June 12,2017
(Photo Credit: Scott Audette/Tampa Bay Storm)
Storm Join Postseason Party
– The Tampa Bay Storm became the second team in as
many weeks to punch a ticket to the Arena Football League's postseason.
At 7-1, the Storm are guaranteed a playoff berth, marking their 24th
trip to the postseason in franchise history. That breaks the tie the
Tampa Bay/Pittsburgh franchise had with Orlando for the most playoff
appearances in AFL history.
Most Playoff Appearances in AFL History
Tampa Bay Storm/Pittsburgh Gladiators: 24
Orlando Predators: 23
Arizona Rattlers: 21
San Jose SaberCats: 16
Raudabaugh Becomes Youngest To Throw for 30,000 Yards – Philadelphia Soul quarterback Dan Raudabaugh needed 116 games in his career to throw for 30,000 yards. The "Red Rocket" reached 30,000 yards in the fourth fewest games in AFL history. At 30 years and 72 days old, Raudabaugh has become the youngest quarterback in the AFL to reach the 30,000-yard plateau. If you combine the histories of the AFL and the NFL, only four men reached 30,000 yards faster in their careers, just three of which got there before the age of 30. A total of nine players in AFL and NFL history have reached 30,000 yards before their 31st birthdays, two of which were in the indoor game.
Youngest Quarterbacks To Throw for 30,000 Yards in AFL History
Dan Raudabaugh: 30 years, 72 days
Nick Davila: 30 years, 357 days
Tommy Grady: 31 years, 78 days
Aaron Garcia: 33 years, 209 days
Mark Grieb: 33 years, 339 days
Fewest Games To Throw for 30,000 Yards in AFL History
Tommy Grady: 108 Games
Nick Davila: 109 Games
Mark Grieb: 113 Games
Dan Raudabaugh: 116 Games
Aaron Garcia: 118 Games
Youngest AFL/NFL Quarterbacks to Throw for 30,000 Yards
Matt Stafford (NFL): 28 years, 329 days
Dan Marino (NFL): 29 years, 71 days
Peyton Manning (NFL): 29 years, 185 days
Brett Favre (NFL): 30 years, 63 days
Dan Raudabaugh (AFL): 30 years, 72 days
Matt Ryan (NFL): 30 years, 161 days
Drew Bledsoe (NFL): 30 years, 213 days
Drew Brees (NFL): 30 years, 332 days
Nick Davila (AFL): 30 years, 357 days
76 and Counting – Joe Hills just keeps on scoring touchdowns. In Week 10, he continued his march up the all-time leaderboard in all of the major receiving categories, moving into 14th place in career receiving touchdowns, 22nd in career receptions and 24th in career receiving yards. But the most important stat of all is that Hills is now at 76 consecutive games with a receiving touchdown, leaving him two shy of Damian Harrell's record of 78 straight games with a trip to the end zone.
Most Receiving Touchdowns in AFL History
13: Reggie Gray: 226
14: Joe Hills: 217
15: Randy Gatewood: 214
16: Bobby Sippio: 199
Most Receptions in AFL History
21: Randy Gatewood: 690
22: Joe Hills: 680
T-23: Derek Lee: 672
T-23: Marco Thomas: 672
Most Receiving Yards in AFL History
22: Kevin Swayne: 8,488
23: Darryl Hammond: 8,456
24: Joe Hills: 8,368
25: Ben Nelson: 8,271
Going Streaking – The Storm and Soul both continued their winning ways in Week 10, and they are now on winning streaks of 6-games and 12-games respectively. For Tampa Bay, the last time it won six games in a row was in 2010, a year in which it went to the ArenaBowl. For Philadelphia, this streak is now officially a full year old. The Soul last lost on June 17, 2016 against Arizona. Their next game? June 17, 2017 against Tampa Bay. Philadelphia is now the ninth team in AFL history to start 8-0 in a season. Each of the previous eight teams who started 8-0 went on to at least play in the ArenaBowl, while five of the prior eight went on to capture the Foster Trophy.
Most Consecutive Wins to Start a Season in AFL History
2014 Arizona Rattlers: 14
2002 San Jose SaberCats: 12
2015 San Jose SaberCats: 11
1994 Orlando Predators: 11
1988 Chicago Bruisers: 10
2014 Cleveland Gladiators: 9
2008 Philadelphia Soul: 9
2017 Philadelphia Soul: 8
1996 Tampa Bay Storm: 8
Most Consecutive Wins (Including Playoffs) in AFL History
2013-14 Arizona Rattlers: 18
1995-96 Tampa Bay Storm: 17
1992-93 Detroit Drive: 16
2016-17 Philadelphia Soul: 15
2011 Jacksonville Sharks: 13
2007 San Jose SaberCats: 13
Swag's Big Day – Charles McClain is known as "Swag" to Washington Valor fans. He was full of swag in Week 10, amassing nine receptions for 137 yards and three touchdowns. The 137 yards tied a Valor franchise record. For McClain, it was his second career 100-yard receiving game and was a day that tied a career-high in receptions. McClain also finished with 215 all-purpose yards, breaking the Washington franchise record previously held by Mike Washington from the team's first game in Week 1 against the Baltimore Brigade.
Banking on Brackett – McClain wasn't the only member of the Valor offense having a big day against Tampa Bay. Sean Brackett finished with 299 yards and seven passing touchdowns. Not only were those marks both career-highs, but they were also Washington franchise records to boot. Brackett also tied a career-high and a franchise record with 26 pass completions.
Two the Hard Way – Part of the reason why Philadelphia has had a championship-caliber team the past several seasons is because of its special teams. Its special teams unit came up big in Week 10, recording not just one, but two blocked extra points that were returned for two points against the Cleveland Gladiators. First it was Beau Bell who picked up a blocked PAT and returned it for two, then it was James Romain in the fourth quarter who did the deed. It was the first time there were two defensive PATs in a game in the AFL since Week 13 of last season when the LA KISS and Arizona Rattlers each had one and was the first time since 2012 that a single team had two defensive PATs in the same game. The Kansas City Command did it to the Iowa Barnstormers on July 7, 2012. Sergio Gilliam had both scores for the Command.
Quick Strikes – The four teams around the AFL combined to have eight 1-play drives for touchdowns in Week 10. In the case of the Storm, they had three 1-play scoring drives against Washington after having three for the entire season in 2016. The Soul also had three 1-play scoring drives, giving them 13 already on the young season.
AFL Week 10 Odds and Ends
-The four quarterbacks who played on Saturday combined to throw 141 passes, and just one was intercepted. Dominic Addison's interception of Randy Hippeard was the only one of its kind of the week. Addison's pick was the second of his career and his first career touchdown.
-Derrick Summers played in his 100th career game in Week 10. He's one of the 10 active players to play in 100 career AFL games.
-Hippeard moved past Joe Germaine into 26th place in AFL history in career passing touchdowns. Hippeard will head into next week's showdown with the Soul with 294 career touchdowns.
-The Storm recorded their first safety in a game since July 20, 2013.
-The Pittsburgh/Tampa Bay franchise has played a total of 227 home games in its history. With an announced attendance of 9,856 in Week 10, the Gladiators/Storm franchise became the first in AFL history to reach 3,000,000 fans in attendance for all home games, a mark that includes regular season and postseason games.
-The Storm have trailed in four games this season by double-digits and are now 3-1 in those games.
-The Soul were behind against Cleveland by 12-points as late as 0:06 left in the second quarter. It was the latest in a game Philadelphia trailed by double-digits on its 12-game winning streak.
-Will Corbin picked up his first AFL touchdown on a 6-yard touchdown run for the Valor against Tampa Bay.
-In Week 9, Michael Preston set a career-high in receptions with 12. He duplicated that in Week 10 for the Gladiators. His 129 receiving yards was three shy of a career-high.
-Kendrick Ings' three receiving touchdowns tied a career-high.
-The Valor set a franchise-high for points in a game with 57.
AFL Week 10 Accolades
Top Passing Performances
Arvell Nelson (Cleveland) – 25/36, 305 Yards, 5 TDs, 0 INTs
Dan Raudabaugh (Philadelphia) – 20/27, 303 Yards, 7 TDs, 0 INTs
Sean Brackett (Washington) – 26/36, 299 Yards, 7 TDs, 0 INTs
Randy Hippeard (Tampa Bay) – 29/42, 283 Yards, 7 TDs, 1 INT
Top Receiving Performances
Darius Reynolds (Philadelphia) - 9 Receptions, 144 Yards, 4 TDs
Charles McClain (Washington) – 9 Receptions, 137 Yards, 3 TDs
Michael Preston (Cleveland) – 12 Receptions, 129 Yards, 2 TDs
Joe Hills (Tampa Bay) – 13 Receptions, 124 Yards, 3 TDs
Kendrick Ings (Tampa Bay) – 9 Receptions, 114 Yards, 3 TDs
Top Rushing Performances
Mykel Benson (Philadelphia) – 4 Carries, 13 Yards, 1 TD
Arvell Nelson (Cleveland) – 3 Carries, 7 Yards, 1 TD
Randy Hippeard (Tampa Bay) – 1 Carry, 7 Yards, 1 TD
Sean Brackett (Washington) – 1 Carry, 7 Yards
Will Corbin (Washington) – 1 Carry, 6 Yards, 1 TD
Top Defensive Performances
LaRoche Jackson (Tampa Bay) – 7 Tackles, 1 Forced Fumble, 1 Fumble Recovery
Everett Dawkins (Washington) – 2 Tackles, 1 Sack, 1 Forced Fumble
Dominic Addison (Washington) – 5 Tackles, 1 INT
James Romain (Philadelphia) – 5.5 Tackles, 1 Forced Fumble, 1 Defensive 2-Point Conversion
Beau Bell (Philadelphia) – 1.5 Tackles, 1 Forced Fumble, 1 Sack, 1 Defensive 2-Point Conversion
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