Week 13 Recap

Courtesy: Arena Football League
05/26/2008


BRIGADE SHOCK SOUL, 54-47

PHILADELPHIA, PA – Rookie quarterback D. Bryant guided Kansas City to their biggest victory of the year as the Brigade upended the Soul 54-47. Kansas City earned their first road victory of season in front of 14,473 inside the Wachovia Center.

With 1:21 left to go in the game and trailing 47-46 D Bryant found Jerel Myers for an eight yard touchdown pass, which would be the deciding score of the game. Soul QB Matt D’Orazio went 24 of 34 for 268 yards and six touchdowns. WR Chris Jackson was on the receiving end of 11 D’Orazio passes, good for 130 yards and three scores. But it would be the efforts of Bryant and WR Charles Frederick that would decide the game. Bryant went 19 of 38 for 198 yards and five touchdowns and no interceptions. Frederick had 94 yards receiving, two touchdown catches and one rushing touchdown.


STORM GET PAST GLADIATORS, 58-48

TAMPA, FL – For the second week in a row the Tampa Bay Storm defense came up with a big team effort as it limited the Cleveland Gladiators offense to a season-low 202 passing yards in an exciting 58-48 victory at the St. Pete Times Forum Friday night. The Storm defense held its opponent under 50 points for the third time in five games.

Storm quarterback Brett Dietz finished the game with 297 yards passing and six touchdowns. Lawrence Samuels, quickly approaching the Arena Football League career reception record of 991 receptions (Barry Wagner), finished the game with nine receptions to bring his career total to 986. QB Raymond Philyaw went 21 of 27 for 206 yards and three scores for Cleveland.


IRONMAN PETTIS SHINES AS DESPERADOS DOWN PREDATORS

ORLANDO, FL – Despite a bad back, Dallas WR/DB Will Pettis had a huge all-around game, scoring four touchdowns in every way imaginable. Pettis had a touchdown rushing, receiving, passing and even returned an interception for a score, as Dallas crushed Orlando 67-41 at Amway Arena.

Desperados QB Clint Dolezel fought through an old hip injury in the second half, but finished 20of 29 for 240 yards and four touchdowns. WR Anthony Armstrong led all receivers with 8 catches for 100 yards and two TDs. Dallas had 25 unanswered points in the third quarter en route to the win.


DESTROYERS STUN DRAGONS, 43-41

COLUMBUS, OH – The Columbus Destroyers defeated the New York Dragons 43-41 Saturday night on Huntington Field at Nationwide Arena in front of 12,842 fans. With 0:41 left on the clock, New York quarterback Aaron Garcia hit receiver Kevin Swayne for a four-yard touchdown to put the Dragons within two points. But as Garcia attempted the pass to the back of the end zone, Destroyer defensive back Matt Thomas stepped in front of the Dragon receiver and grabbed the ball to keep the lead and preserve a win for Columbus.

Columbus WR C.J. Johnson recorded a season-high nine receptions for 112 and two touchdowns. His quarterback, Matt Nagy, completed 19 of 32 passes for 269 yards and four touchdowns. His counterpart, Garcia, went 30 of 40 for 295 yards and six touchdowns in the loss for the Dragons.


VIDETICH KICKS BLAZE PAST RUSH

SALT LAKE CITY, UT – The Utah Blaze kept their playoff hopes alive with key victory over the American Conference-leading Chicago Rush on Saturday night. Utah’s 51-48 victory came in front of 15,295 fans at EnergySolutions Arena in a game where they never trailed.

In the decisive final quarter of play, Chicago tied the game after a three-yard touchdown pass from Rush QB Russ Michna to WR Damian Harrell. The Blaze then drove the length of the field, resulting in a five-yard touchdown pass from QB Joe Germaine to WR J.J. McKelvey. Utah K Steve Videtich hit an 18-yard field goal as time expired to secure the win. Germaine finished the game 28 of 38 for 233 yards and five TD passes.


RATTLERS HOLD OFF RAMPAGE, 52-48

PHOENIX, AZ – The playoff-guaranteed Arizona Rattlers came back from a 7-point fourth quarter deficit to defeat the Grand Rapids Rampage 52-48 in front of 12,559 playoff-ready fans at the U.S. Airways Center. With the win, the Rattlers move to 6-6 and sit in third place in the American Conference and need just one more win and one Kansas City loss to clinch a playoff spot.

Rattlers QB Jeff Smoker had another solid outing in his second game since returning to the starting lineup. Smoker went 23 of 37 for 272 yards with two passing touchdowns and one on the ground. WR Trandon Harvey had nine grabs for 90 yards and a score for Arizona. WR Chris Johnson had four catches for 121 yards for the Rampage. All four catches went for touchdowns.


SABERCATS CLINCH PLAYOFF BIRTH WITH WIN OVER CRUSH

SAN JOSE, CA – San Jose quarterback Mark Grieb threw eight touchdown passes and the SaberCats clinched their ninth consecutive Arena Football League playoff berth with a 59-42 win over the Colorado Crush.

Grieb completed 23 of 30 passes for 271 yards in the game. Rodney Wright was Grieb’s top target catching 12 passes for two touchdowns and 133 yards. He contributed on special teams as well, returning five kicks for 120 yards, and totaled 253 all-purpose yards. QB John Dutton threw for 308 yards for Colorado, completing 30 of 51 pass attempts for six touchdowns. The San Jose defense recorded six stops, forcing four turnovers on downs