Wranglers lasso playoff spot in win over Rampage

The Associated Press
AUSTIN — John Fitzgerald threw three touchdown passes to help the Austin Wranglers clinch a playoff spot with a 57-38 victory over Grand Rapids on Sunday.

Fitzgerald was 16-of-25 for 247 yards, and Derrick Lewis led the Wranglers (9-6) in receiving with seven catches for 105 yards and a score.

Chad Salisbury threw three touchdown passes for the Rampage (5-10).

Philadelphia shows Soul in beating Dallas

PHILADELPHIA — Tony Graziani threw six touchdown passes and ran for another score to help the Philadelphia Soul beat the Arena Football League-leading Dallas Desperados 51-48 on Saturday.

Graziani, returning from a hamstring injury, was 23-of-36 for 317 yards for the Soul (8-7). Sean Scott had six catches for 88 yards and a score, and Eddie Moten had three interceptions. Clint Dolezel threw seven TD passes for the Desperados (12-3).

West belongs to San Jose

SAN JOSE, Calif. — Mark Grieb was 23-of-28 passing for 260 yards and five touchdowns as the San Jose SaberCats clinched the Arena Football League's Western Division with a 61-56 victory over the Colorado Crush on Saturday night.

Ben Nelson had nine receptions for 117 yards and three touchdowns to lead San Jose (9-6).

Colorado's John Dutton completed 29 of 43 passes for 376 yards and six touchdowns, and also ran for a score. Damian Harrell had nine receptions for 129 yards and four TDs to lead the Crush (10-5), who have already won the Central Division.

Avengers halt slide

LOS ANGELES — Sonny Cumbie was 22-for-32 passing for 240 yards and five touchdowns as the Los Angeles Avengers snapped a six-game losing streak with a 73-56 victory over the Nashville Kats on Saturday night.

Rob Turner had 10 receptions for 96 yards and three touchdowns as Los Angeles (4-11) handed Nashville (7-8) its fourth straight loss and prevented the Kats from clinching a home game in the first round of the playoffs.

Now, Nashville must either beat Tampa Bay in next Saturday's regular season finale or Utah must lose to Kansas City for the Kats to host a playoff game the following week.

Nashville quarterback Clint Stoerner was 19-of-34 for 357 yards and seven touchdowns. Cornelius Bonner had four receptions for 119 yards and three touchdowns.

Rush puts out the Blaze

ROSEMONT, Ill. — Bobby Sippio caught 10 passes for 217 yards and six touchdowns to help the Chicago Rush rout the expansion Utah Blaze 84-48 on Saturday night.

Matt D'Orazo was 20-of-24 for 208 yards and seven touchdowns, and backup Michael Bishop was 3-of-7 for 35 yards two TDs for the Rush (6-9). Joe Germaine threw four touchdown passes for the Blaze (6-9).

Dragons have more Force

UNIONDALE, N.Y. — Nick Browder threw five touchdown passes and also ran for a score to help the New York Dragons clinch a playoff spot with a 47-35 victory over the Georgia Force on Saturday night.

Browder was 20-of-27 for 191 yards, and Mike Horacek led the Dragons (10-5) in receiving with eight catches for 93 yards and touchdown. Matt Nagy threw five touchdown passes for the Force (8-7).

Destroyers outlast Storm

COLUMBUS, Ohio — John Kaleo threw six touchdown passes — three to Carl Bond — to help the Columbus Destroyers beat the Tampa Bay Storm 51-48 on Saturday night.

Kaleo was 14-of-23 for 226 yards, and Bond led the Destroyers (8-7) in receiving with six catches for 102 yards. Shane Stafford threw six TD passes from the Storm (7-8).

Orlando can make postseason plans

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Joe Hamilton threw five touchdown passes and the Orlando Predators clinched a playoff spot with a 63-42 victory over the expansion Kansas City Brigade on Saturday night.

Hamilton was 18-of-22 for 175 yards, and Jimmy Fryzel led the Predators (10-5) in receiving with nine catches for 102 yards and two touchdowns. Raymond Philyaw threw two touchdown passes for the Brigade (3-12).

Rattlers slither into playoffs

PHOENIX — Sherdrick Bonner threw seven touchdown passes to help the Arizona Rattlers clinch a playoff spot with a 75-28 victory over the Las Vegas Gladiators on Friday night in the Arena Football League.

Bonner was 11-of-13 for 187 yards, and Damien Groce led the Rattlers (8-7) in receiving with five catches for 111 yards and three touchdowns. Randy Gatewood caught five passes for 68 yards and four TDs and also ran for a score.

Jason Fife threw four touchdown passes for the Gladiators (5-10). Las Vegas has lost five straight and six of its last eight games.