Sharks, Predators in Conference Battle

Rivalry Matchup Between Cleveland, Philly Featured on CBS Sports Network

May 25,2016
LAS VEGAS - The Arena Football League spotlight shines brightly on the state of Florida when traditional rivals -- the Jacksonville Sharks (3-4) and Orlando Predators (7-1) -- in an American Conference battle at Amway Center on Friday, May 27 at 7:30 p.m. ET on WatchESPN. A matchup of two of the AFL's top quarterbacks will highlight the contest when Orlando's Randy Hippeard (65.1 Comp. %, 2,196 passing yards and 50 TDs) battles 2012 AFL MVP Tommy Grady (68.0 Comp. %, 2,071 passing yards and 40 TDs). Elsewhere, the American Conference-leading Philadelphia Soul (7-1) and 2015 AFL MVP QB Dan Raudabaugh go to Quicken Loans Arena to play the red-hot Cleveland Gladiators (4-4), winners of three straight games, and QB Arvell Nelson, who is 3-1 as a starter, on Saturday, May 28 at 7 p.m. ET on CBS Sports Network. WR Donovan Morgan (41 receptions and 17 TDs) and the Los Angeles KISS (3-4) host QB Shane Austin and the Portland Steel at Honda Center on Saturday, May 28 at 10 p.m. ET on WatchESPN. The final game of the weekend puts two-time AFL MVP (2011 and 2014) QB Nick Davila and the Arizona Rattlers (6-2) against QB Jason Boltus (15 TD passes in three games) and the Tampa Bay Storm at Amalie Arena on Sunday, May 29 at 2 p.m. ET on WatchESPN.

WEEK 9 MATCHUPS

Jacksonville Sharks (3-4) AT Orlando Predators (7-1)
Friday, May 27 at 7:30 p.m. ET (WatchESPN)
	JACKSONVILLE	ORLANDO
SERIES LEADER	Jacksonville leads 8-7
STREAKS	W1	L1
LAST WEEK	W 65-34 vs. Steel	L 62-54 at Soul
LAST REG SEASON MEETING	4/18/16 Predators 63 at Sharks 56
TOTAL OFFENSE (RANK)	324.3 (1)	284.9 (3)
TOTAL DEFENSE (RANK)	312.6 (8)	266.4 (4)
POINTS SCORED (RANK)	51.4 (4)	60.5 (2)
POINTS ALLOWED (RANK)	49.3 (5)	48.5 (4)
TURNOVER MARGIN (RANK)	+4 (4)	+9 (1)

WHAT TO LOOK FOR: SHARKS: QB Tommy Grady completed 22-of-27 passes for 288 yards and 8 TDs in last week's 65-34 win over the Steel at Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena earning him the Under Armour Offensive Player of the Week... The seventh-year veteran, leads the AFL in passing yards per game (295.9) and in pass efficiency (125.8)... The 2012 AFL MVP is 416 yards shy of becoming the 9th player in AFL history to pass for 30,000 yards... WR Joe Hills hauled in eight catches for 114 yards and four TDs making it the sixth game this season he has scored multiple TDs and extending his streak to 59 consecutive regular-season games with a TD reception... WR Anthony `Tiger' Jones has hauled in 51 receptions for 648 yards and ten TDs this season... The former Cardinal is 12 receptions shy of reaching 1,000 receptions for his career and would become the 5th player in the AFL to reach this milestone ... FB Derrick Ross continues to dominate the running game in the AFL... Ross' five carries for 40 yards and two TDs in last week's outing helped him become the first player in AFL history to rush for over 3,000 yards (3,028)...The five-time First Team All-Arena selection is 14 career rushing TDs shy of breaking 200 where he would become the first player to reach this milestone... On defense, the Sharks have the dynamic duo of DBs Greg Reid and LaRoche Jackson... Reid leads the League in total tackles (52.0) and is tied for No. 4 in INTs (4)... Jackson is No. 4 in the League in total tackles (40.5) and tied for No. 2 in INTs (5)... PREDATORS: Under center for Orlando, is fourth-year veteran QB Randy Hippeard... Hippeard threw for 276 yards, while completing 26-of-41 passes and eight TDs in Saturday's 62-54 loss against the Soul... The former Cavalier is the League leader in three categories: total offense TDs (55), passing yards (2,196), and total offense (2,253)...WR Brandon Thompkins is the offensive weapon that has helped the Predators get to a 7-1 record... Thompkins hauled in 13 receptions for 144 yards and 5 TDs last week... The All-Arena Second Team selection ranks No. 1 in the AFL in scoring TDs (26), kickoff return yards (972), and all-purpose yards (1,769)... DB Varmah Sonie is a defensive power for the Predators... The third-year veteran tacked on 6.0 total tackles in his last outing... The former Panther ranks No. 2 in the League in tackles (49.5) and tied for No. 2 in interceptions (5)... K Mark Lewis has cemented his status as one of the best kickers in AFL history... The 12-year veteran is the all-time career leader in PATs made with 1,123 and only one of seven kickers to make more than 100 FGs in his career...The two-time All-Arena selection currently is ranked No. 1 in scoring (kicking) with 64 total points, in PAT attempts (69) and PATs made (61) this season.

Philadelphia Soul (7-1) AT Cleveland Gladiators (4-4)
Saturday, May 28 at 7 p.m. ET (CBS Sports Network) Play-by-play: Brent Stover; Color: Sherdrick Bonner; Sideline: Cassie McKinney
	PHILADELPHIA	CLEVELAND
SERIES LEADER	Philadelphia leads 9-6
STREAKS	W6	W3
LAST WEEK	W 62-54 vs. Predators	W 70-63 at Sharks
LAST REG SEASON MEETING	4/23/16 Soul 67 vs. Gladiators 50
TOTAL OFFENSE (RANK)	269.8 (5)	252.9 (7)
TOTAL DEFENSE (RANK)	246.8 (1)	292.4 (7)
POINTS SCORED (RANK)	59.6 (3)	49.5 (5)
POINTS ALLOWED (RANK)	54.9 (7)
TURNOVER MARGIN (RANK)	+7 (3)	-6 (7)

WHAT TO LOOK FOR: SOUL: DB Dwayne Hollis leads the league in INTs so far this season. Hollis has recorded six INTs for 109 yards and two defensive TDs, 32.0 tackles, eight pass breakups and 12 passes defended... WR Darius Reynolds is continuing his success here in Philadelphia, with 59 catches for 680 yards, 18 receiving TDs and one rushing TD in seven games. So far this season, he has been awarded Cutter's Catch of the Week in Weeks 4 and 7, he was also awarded the J. Lewis Small Playmaker of the Week in Week 5... QB Dan Raudabaugh was awarded the AFL MVP, First Team All-Arena, and Russell Offensive Player of the Year award. So far this season, he has completed 164-of-237 passes for 1,914 yards and 46 TDs and was awarded Under Armour Offensive Player of the Week for his performance in Weeks 4 and 7... DL Teddy Jennings is No. 2 in the AFL with 4.0 sacks, while adding 14.0 total tackles, three blocked kicks, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery... GLADIATORS: QB Arvell Nelson's six total TDs (five passing/one rushing) including 259 passing yards and 19 rushing yards led the way on Monday night as the Gladiators outlasted the Tampa Bay Storm in overtime, 70-63... Since taking over as the starting quarterback one month ago in the home loss to Orlando, Nelson has completed 86 of 156 passes for 1,150 yards, 21 touchdowns, and seven interceptions, while also rushing for 102 yards and six more scores... WR Collin Taylor was named J. Lewis Small Playmaker of the Week for his performance in Week 8's win over the Tampa Bay Storm. For the game, Taylor caught eight passes for 96 yards and three TDs in helping the Gladiators outlast the Storm in overtime... `CT' has picked up where he left off from his breakout season in 2014. To date, Taylor has hauled in 59 passes for 710 yards and 18 TDs... WR Quentin Sims caught a career-high 11 passes for 111 yards and two TDs in the win. Meanwhile, WR Larry Beavers caught the game-winning TD in overtime. He finished the game with three catches for 47 yards and a passing TD early in the first quarter.

PORTLAND STEEL (0-7) AT LOS ANGELES KISS (3-4)
Saturday, May 28 at 10 p.m. ET (WatchESPN)
	PORTLAND	LOS ANGELES
SERIES LEADER	Los Angeles leads 4-3
STREAKS	L7	L1
LAST WEEK	L 65-34 at Sharks	L 47-34 at Rattlers
LAST REG SEASON MEETING	5/9/16 KISS 66 vs. Steel 27
TOTAL OFFENSE (RANK)	273.6 (4)	257.9 (6)
TOTAL DEFENSE (RANK)	257.7 (2)	270.3 (5)
POINTS SCORED (RANK)	34.3 (7)	44.6 (6)
POINTS ALLOWED (RANK)	65.3 (8)	46.1 (3)
TURNOVER MARGIN (RANK)	-18 (8)	+0 (5)

WHAT TO LOOK FOR: STEEL: WR Tom Gilson enters Week 9 near the top of every AFL receiving category, tied for No. 1 in the AFL with 10.1 receptions per game, No. 2 with 71 receptions and 3rd in receiving yards per game with 98.3. He leads the team in every receiving category; receptions (71), receiving yards (688) and receiving TDs (9). All are career season highs... Gilson also has an active streak of three straight games with at least 10 receptions... WR Tyrone Goard was acquired on April 13, since that time he's played in five games for the Steel and racked up 38 catches for 334 yards and seven TDs... After playing in only 11 games in 2015, DL Robert Hayes was able to tally a half-sack against the LA KISS (5/16/15). In Week 6 against LA, he racked in a career-high 2.0 sacks against Nathan Stanley. Giving Hayes, the 2.5 sacks for his career... Former All-Arena QB Shane Austin has completed 59.6% of his passes for 596 yards and nine TDs in two starts... KISS: DB Clevan Thomas became the second player in AFL history to tally 80 INTs last week. He needs 18 INTs to become the AFL's all-time INT leader (Kenny McEntyre, 97 INTs)... Newly acquired DL Mike Lewis was traded to the LA KISS from the Orland Predators on May 24th. The seven-year player is No. 2 on the all-time AFL sacks leaderboard (57.0)... WR DJ Stephens is ranked No. 6 in the AFL with 119.1 all-purpose yards per game. In addition, he is No. 9 in receptions (6.7/game) and No. 10 in receiving yards (11.5/game)... WR Donovan Morgan is tied for No. 5 in the AFL with 16.3 points scored per game and is No. 7 in yards per catch (12.8). The "Captain" has also caught a TD in 16 straight games and at least two scores in each of his last four contests... DB Josh Victorian has recovered two fumbles, which leads the league. Additionally, he is tied for No. 5 with 49 INT return yards and is just outside the Top 20 players with 3.8 tackles per game.

Arizona Rattlers (6-2) AT Tampa Bay Storm (0-7)
Sunday, May 29 at 2 p.m. ET (WatchESPN)
	ARIZONA	TAMPA BAY
SERIES LEADER	Tampa Bay leads 8-6
STREAKS	W1	L7
LAST WEEK	W 47-34 vs. KISS	L 70-63 vs. Gladiators
LAST REG SEASON MEETING	4/16/16 Rattlers 60 vs. Storm 27
TOTAL OFFENSE (RANK)	295.2 (2)	228.7 (8)
TOTAL DEFENSE (RANK)	278.6 (6)	265.1 (3)
POINTS SCORED (RANK)	64.5 (1)	32.6 (8)
POINTS ALLOWED (RANK)	43.5 (2)	52.7 (6)
TURNOVER MARGIN (RANK)	+8 (2)	-4 (6)

WHAT TO LOOK FOR: RATTLERS: QB Nick Davila, who is a two-time AFL MVP (2011 and 2014), two-time ArenaBowl MVP (ArenaBowl XXV, Aren­aBowl XXVII) and perennial All-Arena selection, currently leads the AFL with 52 passing TDs and has completed 176-of-258 passes (68.2%) for 2,078 yards... The Rattlers have the second best rushing offense averaging 23 yards per game... Arizona is No. 3 in passing offense averaging 272 yards per game... The Rattlers lead the league with 18 sacks... WR Rod Windsor is No. 1 in the AFL for receiving yards and No. 1 for receiving TDs this season. He has a total of 968 yards and 23 TDs for the Rattlers... The Arizona Rattlers have three players in the Top 5 for total sacks this season with DL Dimetrio Tyson lead­ing the way with 5.0 sacks... The Rattlers defense has combined for 10 INTs (5 for TDs) for 154 total yards which is No. 6 in the AFL... FB Mykel Benson this season, is No. 2 in rushing TDs (9) and is tied for No. 3 in rushing yards (90)... STORM: The Storm have the No. 3 best rushing defense only allowing 13.7 yards per game... Tampa Bay has the No. 3 passing defense only allowing 251 yards per game... WR T.T. Toliver has played in 10 games versus the Rattlers. He's recorded 62 receptions for 825 yards and 18 TDs. He needs just 213 receiving yards to surpass AFL Hall of Famer, George LaFrance (5,392), for third all-time in franchise history. On May 9, versus the Orlando Predators, Toliver surpassed LaFrance for third all-time in Storm history with 400 receptions... WR Julius Gregory has played in one game versus Arizona. He has caught six passes for 109 yards and four TDs... WR Phillip Barnett's third game against the Rattlers and has caught eight passes for 130 yards and three TDs... WR Mike Washington last game against Arizona he caught 10 passes for 152 yards and three TDs.