MLN Sports Zone - Minor League Sports Magazine

The Road Ends Here
Two epic AFL rivalries to decide who plays in ArenaBowl XVII.

06.07.03 - The final step in the Drive to ArenaBowl XVII will begin this Saturday with arguably the fiercest rivalry in the AFL, [See MLN article- Rivalry Renewed] when the No. 3 Orlando Predators travel to the St. Pete Times Forum to face the No. 2 Tampa Bay Storm in a semifinal showdown.

The Storm and Predators, both members of the AFL's Southern Division, have met twice already this season. Orlando secured a home victory during Week 2 of the regular season, 54-51. In turn, the Storm won at home 52-32 in their second
meeting on March 16.

Orlando head coach Fran Papasedero has the No. 1 defensive unit in the AFL allowing only 41.9 points per game. Led by veteran DS Kenny McEntyre (three interceptions in last four games) and second-year standout WR/DB Reggie Doster (80.0 tackles during regular season), who had a combined three interceptions and 10.5 tackles in the quarterfinal victory over New York.

AFL Hall of Fame QB, Jay Gruden, leads the Predator offense. He ranks No. 2 all-time for playoff passing yards (3,441) and passing touchdowns (71). Orlando WR/LB Cory Fleming (33 receptions for 540 yards and 14 touchdowns in last five games) has played in nine playoff games in his career and recorded 60 catches for 747 yards and 20 touchdowns.

Tampa Bay head coach Tim Marcum is a six-time ArenaBowl champion (four with the Detroit Drive; two with Tampa Bay Storm) and hopes for a seventh this season. The Storm claim the No. 2 defense in the AFL led by DS Omarr Smith (22.0 tackles in last five games).

10-year veteran QB John Kaleo (62.5 percent passing and six touchdowns in the postseason) is guiding the offense in an effort to give the Storm its first return appearance to the ArenaBowl since 1998.

Kaleo's main targets are OS Freddie Solomon (106 receptions and 28 touchdowns in the regular season) and Second-Team All-Arena and All-Ironman member WR/LB Lawrence Samuels (77 receptions and 18 touchdowns in the regular season).

On Sunday, the top-seeded San Jose SaberCats (13-4) will face last year's
ArenaBowl opponent and their longtime rival the sixth-seeded Arizona Rattlers (12-6) at HP Pavilion in San Jose.

The all-time series between Arizona and San Jose is tied at 9-9. This will mark the third time the two teams meet in the postseason and the first time meeting in the semifinal round. San Jose leads 2-0 in the postseason against Arizona.

Both teams are averaging 69.5 and 69.0 points per game, respectively, in the
postseason - No. 1 and 2 in the AFL.

The SaberCats are coming off a 69-48 victory over the No. 12 Georgia Force in the Quarterfinals.

Head coach Darren Arbet has his offense (60.4 average, No. 1 in AFL during the regular season) clicking at the right time as the SaberCats are on a six-game winning streak.

QB Mark Grieb has completed 83-of-132 passes (63-percent) for 1,093 yards and 17 touchdowns and four interceptions in his last four games. OS James Hundon recorded 11 receptions for 184 yards against Georgia, breaking Bobby Olive's postseason record for most yards gained in a game (183). WR/DB Kevin McKenzie tied the all-time record for longest kickoff return with his 57-yard kick return last weekend against Georgia - the longest in his AFL career.

Arizona counters with All-Arena First-Team QB Sherdrick Bonner (67.0 completion percentage, 88 touchdowns in the regular season). He guides the AFL's most efficient offense (76.0 scoring percentage) along with Ironman of the Year and All-Arena First-Team member WR/DB Randy Gatewood (69 receptions, 32 touchdowns and nine interceptions in the regular season).

WR/LB Hunkie Cooper boasts the No. 1 all-time career postseason record for all-purpose yards with his 50 rushing yards, 1,356 receiving yards, 185 field goal return yards and 2,011 kickoff return yards - a total of 3,632 all-purpose yards.

Led by the play of Ricky Parker, Frank Trentadue and Tim Croff, the Rattlers defense has held opponents to an AFL-low 48.1 scoring efficiency in the postseason.

The winners of this week's semifinal round will meet Sunday, June 22, in ArenaBowl XVII.