Fantasy Rewind for Week 15
LAS VEGAS AT ARIZONA
The Rattlers completely dominated the Gladiators, building a 47-14 halftime lead on the arm of QB Sherdrick Bonner. Bonner left the blowout win late in the third quarter, resting his arm after having completed 11 of 13 passes for 187 yards and 7 TDs. WR Randy Gatewood played an outstanding all-around game versus a flailing Las Vegas squad, catching 5 passes for 68 yards and 4 TDs, running in a TD, collecting 3 solo tackles and recovering a fumble for a TD, as well. OS Damien Groce (5 for 111, 3 TDs) and WR Wilson Thomas (4 for 44, TD, 2 tackles, 2 INTs, one returned for a TD) each had outstanding games for the Rattlers, as they secured a playoff berth with a week to go in the season.
As hot as Las Vegas was a month or so back, they are now equally as cold. QB Jason Fife stepped back behind the center, throwing for 250 yards and 4 TDs, with 3 INTs. Fife completed less than 50% of his attempts on a dismal night for the offense. OS Marcus Nash (8 for 57, no TDs) and WR Joe Douglass (6 for 49, TD) were the best of a bad lot of receivers for the Gladiators. The only offensive star for the Glads was FB Marlion Jackson, who ran for 10 yards, had a tackle and a fumble recovery, and caught an exceptional 5 balls for 69 yards and a TD.
DALLAS AT PHILADELPHIA
QB Tony Graziani returned from injury for the Soul, shaking off the rust to throw for 317 yards and 6 TDs, running one in early in the game just to prove he was healthy. Graziani did throw 2 INTs, but generally looked sharp. The Philadelphia receivers enjoyed his return, with WR Sean Scott (6 for 88, TD, 1 tackle), WR Mike Brown (3 for 64, 2 TDs, 1 tackle) and OS JJ McKelvey (6 for 84, TD, 3 tackles) all having good games. DS Eddie Moten did major damage on the defensive side, tallying 8 solo stops and 3 INTs. DS Kevin Gaines had one of his better games of the year, with 6 tackles and an INT.
Perhaps Dallas wasn't as focused as they should have been after compiling a 12-2 record. QB Clint Dolezel did throw for 314 yards and 7 TDs, giving him 99 for the season, but also threw 4 critical INTs, allowing the Philadelphia defense to set the tone for the game. OS Terrill Shaw (6 for 53, 2 TDs) and WR Will Pettis (5 for 36, TD, 4 tackles) took a backseat to WR Dialleo Burks, who finished with 8 catches for 122 yards and 3 TDs. WR Jason Shelley finally saw some significant playing time, catching 4 balls for 52 yards. DS Jermaine Jones came out of a slight slump, making 7 solo stops and intercepting two passes.
TAMPA BAY AT COLUMBUS
The Destroyers took a 27-7 lead early in the 2nd quarter, held a 41-28 lead at halftime, and then hung on as a late Tampa Bay rally came up short. QB John Kaleo threw for 226 yards and 6 TDs, most of those going to OS Carl Bond, who finished with 6 for 102 and 3 TDs. WR Marcus Knight (3 for 62, 2 TDs, 3 tackles) and WR Davis Saunders (4 for 54, TD, 2 tackles) helped out some and FB Leroy Thompson kept the Storm honest with 23 rushing yards and a TD. DS Cecil Doggette had an outstanding game, with 17 tackles (11 solo), an INT and 2 pass breakups. DS Jerald Brown had 8 solo tackles and an INT of his own. K Mark Lewis had another good night, hitting 6 of 7 extra points and a 19-yard FG.
The Storm fought back valiantly from their deficit, with QB Shane Stafford throwing for 389 yards and 6 TDs, but also 3 costly INTs. OS Freddie Solomon is playing above himself, collecting an amazing 14 catches for 160 yards and 2 TDs. WR Lawrence Samuels recaptured some of his verve, finishing with 10 catches for 98 yards and a TD. WR Demetris Bendross (7 for 63, TD) and WR Lynarise Elpheage (6 for 28, TD) helped out, but not enough on a night when the Destroyers defense showed their mettle.
GEORGIA AT NEW YORK
The Dragons defense is improving with every week and will make New York a very dangerous team in the playoffs. DS DeShane Dennis (8 tackles) and DS Dahnel Singfield (6 tackles) led a charge that held the powerful Force offense in check for most of the game. QB Nick Browder was confident and efficient, completing 20 of 27 passes for 191 yards and 5 TDs, running for 7 yards and a TD to boot. WR Mike Horacek (8 for 93, TD) and OS Kevin Swayne (4 for 48, TD) had modest stats and WR Maurice Brown caught two short TD passes in a tightly played game.
QB Matt Nagy had a good game, throwing for 272 yards and 5 TDs, but couldn't overcome the Dragons defensive effort. OS Chris Jackson had a fine game, catching 11 passes for 163 yards and 3 TDs. But the only other receiver with more than two catches was WR Derek Lee, but his 6 catches went for only 37 yards and no TDs, as the Force had trouble getting yards after the catch. All the rest of the Force offensive players had very slight stats, not worth noting and not enough to help in this game.
UTAH AT CHICAGO
If there was an All-Enigma Division, Chicago would be it's champion. A week after barely showing up against the Force, the Rush came out against a hot Utah team and took a 35-0 lead midway through the 2nd quarter. QB Matt D'Orazio got the start and responded with 308 yards and 7 TDs before being lifted for QB Michael Bishop, who ended with 35 yards and 2 TDs of his own. OS Bobby Sippio scored 6 TDs for the second time since joining the Rush, finishing with 10 catches for 217 yards. With that kind of production, no other Chicago receiver had a change for really good stats but WR Woody Danzler (4 for 53, TD) and WR Etu Molden (3 for 24, TD) were at least able to contribute scores. DS Marvin Taylor (8 tackles) and DS Jeremy Unertl (5 tackles) each had an INT for the Rush.
QB Andy Kelly had been on fire for the Blaze, but could never get anything consistent against the Rush onslaught. Kelly ended up with 185 yards and 1 TD before getting pulled for QB Joe Germaine, who led the Blaze to four TDs, throwing for 150 yards in a little over a quarter and a half. In spite of the rout, OS Siaha Burley had wonderful stats, catching 11 balls for 138 yards and 3 TDs. WR Justin Skaggs pitched in with 6 catches for 95 yards and a TD for Utah, while WR Orshawante Bryant only had 4 catches for 46 yards, but did have 7 tackles on defense.
ORLANDO AT KANSAS CITY
Although the Brigade has been impressive lately, it didn't figure that they'd have much chance against the Predators. QB Joe Hamilton did all he needed to do for the win, missing only 4 attempts on the day and finishing with 175 yards and 5 TDs. OS Jimmy Fryzel (9 for 102, 2 TDs) and WR Javarus Dudley (7 for 79, 2 TDs) controlled the game through the air, while FB Idris Price (25 rushing yards, TD) and FB Marlon Moye-Moore (11 yards, TD) controlled the game on the ground, allowing Orlando to take a 35-13 halftime lead that stood up easily in the second stanza. DS Lin-Ji Shell led the defensive effort with 5 tackles and an INT, as the Brigade were never really settled in this game.
Kansas City QB Chris Sanders had a frustrating game, going 6 of 12 for 80 yards, 1 TD, 1 rushing score and 1 INT before getting lifted in favor of QB Raymond Philyaw. Philyaw didn't fare much better, finishing with 139 yards and 2 TDs as the Brigade were just boxed in by the superior Predator defensive effort. WR Aaron Boone has hit a late season wall, catching only 5 for 51 and a TD in this one, and OS Jerel Myers could only muster a 4 for 73, one TD day, in spite of catching a 46-yard TD early. Myers also ran a TD in on the ground. WR Sam Simmons got some playing time for the Brigade, ending up with 8 catches for 59 yards and a TD (and 3 tackles), but Kansas City was simply snowed under by a superior, playoff-bound, very dangerous Orlando squad.
NASHVILLE AT LOS ANGELES
The Avengers broke this game open in the 3rd quarter, scoring 28 consecutive points and pulling away from Nashville on a couple of key defensive plays. DS Anthony Derricks had 8 solo tackles and returned an INT 20 yards for a touchdown. WR Greg Hopkins (6 for 80, TD, 2 tackles) forced a fumble on the subsequent kickoff and returned it 2 yards for a decisive score. QB Sonny Cumbie threw for 240 yards and 5 TDs, also running one in from 2 yards. WR Kevin Ingram (6 for 64, TD, 2 tackles) contributed, but the real star was WR Rob Turner, who caught 10 balls for 96 yards and 3 TDs, with 2 tackles on defense. FB Lonnie Ford ran for 18 yards and a score, and K Remy Hamilton was a perfect 10 of 10 on extra points and added a 27-yard FG.
Nashville couldn't gain ground against the Avengers, even with QB Clint Stoerner looking as sharp as he has in a while, throwing for 357 yards and 7 TDs. WR Cornelius Bonner (4 for 119, 3 TDs, 3 tackles) and WR Alonzo Nix (4 for 78, 2 TDs, 3 tackles) led the receivers, while FB Dan Alexander ran for 19 yards and a score, adding 2 tackles. OS TT Toliver had a fair day, catching 5 balls for 55 yards and a TD, but losing a big kickoff fumble that Hopkins returned for a score. WR Corey Fleming (5 for 98, TD) had a nice day in what seems like his farewell tour for Arena Football.
COLORADO AT SAN JOSE
San Jose secured the Western Division title with a vital win over the Crush. The crushing blow came at the end of the second half, when DS Omaar Smith (8 tackles) returned an interception 42 yards for a TD with no time on the clock. QB Mark Grieb (23 of 28, 260 yards, 5 TDs) kept the Sabercats in the game in the 2nd half, connecting with OS Ben Nelson (9 for 117, 3 TDs) twice in the 4th quarter. FB Brian Johnson had a good game for the Sabercats, running for 18 yards and a TD, catching 2 passes for 19 yards and making a tackle. WR James Roe was less impressive, with only 6 catches for 51 yards as he was shadowed by Colorado DS Rashad Floyd. WR Charles Pauley caught 2 balls for 34 yards and a TD, but returned a 2nd quarter kickoff 57-yards for a score just when Colorado had pulled close.
The Crush scored on the game's final play to make the score seem closer that the actual play would indicate. QB John Dutton finished with 376 yards and 6 TDs, but was intercepted twice. Dutton also jammed one in on the ground. OS Damien Harrell easily set the record for TDs in a season, finishing with 9 catches for 129 yards and 4 TDs. WR Willis Marshall (10 for 103, running TD, 2 tackles) and WR Andy McCullough (7 for 86, TD, 2 tackles) had fine days for Colorado. DS Rashad Floyd ended with 13 tackles (7 solo) but the Sabercats were just more inspired with their division title on the line.
GRAND RAPIDS AT AUSTIN
The Wranglers used a dominating running game to petrify the Rampage, with FB Dane Krager (25 yards, TD), FB Henry Bryant (2 yards, TD), FB Chance Mock (5 yards, 2 TDs), and WR Darrin Chiaverini (2 yards, TD, 3 for 28 receiving) all scoring on the ground. QB John Fitzgerald threw for 247 yards and 3 TDs, with OS Derrick Lewis (7 for 105, TD) the main receiver for Austin. WR Kevin Nickerson continued his late season swoon, catching only 2 balls for 48 yards and a TD. DS Damon Mason finally had a huge game, recording 10 solo tackles and 2 pass breakups.
Grand Rapids didn't do much well, but what little was done well was done by OS Anthony Hines, who finished with 14 catches for 154 yards and a TD. QB Chad Salisbury threw for 301 yards and 3 TDs, but generally was ineffective in putting the ball in the endzone. WR Josh Bush contributed 8 catches for 69 yards and a TD. K Peter Martinez kicked 3 FGs (23, 42 and 19 yards) and hit all three of his extra point attempts.
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