August 6,2017
(Photo Credit: Baltimore Brigade)
Playoff Picture Set
– By virtue of the Washington Valor's Week 18 win
over the crosstown Baltimore Brigade, the 2017 AFL playoff picture was
set. The #1 Philadelphia Soul will host the Brigade on Saturday
afternoon at the Wells Fargo Center, while the #2 Tampa Bay Storm will
take on the Cleveland Gladiators on Monday night in Amalie Arena.
T.T. Finishes 15th AFL Season in 4th Place in Scoring – It's only fitting that the oldest man in the AFL finished out his 15th career season by reaching yet another milestone. T.T. Toliver scored the opening touchdown of Washington's win over Baltimore in Week 18, and in doing so, he hopped past Chris Jackson on the all-time scoring list into fourth place. There's still a long way to go to catch Barry Wagner (2,490) at the top of the league's scoring list, but Toliver took yet another step on Friday night.
Most Points Scored in AFL History
Barry Wagner: 2,490
Damian Harrell: 2,172
Eddie Brown: 2,076
T.T. Toliver: 2,056
Chris Jackson: 2,052
Busting Into the Philly Record Books – Beau Bell capped off his 2017 season in the best way possible, picking up 2.5 sacks in Week 18 against Tampa Bay and moving into a tie for sixth place in AFL history in career sacks. Bell also broke the franchise record for sacks in a single season with 12.5. He finished with five games with more than one sack this year. Remember that Bell missed a couple games due to injury as well, yet he still is the only man in the AFL to log a double-digit sack season in the last two years.
Most Sacks in AFL History
Sam Hernandez: 60
Mike Lewis: 59
Joe Sykes: 53.5
Jermaine Smith: 51
James Baron: 50
Beau Bell: 49
Tom Briggs: 49
Give It Up For Gray – Reggie Gray might have only had his hands on the ball three times in a Week 18 loss for the Brigade at home to Washington, but those three catches were effective, to say the least. The vet scored touchdowns on two of his three receptions, moving him past Cory Fleming and into 12th place all-time on the career receiving touchdowns list.
Most Receiving Touchdowns in AFL History
10: Mike Horacek: 252
11: Siaha Burley: 247
12: Reggie Gray: 237
13: Cory Fleming: 235
14: Joe Hills: 230
A Day For the Backups – Luke Collis had literally never played in a tremendously competitive AFL game before Week 18 of the 2017 season. The fourth-year man had his most extensive game action of his career against Tampa Bay, completing a career-high six passes for 107 yards and two touchdowns, both also career-highs. Chris Bonner entered the same game having thrown just one career pass. Bonner acquitted himself well against the AFL's top scoring defense, going 15-of-26 for 227 yards with four touchdowns and one INT.
AFL Week 18 Odds and Ends
-Mark Lewis (1,562) broke a tie with Mike Horacek (1,588) for 13th place on the AFL's all-time scoring list.
-Joe Hills extended his AFL-record streak of consecutive games with a touchdown reception to 81.
-Hills (8,883) also moved into 19th place in AFL history in career receiving yards, moving past Calvin Schexnayder (8,796).
-The Soul forced a turnover in a 28th consecutive game, the longest active streak in the AFL.
-Brandon Thompkins (7,024) became the fifth active player in the AFL to amass 7,000 career receiving yards.
-Varmah Sonie logged his fifth career two interception game and his second career interception return for a touchdown.
-Brandon Collins' 98 receiving yards in Week 18 was the second-most in a game in his AFL career.
-Dan Raudabaugh entered Week 18 needing three passing touchdowns to reach 700 in his career. He fell short, throwing just one TD in his half of action. His last play of the regular season, though, was a one-yard touchdown run, just the fourth touchdown scamper of his entire career and his first since 2015.
AFL Week 18 Accolades
Top Passing Performances
Warren Smith (Washington) – 21/35, 229 Yards, 5 TDs, 2 INTs
Shane Boyd (Baltimore) – 18/32, 228 Yards, 4 TDs
Chris Bonner (Tampa Bay) – 15/26, 227 Yards, 4 TDs, 1 INT
Dan Raudabaugh (Philadelphia) – 12/15, 145 Yards, 1 TD
Luke Collis (Philadelphia) – 6/11, 107 Yards, 2 TDs
Top Receiving Performances
Darius Reynolds (Philadelphia) – 7 Receptions, 104 Yards, 2 TDs
Joe Hills (Tampa Bay) – 7 Receptions, 98 Yards, 1 TD
Brandon Collins (Baltimore) – 7 Receptions, 98 Yards, 1 TD
Roger Jackson (Washington) – 10 Receptions, 94 Yards, 2 TDs
Brandon Thompkins (Baltimore) – 6 Receptions, 72 Yards, 1 TD
Top Rushing Performances
Warren Smith (Washington) – 6 Carries, 35 Yards, 1 TD
Chris Bonner (Tampa Bay) – 2 Carries, 19 Yards
Mykel Benson (Philadelphia) – 8 Carries, 15 Yards
Brandon Collins (Baltimore) – 2 Carries, 14 Yards
Shane Boyd (Baltimore) – 2 Carries, 7 Yards
Top Defensive Performances
Varmah Sonie (Baltimore) – 10 Tackles, 2 INTs
Beau Bell (Philadelphia) – 2.5 Tackles, 2.5 Sacks
Robert Hayes (Baltimore) – 3 Tackles, 1 Sack, 1 Forced Fumble, 1 Fumble Recovery
Allen Chapman (Tampa Bay) – 6.5 Tackles, 1 Forced Fumble
Kent Richardson (Philadelphia) – 2 Tackles, 1 INT
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