AFL athletes hit silver screen

Arena Football League
09/24/2007


NEW YORK – When the movie “The Game Plan” opens on Friday, September 28, moviegoers will see approximately 25 Arena Football players (who held AFL roster positions this past season) in theaters nationwide. The movie, a fictional story about a professional football player who suddenly realizes he has an eight-year-old daughter when she shows up on his doorstep, stars DWAYNE “The Rock” Johnson, kyra sedgwick and Disney Channel star madison pettis.

For many years AFL players have participated in the filming of Hollywood blockbusters such as “Invincible,” “The Longest Yard,” “The Waterboy” and “Any Given Sunday” as extras, teammates or the star’s body-doubles. This movie is no different. Philadelphia Soul QB LEON MURRAY and Los Angeles Avengers DL SILAS DEMARY took the hits for actors Johnson and Eric Ogbogu, respectively.

“One of the benefits of being in “The Game Plan” was getting to work with the Arena Football League players,” said Johnson. “They brought a special dedication and energy to the film, but more importantly, they brought a great reality to our movie. All of the AFL guys in the movie are great players in their league. They’re the top guys at what they do.”

The football scenes were filmed over 10 days last October at the College of Holy Cross and at the home of the New England Patriots, Gillette Stadium.

“I really had a great time working with them,” continues Johnson. “They were all very patient with me, and I want to thank them for that. When we filmed, it was just two months after I had ruptured my Achilles, and I will be forever grateful to the AFL guys who were so patient in dealing with the football limitations that my injury caused. All of the AFL players really worked their butts off every single day. Mark Ellis and (Tampa Bay Storm offensive coordinator) Pat O’Hara were fantastic in coordinating the football scenes and working with our Arena League players.”

Other AFL veterans who contributed to the movie were Dallas Desperados FB/LB DUKE PETTIJOHN and Philadelphia Soul LB IDRIS PRICE, both 2007 All-Ironman honorees, and Tampa Bay Storm DL MARCUS OWEN, a 2005 All-Ironman selection. AFL legend and current Nashville Kats assistant general manager DARRYL HAMMOND will also appear in the movie.

“I have nothing but glowing things to say about my experience in working with these guys,” added Johnson. “I especially enjoyed working with my center, Marcus “Snowball” Owen...he was great.”

O’Hara devotes his offseasons working for The Sports Studio, a company started by Ellis, based in South Carolina that recruits athletes, provides choreography and consulting services on sports movies. O’Hara has played an integral role in placing AFL players in many football-related movies including “Any Given Sunday,” “Invincible” and “The Game Plan.”

A complete list of AFL players who’ll be seen on the silver screen is below:

Boston Rebels Offense - Player - 2007 AFL Team

Dwayne Johnson Double - Leon Murray* - Philadelphia/New York
Brian White Double - Kevin Ingram* - Los Angeles
Left Guard - Steve Mascorro - Arizona
Center - Marcus Owen - Tampa Bay
Right Guard - Kelvin Ingram - Nashville/Arizona
Right Tackle - Geir Gudmundsen - Tampa Bay
Tight End - Chris Anthony - New York


New York Dukes Defense - Player - 2007 AFL Team

Middle Linebacker - Idris Price* - Philadelphia
Strongside Linebacker - Silas Demary* - Los Angeles
Cornerback - Talib Wise - New Orleans
Strong Safety - Terrance Joseph* - Los Angeles/Arizona/Utah
Free Safety - Jonathon Ordway - Chicago
Defensive End - Duke Pettijohn - Dallas
Defensive End - Nyle Wiren* - Tampa Bay
Defensive Tackle - Ricky Hall* - New York
Kicker - Bill Gramatica* - Tampa Bay


Boston/Denver/New York Utility - Player - 2007 AFL Team

Running Back - Willis Marshall* - Dallas
Wide Receiver - Mike Brown - Philadelphia
Left Guard - Ernest Grant* - Utah
Center - Charlie Morris* - Nashville
Right Guard - Ben Nowland - Grand Rapids
Defensive Line - Gillis Wilson* - Grand Rapids
Defensive Line - Doug Miller* - Orlando


* Denotes current free agent

Leon Murray is The Rock's double. I gues the rock isn't a very good football player in the movie 67hhers56