June 23,2016
LAS VEGAS (June 23,2016) - Whether you are relatively new to the Arena Football League or have been a blue-blood for nearly three decades, you know that the greatest rivalry in the League is between the Tampa Bay Storm and the Orlando Predators. These two teams genuinely don't like each other, and no matter what the records are for the two teams when they meet, the games are seemingly always close. Three of the last six meetings have been decided by two points or fewer, and seven of the last nine have been determined by just one score. However, dominance in the win column has been the theme in this series for Orlando, something the Storm hopes to change on Friday night.
Predators Look To Secure Longest Winning Streak in Storm Rivalry
This will be the 61st regular season meeting between Orlando and Tampa Bay. Orlando currently leads the series 33-27 against Tampa Bay, but it hasn't always been like that. In fact, for years and years, these two teams were separated by no more than two games and a few mere points all-time in their duels against each other.
Of late though, it's been all one-way traffic in favor of the Predators. They have already won each of the first two meetings this season in this rivalry, and they have a chance to finish off a three-game regular season sweep for the second consecutive year on Friday night. Neither team in this series has ever won more than five consecutive games, but Orlando is a big favorite to reach six straight wins over its rival in Week 13.
However, there is some hope for Tampa Bay for sure. The Storm only has one victory against its Sunshine State rival over the course of the last three calendar years. Orlando started Bernard Morris that day under center. Morris is likely to take over at quarterback for the Preds for the injured Randy Hippeard.
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All-Purpose Yardage Record in Reach For Toliver
The accolades have been racking up for Toliver this season for sure. Just in the last two weeks, he has become the all-time leader in receiving yards and the all-time leader in receptions in League history. Now, he is on the verge of becoming the all-time leader in all-purpose yards, too.
Toliver enters this week with 20,974 all-purpose yards for his career. It is quite fitting that he is very likely to break this record in Orlando, a place where he amassed well over 10,000 of those yards in his career. The man's record Toliver is set to break is Barry Wagner, arguably the greatest Ironman to ever play this game. Wagner retired with 21,042 all-purpose yards, and with just 69 all-purpose yards on Saturday, Toliver will once again etch his name atop the history books in yet another category.
T.T.'s Triumphs
Toliver knows what it is like to be on both sides of the Orlando-Tampa Bay rivalry having played for the Predators for a number of years. This is going to be his 24th game in this rivalry. As a member of the Predators, Toliver had 80 receptions, 1,131 yards and 29 TDs in 11 games versus Tampa Bay. As a member of the Storm, he has had 77 catches, 997 yards and 24 scores versus Orlando. Assuming he amasses at least three yards in this one, Toliver will become the first player in AFL history to have 1,000+ receiving yards on both sides of any rivalry game.
Consider this as well. Greg Carr has 52 receptions, 689 yards and 16 TDs in his career for the Predators against the Storm, and that makes him the most accomplished wide receiver in this rivalry outside of Toliver amongst players on the active rosters of these two teams. Toliver has far better numbers than that on both sides of this rivalry.
Not only is Toliver one of the all-time greats in the AFL. He's an institution this classic rivalry as well.
Week 13 Milestone Watch
Last week, Jacksonville's Tiger Jones caught James Roe for fifth place all-time in receiving touchdowns with 281. Jones will go past Roe with his first score this week, while LA's Donovan Morgan could catch the former San Jose standout as well. Morgan enters this week with 279 career touchdown grabs, and two more will tie him with Roe.
Morgan needs 13 more receptions to catch Mike Horacek (877) for ninth place all-time in AFL history.
Arizona's Rod Windsor also has two of the all-time greats in his sights this week. With eight receptions against the KISS, Windsor will run down Siaha Burley (843) for No. 12 on the all-time receptions list, and with three beyond that, he will catch Cory Fleming for No. 11. Windsor moved past Greg Hopkins for No. 13 all-time in receptions last week.
Five TDs would put Windsor in the Top 10 in receiving touchdowns in League history, too. Windsor enters this week with 242 career scores, five shy of Siaha Burley's career mark of 247. Reggie Gray is coming off of his best statistical game as a member of the Sharks, posting 10 catches for 97 yards. Gray is now within sight of 9,000 receiving yards for his career. He needs 156 yards to reach that plateau, and if he reaches it, he will also go past the great George LaFrance for No. 17 all-time in receiving yards.
Philadelphia's Shaun Kauleinamoku needs two TDs to reach 100 for his career. Cleveland's Collin Taylor also needs two scores to get to 100 all-time. Philadelphia's Darius Reynolds is sitting on 95 career receiving touchdowns.
Portland's Jared Perry needs 163 receiving yards to reach the 5,000-yard plateau for his career. Just 10 active players have made it to 5,000 receiving yards.
Kevin Guy is set to coach his 155th career game including the regular season and postseason. That mark puts him past Jay Gruden for the ninth most in AFL history and ties him with John Gregory for eighth.
Steve Thonn will coach his 200th career game in Week 13. Only four others have done that, and the list is a de facto "Who's Who" of AFL coaches: Mike Hohensee (343), Tim Marcum (310), Darren Arbet (270) and Danny White (257).
Orlando's Brandon Thompkins is still within striking distance of the all-time record for all-purpose yards in a season. The Predators' star has 2,713 yards through 12 games, 1,094 more than anyone else in the AFL. He needs to average just shy of 250 yards per game to catch P.J. Berry, who holds the League record for all-purpose yards in a single season with 3,708.
Week 12 Quick Hitters
Collin Taylor extended his streak of consecutive regular-season games with a receiving touchdown to 27, a Gladiators franchise record. His teammate, Quentin Sims has scored at least two touchdowns in six games in a row. Only LA's Donovan Morgan has more games in a row with multiple trips to the end zone with seven.
Jacksonville's Joe Hills ran his streak of consecutive regular season games with a TD up to 63 in a row.
Hills' teammate, Tiger Jones became the third man in AFL history to reach the 14,000-yard plateau for a wide receiver. He now has 14,015 for his career and joins T.T. Toliver and Damian Harrell in the 14K club.
Philadelphia's Dan Raudabaugh didn't have a banner game last week against Arizona, but he did toss seven touchdown passes to get him to 587 in his career. Raudabaugh moved past John Kaleo for ninth place on the all-time passing TDs list.
In a battle of surefire Hall of Famers, Clevan Thomas got the best of Toliver last Saturday night. Toliver might have become the all-time leader in receptions on the night, but Thomas picked off his 81st pass in his career, second to only Kenny McEntyre in AFL history.
Shane Austin tossed his 250th career touchdown pass last week in Portland's loss at home against Cleveland. Five active quarterbacks have now reached that mark in their careers, including Nick Davila, Tommy Grady, Dan Raudabaugh and Bernard Morris.
The 80 points the Soul allowed last week to Arizona was the most they have conceded in a game in team history.
By Adam Markowitz
About the AFL
The Arena Football League enters its 29th Season in 2016. Since its inception in 1987, the Arena Football League has showcased a fast-paced and exciting game to millions of fans in a myriad of markets across the country. The ESPN family of networks and CBS Sports Network nationally broadcast AFL games each week, culminating with the ArenaBowl on ESPN. For all the latest news and discussion on the Arena Football League, follow the AFL on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram (@aflarenaball).
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