Orlando, Tampa Bay Renew Rivalry on CBS Sports Network
June 22,2016
LAS VEGAS (June 22,2016) - The
Cleveland Gladiators currently sit in the No. 4 seed while the
Jacksonville Sharks are at No. 6 and looking to make their late-season push to climb the standings this
Saturday, June 25 at 7 p.m. ET at Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena on ESPN2. With the Top 4 seeds hosting games in the postseason, the Gladiators (6-6) hope to hold on behind the arm of QB
Arvell Nelson.
The third-year veteran earned Week 12 Under Armour Offensive Player of
the Week and has revived the Cleveland offense (172-of- 296 passing for
2,232 yards and 50 TDs) in the process. Former AFL MVP
Tommy Grady (274-of-404 passing for 3,150 yards and 62 TDs) and red-hot WR
Joe Hills (113 receptions for 1,436 yards and 38 TDs) will be hard to slow down, but the stingy secondary of DBs
Marvin Ross,
Kelvin Rodgers,
Joe Phinisee and
Demarcus Robinson (combined 9 INTs and 160.5 total tackles) will look to step up to the task.
Elsewhere, it's an American Conference battle in Florida between the
Orlando Predators (10-2) and the
Tampa Bay Storm (1-10) at Amway Center on
Friday, June 24 at 7:30 p.m. ET on CBS Sports Network. The tandem of WRs
Brandon Thompkins (98 receptions, 1,174 receiving yards, 2,713 all-purpose yards and 36 total TDs) and
Greg Carr (70 receptions for 990 yards and 23 TDs) will help drive the Orlando offense, while Tampa Bay WR
T.T. Toliver
has another all- time career record in his sights with the career
all-purpose yards mark next on his "to do" list. Toliver (20,973
all-purpose yards) currently sits 69 yards short of AFL Hall of Famer
Barry Wagner's record of 21,042 all-purpose yards.
Also, QB
Nick Davila and the
Arizona Rattlers (9-3) travel to play WR
Donovan Morgan (80 catches, 880 yards and 30 TDs) and the Los Angeles KISS (5-6) at Honda Center on
Sunday, June 26 at 6 p.m. ET on WatchESPN.. Davila (262-of- 387 passes for 3,180 yards and 83 TDs) finds himself in MVP discussions again with WRs
Rod Windsor (113 catches, 1,320 yards and 34 TDs),
Maurice Purify (54 catches, 678 yards and 22 TDs) and
Chase Deadder (43 catces, 572 yards and 16 TDs) to throw to. Los Angeles' rising star QB
Pete Thomas
(93-of- 167 passes for 1,165 yards, 27 TDs and only 2 INTs) has given
the KISS consistency under center, while former All-Arena DB
Clevan Thomas (81 career INTs, No. 2 all-time) hopes to make the KISS defense the antidote to the venomous Rattlers' offense.
The final game of the weekend, Portland QB
Shane Austin (59.9 Completion %, 1,600 yards and 32 passing TDs in six starts) and the Portland Steel (1-10) host 2015 AFL MVP QB
Dan Raudabaugh (69.4 Comp. %, 3,178 yards and 72 TDs), and the
Philadelphia Soul (9-3) at Moda Center on
Monday, June 27 at 10 p.m. ET on WatchESPN and Univision Deportes.
(The Univision broadcast will be tape-delayed to Tuesday, June 28 at 2
p.m. ET). WR Tom Gilson (102 receptions for 1,027 yards and 14 TDs) and
WR
Jared Perry (50 receptions for 667 yards and 10 TDs) are Austin's prime targets, while the Philadelphia receiving trio of
Darius Reynolds,
Shaun Kauleinamoku and
Ryan McDaniel have combined for 239 receptions for 3,000 yards and 62 TDs.
For complete official statistics, game notes and media guides, go to:
www.afldigital.com.
WEEK 13 MATCHUPS
Tampa Bay Storm (1-10) AT Orlando Predators (10-2)
Friday, June 24 at 7:30 p.m. ET (CBS Sports Network)
Play-by- play: Dave Ryan; Color: Sherdrick Bonner; Sideline: Tina Cervasio
| | TAMPA BAY | ORLANDO |
| REG. SEASON SERIES LEADER | Orlando leads 29-23 |
| STREAKS | L3 | W3 |
| LAST WEEK | L 54-27 vs. KISS | W 44-34 at Sharks |
| LAST REG SEASON MEETING | 5/13/16 Predators 42 vs. Sharks 40 |
| TOTAL OFFENSE (RANK) | 253.1 (7) | 276.0 (4) |
| TOTAL DEFENSE (RANK) | 252.5 (1) | 271.4 (5) |
| POINTS SCORED (RANK) | 35.2 (8) | 67.2 (1) |
| POINTS ALLOWED (RANK) | 55.8 (6) | 48.2 (3) |
| TURNOVER MARGIN (RANK) | -16 (t-7) | +10 (2) |
WHAT TO LOOK FOR: STORM|: QB
Jason Boltus
is in his fifth season with the Storm...In seven games this season,
Boltus has completed 157-of- 283 passes for 1,909 yards and 32 TDs,
along with rushing for five TDs...In his last outing against Orlando,
the former Hawk went 27-of-46 for 254 yards, four TDs and one INT... WR
T.T. Toliver
continues to cement his name in the AFL record books... Last week,
Toliver caught six receptions to pass AFL Hall of Famer Damian Harrell
(1,164) as the all-time receptions leader with 1,166 receptions in his
13-year career... On the season, Toliver has hauled in 77 catches for
1,132 yards and 17 TDs... Another receiving target for Boltus is WR
Phillip Barnett...
Barnett has caught 68 receptions for 650 yards and 13 TDs in 10 games
this season... Against Orlando this season, Toliver and Barnett have
combined for 26 receptions for 286 yards and six TDs... The Storm's
defense is led by DBs
Cortez Stubbs and
James Harrell...
Stubbs has tallied 55.0 total tackles, three INTs, seven pass
break-ups, 10 passes defended, and one forced fumble... Harrell has 42.5
total tackles, two INTs, eight pass break-ups, and 10 passes defended
on the season...
PREDATORS: QB
Bernard Morris
will likely get his second start of the season under center on
Friday... Making four appearances under center this year, Morris has
completed 22-of- 37 passes for 243 yards, six TDs and zero INTs... The
Marshall alum made his first start this season in Week 10 versus the
LA KISS
going 16-of- 26 for 171 yards and two TDs, while rushing for an
additional 37 yards and two TDs... Morris will look to utilize the
Predators' scoring receiving corps duo of WR
Brandon Thompkins and WR
Greg Carr...Thompkins
has hauled in 98 receptions for 1,174 yards and 29 TDs... In 12 games
this season, Carr has caught 70 passes for 990 yards and 23 TDs... In
the previous two meetings against Tampa Bay this season, Thompkins and
Carr have combined for 23 receptions for 319 yards and nine TDs...On
defense, Orlando is led by DB
Varmah Sonie...
The former Panther has 74.0 total tackles, six INTs, 15 pass break-ups,
21 passes defended and one forced fumble... Helping Sonie on defense is
five-year veteran DB
Kent Richardson. The West Virginia alum has tallied 58.0 total tackles, three INTs, 11 pass break-ups, and 14 passes defended on the season...
Cleveland Gladiators (6-6) AT Jacksonville Sharks (5-6)
Saturday, June 25 at 7 p.m. ET (ESPN2)
Play-by- play: Ari Wolfe; Color: Sherdrick Bonner
| | CLEVELAND | JACKSONVILLE |
| REG. SEASON SERIES LEADER | Jacksonville leads 7-2 |
| STREAKS | W1 | L1 |
| LAST WEEK | W 58-49 at Steel | L 44-34 vs. Predators |
| LAST REG SEASON MEETING | 5/7/16 Gladiators 41 vs. Sharks 40 |
| TOTAL OFFENSE (RANK) | 262.7 (6) | 308.8 (1) |
| TOTAL DEFENSE (RANK) | 303.6 (8) | 296.5 (6) |
| POINTS SCORED (RANK) | 52.9 (4) | 51.6 (5) |
| POINTS ALLOWED (RANK) | 56.1 (7) | 48.6 (4) |
| TURNOVER MARGIN (RANK) | -4 (6) | +9 (3) |
WHAT TO LOOK FOR: GLADIATORS: QB
Arvell Nelson
has put up solid numbers since becoming the starting quarterback in
Week 5... On the season, Nelson has completed 172-of 296 passes for
2,232 yards and 50 TDs; he has also rushed for seven TDs... In their
first meeting this season, Nelson went 17-of- 30 for 221 yards, three
TDs, zero INTs and rushed for three TDs... Nelson will look to the
receiving duo of WR
Collin Taylor and WR
Quentin Sims
to continue making TD grabs... Taylor leads the team with 82 receptions
for 1,033 yards and 25 TDs... Sims has hauled in 64 receptions for 718
yards and 20 TDs in nine games this season... In Week 6 against the
Sharks, Taylor and Sims caught 12 passes for 162 yards and three TDs...
The Gladiators are led on defense by DB
Marvin Ross...
Ross is having an impressive rookie season, tallying 65.5 total tackle,
21 pass break-ups, 26 passes defended, two forced fumbles, and five
INTs taking three of those back for TDs... DB
Demarcus Robinson
is helping Ross on defense by contributing 64.0 total tackles, 12 pass
break-ups, 15 passes defended, and three INTs, returning one for a TD in
11 games this season...
SHARKS: QB
Tommy Grady
continues to do a solid job under center... The 2012 AFL MVP has
completed 274-of- 404 passes for 3,150, yards, 62 TDs, and five INTs...
In Week 6 against Cleveland, Grady went 26-of- 42 passes completed for
241 yards, five TDs, and zero INTs... WR
Joe Hills
has brought in 113 catches for 1,436 yards and 38 TDs this season...
Hills has extended his streak to 62 consecutive regular-season
appearances with at least one TD catch... WR Anthony "Tiger" Jones has
caught 77 receptions for 895 yards and 13 TDs on the season... Jones and
Hills combined for 21 receptions for 202 yards and five touchdowns in
their previous meeting versus the Gladiators... FB
Derrick Ross
continues to dominate the Sharks' running game... Ross has 70 rushing
attempts for 237 yards and 15 TDs in 10 games...The Sharks are led on
defense by DB
Greg Reid...
The 2015 Rookie of the Year continues to make an impact on the Sharks'
defensive line this season with 72.0 total tackles, a League-leading
eight INTs, 18 pass break-ups, 26 passes defended, and one forced
fumble.
Arizona Rattlers (9-3) AT LOS ANGELES KISS (5-6)
Sunday, June 26 at 6 p.m. ET (WatchESPN)
| | ARIZONA | LOS ANGELES |
| REG. SEASON SERIES LEADER | Arizona leads 7-0 |
| STREAKS | W3 | W1 |
| LAST WEEK | W 80-63 vs. Soul | W 54-27 at Storm |
| LAST REG SEASON MEETING | 5/21/16 Rattlers 47 vs. KISS 34 |
| TOTAL OFFENSE (RANK) | 292.5 (3) | 248.5 (8) |
| TOTAL DEFENSE (RANK) | 299.6 (7) | 261.9 (3) |
| POINTS SCORED (RANK) | 67.1 (1) | 45.3 (6) |
| POINTS ALLOWED (RANK) | 48.8 (5) | 46.2 (1) |
| TURNOVER MARGIN (RANK) | +12 (1) | +3 (4) |
WHAT TO LOOK FOR: RATTLERS: QB
Nick Davila
leads the AFL in both passing yards and passing TDs this season with
3,180 yards and 83 TDs... Davila has thrown for 43 TDs and only 3 INTs
in his career against the KISS... The Rattlers have the least amount of
penalties this season with 68, that averages out to just under 6 per
game... Rattlers' GM and Head Coach
Kevin Guy
is currently 40-5 all-time against all active AFL teams... The Rattlers
defense is No. 1 in the AFL on 4 th down, allowing only 29% to be
converted. The KISS offense, on the other hand, is No. 3 in the AFL,
converting 55.6% of their attempts... The Rattlers have the best scoring
offense, averaging 67 points per game and the KISS have the best
scoring defense only allowing 46 points per game... The Rattlers defense
have been locking up their opponent late in downs this season. They
currently sit atop the AFL in opponent 3 rd and 4 th down conversions
this season with an astounding 32.1% on 3rd and 28.9% on 4 th ... FB
Mykel Benson this season, is tied for No. 1 in rushing TDs (15) and is No. 3 in rushing yards (143)... WR
Rod Windsor
is No. 2 in the AFL for receiving yards and No. 2 for receiving TDs
this season. He has a total of 1,320 yards and 34 TDs for the
Rattlers... The Rattlers have two players in the Top 5 for total sacks
this season.
Dimetrio Tyson leading the way with 5.0 sacks...
KISS: WR
Donovan Morgan has scored at least two TDs in the last eight games and has scored three or more TDs six times during that span... QB
Pete Thomas
has thrown six TD passes in three out of his four starts and has tossed
27 TDs this season, while only throwing two INTs. This TD-to- INT ratio
of 13.5 is the highest in the AFL (minimum 25 TDs)... DL
Marcus Pittman spent the past six seasons in a Rattlers uniform and had 28 sacks while in Arizona... DL
Mike Lewis was traded to the
LA KISS
from the Orland Predators on May 24 th and activated on June 4 th . The
seventh-year player is No. 2 on the all-time AFL sacks leaderboard
(57.0). He recorded one sack in his first game in Week 10... DB
Terrance Smith saw action in his first game with the
LA KISS two weeks ago. Last week, he recorded his first INT of the season and led the team with 6.5 total tackles... DL
Caesar Rayford
was activated from the team's inactive reserve on Tuesday, June 14. The
third-year AFL player recorded five tackles in seven games with the
Dallas Cowboys in 2013... DB
Josh Victorian
has recovered two fumbles, which is the tied for No. 3 in the AFL.
Additionally, is tied for No. 7 with one INT return TD and is the No. 16
in tackles per game (4.0)...
LA KISS Defense leads the AFL in Red Zone defensive efficiency. Opponents have only scored on 72.3% of red zone possessions. The
LA KISS also boast best scoring defense in the league, allowing just 46.2 points per game.
Philadelphia Soul (9-3) AT PORTLAND STEEL (1-10)
Monday, June 27 at 10 p.m. ET (*Univision Deportes & WatchESPN)
Play-by- play: Jorge Perez-Navarro; Color: Ramses Sandoval
(*Univision Tape-Delayed to Tuesday, June 28 at 2 p.m. ET)
| | PHILADELPHIA | PORTLAND |
| REG. SEASON SERIES LEADER | Philadelphia leads 2-0 |
| STREAKS | L1 | L2 |
| LAST WEEK | L 80-63 at Rattlers | L 58-49 vs. Gladiators |
| LAST REG SEASON MEETING | 4/17/16 Soul 70 vs. Steel 32 |
| TOTAL OFFENSE (RANK) | 292.6 (2) | 273.0 (5) |
| TOTAL DEFENSE (RANK) | 256.1 (2) | 264.9 (4) |
| POINTS SCORED (RANK) | 59.8 (2) | 40.7 (7) |
| POINTS ALLOWED (RANK) | 47.2 (2) | 62.4 (8) |
| TURNOVER MARGIN (RANK) | +2 (5) | -16 (t-7) |
WHAT TO LOOK FOR: SOUL: DB
Tracy Belton,
who is a six-year AFL veteran, is ranked No. 1 on the team with 54.5
total tackles, six INTs for 126 yards, 16 pass break-ups and 22 passes
defended... FB
Jeramie Richardson is tied for No. 1 in the AFL in rushing TDs (15) and ranked No. 2 for attempts (69) and yards (198)... WR
Darius Reynolds
currently leads the Soul receivers with 93 catches for 1,208 yards, 29
receiving TDs and one rushing TD in 11 games. In his career, Reynolds
has totaled 318 receptions for 4,336 yards and 95 TDs as well as 42
rushes for 43 yards and 15 TDs... WR
Chris Duvalt
has been a great addition to both the Soul offense and special teams.
So far this season he has recorded 11 receptions for 169 yards and seven
TDs. He leads the team in kick returns with 36 for 653 yards... 2015
AFL Coach of the Year
Clint Dolezel
has a shot to repeat if the Soul continue their winning ways. The 2012
AFL Hall of Fame inductee had a storied 13-year playing career where he
still finds himself amongst the all- time leaders in passing yards (No. 3
with 44,564), TD passes (No. 2 with 931), passing attempts (No. 4 with
5,698), and completions (No. 4 with 3,749)... In last week's loss to
Arizona, QB
Dan Raudabaugh completed 28-of- 43 passes for 372 yards and seven TDs...
STEEL: Last week, the Steel offense welcomed back WR
Rashaad Carter who hauled in six passes for 71 yards and led all receivers with three TDs... In his fourth game with Portland, WR
James Shaw caught eight passes for a game-high 109 yards and two TDs. He also added a rushing TD... QB
Shane Austin
eclipsed two career records as he completed his 1,000 AFL pass and has
now passed for 250 TDs in his 50th career game... In 50 games at
starting QB for his AFL career, Austin has 10 games over 300+ yards
passing, three games over 30+ completions and 25 games with six or more
TDs passing in a game... WR Tom Gilson enters Week 13 in the Top 10 of
nearly every AFL receiving category, No. 3 in the AFL with 9.3
receptions per game, No. 3 with 102 receptions and No. 5 in receiving
yards per game with 99.3. He leads the team in receptions (102),
receiving yards (1,027) and receiving TDs (14). All are career season
highs...
Dexter Davis
Jr. has been quite the disruptor on the defensive side of the ball.
Davis Jr. is tied for No. 2 in the AFL with 4.0 sacks. For his career he
has corralled nine sacks in just 19 career AFL games. The Friends
University (Kansas) graduate, has accumulated 36.5 tackles in his AFL
career.
ABOUT THE AFL
The Arena Football League enters its 29 th 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
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