Divisional playoffs set for big weekend in Arena FB
Posted: Thu May 25 12:27 PM
*** Divisional playoffs set for big weekend in Arena FB *** (Courtesy of Arena Football)
New York, NY (Sports Network) - The defending ArenaBowl Champion Colorado Crush (11-5, 0-0) begin their title defense this week when they host Chicago in a rematch of last year’s American Conference Championship Game. That game, won by the Crush 49-43, was dubbed the "Confetti Game" after a premature burst of confetti was released and flooded Pepsi Center in Denver prior to the final whistle.
The rematch pits two Pro Football Hall of Famers against each other in the owner’s box with Crush Co-Owner and former Denver Broncos QB JOHN ELWAY going against Rush Co-Owner and former tight end and Chicago Bears Head Coach MIKE DITKA. The teams met on opening weekend of the regular season with Colorado prevailing with a 65-56 win on the strength of eight JOHN DUTTON touchdown passes. Colorado also won 49-42 in Chicago on March 10 to sweep the season series.
The AFL’s Wild Card Weekend saw three road teams - the Chicago Rush (7-9, 1-1), Georgia Force (8-8, 1-0) and Philadelphia Soul (9-7, 1-0) - post wins. The Arizona Rattlers were the lone team to win on their home field last weekend defeating former Head Coach DANNY WHITE and the Utah Blaze 57-34.
The San Jose SaberCats, are in the postseason for the seventh straight season and host Arizona at HP Pavilion at San Jose on Saturday at 3:30 ET on NBC. The teams met in ArenaBowls XVI and XVIII with San Jose winning both games to capture world championships. The SaberCats also swept this year’s two-game regular-season series winning 58-50 in Phoenix on February 12 and 61-49 in San Jose on April 2. The teams have met 28 times overall with each winning 14 games.
San Jose OS BEN NELSON was named AFL Rookie of the Year after posting 1,405 receiving yards, just six yards shy of the highest total by a rookie in AFL history, despite playing in just 11 games.
Rattlers QB SHERDRICK BONNER has more postseason wins (18), touchdown passes (121) and passing yards (6,421) than any player in AFL history. His closest competitor for touchdowns is San Jose’s MARK GRIEB with 57.
The Dallas Desperados (13-3, 0-0), who host Georgia at the American Airlines Center on Saturday at 3:30 p.m. ET on NBC, became the second team in AFL history (2002 San Jose SaberCats) to record 13 wins in the regular season. Dallas also was the fourth team ever to lead the AFL in scoring offense and scoring defense in the same season. The previous three teams - 1998 Tampa Bay Storm, 1990-91 Detroit Drive - all reached the ArenaBowl that season.
Georgia, the defending National Conference champions, defeated the New York Dragons 72-69 last Sunday in New York to advance to their Divisional Round game with Dallas. Their Wild Card win over the Dragons was the second-highest scoring playoff game in AFL history behind the August 12, 2001 shootout between Grand Rapids (83) and Indiana (70).
The Philadelphia Soul, who traveled to Austin and recorded a 52-35 win over the Wranglers last week for the franchise’s first-ever playoff win, take on the Orlando Predators (10-6, 0-0) at the TD Waterhouse Center on Sunday at 3:30 p.m. ET on NBC. The teams met on February 11 with the Predators recording a 47-33 home win.
Two Predators received AFL honors last week. QB JOE HAMILTON, who became the franchise’s all-time leader in passing yards this year (9,830), was named Second-Team All-Arena. WR/DB JAVARUS DUDLEY was named to the 2006 All-Rookie Team.
