowns on April 5. Filer set the single-season franchise record for rushing yards (205) and rushing touchdowns (12). Defense set a franchise record with 15 sacks. DL DWAYNE MISSOURI set a franchise record with 5.0 sacks. DB EDDIE CANONICO set a franchise record with 115.5 tackles.