GAME NOTES

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. – With the help of 21 unanswered points, the Nashville Kats posted their fourth straight victory with a 49-44 road victory over the New Jersey Red Dogs in front of 4,107 at the Continental Airlines Arena Friday night. Nashville, now 4-1 on the season, came back from an early 20-14 deficit at the end of the first quarter and never looked back. Quarterback Andy Kelly threw a 31-yard touchdown strike to Cory Fleming with 8:45 left in the second quarter, the only score in the period, to give the Kats a 21-20 halftime advantage. Kelly, who completed 17 of 27 passes for 187 yards and four touchdowns, increased Nashville’s lead at the start of the third quarter, leading the Kats to touchdowns on their first two possessions. Kelly, named the game’s MVP, ended a six-play, 42-yard drive with a five-yard touchdown pass to Tyronne Jones and then hit Rupert Grant with a 14-yard scoring pass to finish off a three-play, 25-yard drive to give Nashville a commanding 35-20 margin with 5:28 left in the third quarter. New Jersey, now 1-3, rallied back, cutting the lead to five points at 35-30 following a two-yard touchdown run by quarterback Tommy Maddox at the end of the third and then a 45-yard field goal by Derek Schorejs with 11:45 to play in the fourth quarter. But that would be as close as the Red Dogs would get. Maddox, who completed 23 of 51 for 283 yards and four touchdowns, was held in check by the Nashville defense, which intercepted him twice and sacked him four times. Nashville put the game away in the final quarter as Kelly hit Fred Brock on a 20-yard scoring pass and then Grant scored his third touchdown of the game on a two-yard run to give the Kats their biggest lead at 49-30 with just 1:00 left. Nashville’s Jones, who also scored on a 56-yard and had a pass breakup on defense, was named the Ironman of the Game. New Jersey managed to score twice in the final minute, but it was a little too late.

ORLANDO, FL (TICKER) -- Joe Douglass caught a 17-yard touchdown pass from Connell Maynor with nine seconds left as the Orlando Predators rallied for a 44-43 victory over the Tampa Bay Storm in a rematch from last season's playoffs. Justin Skinner booted a pair of field goals for Tampa Bay, including a 28-yarder with 4:51 left for a 43-31 cushion. But Orlando closed within 43-38 as Bret Cooper caught a 13-yard touchdown pass from Maynor with 1:11 remaining. The Predators got back the ball with 34 seconds left and Douglass' go-ahead score closed a three-play, 25-yard drive. Skinner missed a 53-yard field goal for the Storm (1-4) as time expired. Tampa Bay's start is in contrast to last season when it finished 11-3 and earned the top seed in the playoffs. The Storm's postseason stay lasted one game as they were upset, 41-19, by the eighth-seeded Predators. Maynor completed 22-of-39 passes for 289 yards and five touchdowns for Orlando, which is 4-0 for the second time in franchise history and first since 1994. Douglass had 11 receptions for 126 yards and three scores.

YOUR LOCAL WEATHER . . . Tampa will be looking for their second win of the season and their fourth against the Dogs in the all-time series… New Jersey comes to Tampa looking for revenge as the Storm has had their number in recent years… The Storm ousted the Red Dogs from the playoffs in ’98 semi-finals with an impressive 49-23 victory… They also defeated the Red Dogs by a score of 53-31 at the Ice Palace in ’99… Tampa’s offense is one that is totally revamped from

’99… The Storm receiving corps is lead by WR/LB Lawrence Samuels and WR/DB Charles Wilson…They both enter Week 6 with 249 yards a piece in receiving yards… This marks OS George LaFrance’s return to the Ice Palace, where he played from 94-99… LaFrance was named to the Storm’s all-decade team… Tampa has been outscored 72-32 in the fourth quarter in the previous five games.

A STORM SURVIVAL GUIDE. . . New Jersey needs to get back to basics against the Storm this week and there could be a few keys to that. The Dogs need to unleash Robert Stewart (last season sack leader with 8 sacks) on Storm quarterback, John Kaleo, who has been sacked a league leading 15 times… New Jersey also needs to get to winning the turnover battle, as they were killed by turnovers last week against the Kats with 2 interceptions that were converted for touchdowns by Nashville… The Dogs are on the plus side with a (+3) turnover rating, but they are not converting… The Dogs offense has only converted seven points on the defense’s last four interceptions… George LaFrance will need to have another "George like" game in his former home town and Dimitrious Stanley will need to produce big numbers as he did in the loss to the Kats ( 9 receptions, 133-yards and 1 TD).

JOHN KALEO, QB, MARYLAND: This is Kaleo’s third straight start at QB. He has been a valuable acquisition after coming over in a trade with the New England Sea Wolves. He is average 228 passing yards per game. Kaleo has not thrown an interception since given the starting job. He has an unbelievable quarterback rating of 140.34.

LAWRENCE SAMUELS, WR/LB, UNIVERSITY OF WEST ALABAMA: Lawrence is first on the team with receptions (22), and is tied for first with receiving yards with Charles Wilson (249). He is looking for his third ArenaBowl Championship with the Storm. He also is fourth on the Storm in tackles (11). Lawrence was also named to the Storm’s All-Decade team.

CHARLES WILSON, WR/DB, MEMPHIS STATE: Charles proved that he was no fluke in winning the 1999 AFL Rookie of the Year Award. He has a team high six touchdowns and is averaging 13.1 yards a reception. The former Buccaneer also averages 15.8 yards per carry on kickoff returns.

TOMMY HENRY, DS, FLORIDA STATE: Tommy is leading the team in tackles (24) with eighteen being unassisted. He also leads the Storm in pass breakups (11) and has an interception to his credit. The former Seminole is quickly becoming one of the league’s star defensive specialists.

DOG BITES . . . The Red Dogs are off to their worst start in team history at 1-3… New Jersey needs a win to rebuild their confidence and get ready for a tough four game stretch which includes two meeting with the Albany Firebirds twice in that stretch… The Dogs are in need of a strong offensive game that will help rebuild that confidence, as they are averaging 42 points per game and they are struggling in the second quarter with only 33 points put up so far this season (8.25 points per game) prior to the half… Last week vs. the Kats they were blanked in the second period and that included starting two drives off interceptions… Another key that has to be turned on is the Red Dogs rushing woes, the Dogs are the league’s second worst team on the ground with a 5-yard average per game… This is not a ground game league but a solid runner helps with the second and third down short yardage plays, of which Jersey has completed only 39% of their third down conversions… New Jersey has been working on their discipline as they have been moving up in the ranks for penalties, with only 31 on the season (6^th in the AFL).

RED DOGS "D" . . . New Jersey’s defense had been doing an outstanding job but they have been getting burned as of late but they are maintaining their number three spot for pass defense rating in the league, allowing 199 yards in the air per game… The league’s number one passing thief, Kevin Gaines, added to his lead against the Kats as he recorded his fifth pick of the year and Jersey had two on the night… New Jersey will also be looking to add to their sack total as they were held with out one against the Kats on Friday night… The Storm have allowed a league leading 15 sacks and last year’s Defensive Lineman of the Year, Robert Stewart will be looking to add to that total this Thursday… Stewart has 2 sacks this season and needs an impressive showing to boost his numbers back to the top in the sack race… The Red Dogs pass defense will be looking to take the outright lead for interceptions as well, they are currently tied with the Albany Firebirds with 8.

DIMITRIOUS STANLEY, WR/DB, OHIO STATE: In four games played this season, Dimitrious has quickly developed into one of the "go-to" guys in the New Jersey offense. He leads the team in receptions (30), yards (425), and touchdowns (5). He also has six tackles and two pass breakups on the defensive side of the ball.

GEORGE LaFRANCE, OS, BAKER UNIVERSITY: This arena legend has been a key addition to the Red Dogs offense. He is third on the team in receiving yards with 193. George has an astounding 367 kickoff return yards for an average of 21.6 yards per return. He returned a kickoff for a 56 yard TD against Orlando in Week 1.

MICHAEL LEWIS, OS, BONNABLE H.S.: Despite not playing collegiate football, Michael does not show his lack of experience in ArenaBall with his devastating speed. Michael has steadily increased his playing time and is a legitimate deep threat. He is second on the ‘Dogs with 194 receiving yards and three touchdowns. He also is second on the team in kickoff returns.

KEVIN GAINES, DS, LOUISVILLE: Kevin has been a valuable addition to the Red Dogs defense. He is third in the league with thirteen pass breakups, five of which are interceptions. Kevin leads the league with these five picks. He also is second on the team with seventeen tackles, twelve of which are unassisted. Kevin is quickly becoming a force to be reckoned with on the Red Dogs defense.

The Red Dogs recently signed two new players this past week. Head Coach Frank Mattiace has strengthened his line with the acquisition of Lineman, Jerry Crafts. Crafts, 6’7, 350, is a graduate of the University of Louisville, where he played all four years. He was a member of five Bowl Teams while at Louisville and lists one of his highlights as beating Alabama in the Fiesta Bowl with current Red Dogs teammate, Kevin Gaines. Jerry is a six-year NFL veteran and most recently played with the Philadelphia Eagles in 1997 and ’98. He was a member of the Buffalo Bills from 1992 to ’94, where he played in two Super Bowls with the Bills. Jerry is an avid movie buff and he also enjoys spending time with his family. He and his wife, Nicole, have two children, Ryan and Jeremy. The Crafts are also expecting their third child soon. The Dogs have also added their fourth kicker of the season in Derek Schorejs. The 5’11, 220lb., Schorejs is a graduate of Bowling Green State. Derek kicked with the Cincinnati Bengals in their 1999 training camp. He played with the Florida Bobcats in 1998. Schorejs lists kicking a 60-yard field goal against Toledo in 1995 as one of his college highlights. He received 1^st Team All Conference (MAAC) and played soccer for Bowling Green for two seasons. Derek enjoys playing golf and is looking forward to his engagement to his girlfriend, Kathy.

" We did not convert on the turnovers we got from Nashville and I was not real happy with that. I though that we were going to come out better than we did. Our offensive production in the second quarter is what really killed us. We needed to convert the interception we got but we could not seem to get into a rhythm at all. Tommy (Maddox) played well, but it was hard for him to deliver a good clean ball with all the defenders he had chasing him. We usually did a better job of protecting him and it just broke down on us. We are going to need to repair that or else things will be bad in Tampa as well. We have a poor history against the Storm and I hope the guys are aware of that. We need to come out and have a statement game and there is no better place than on TNN in front of a national audience. I am sure that Tampa Bay will have a great game plan and they will certainly be ready after that heartbreaking loss to the Predators last week. We can not afford to be lax in our preparation for this game. We need this game to get back in to it, this is a big game for us."

" I am not happy with our production as of late. We are a very talented team but we seem to be going in peaks and valleys so far this season and that is not good. We need to put together a string of good solid wins to boost our confidence and I am sure the rest will take care of itself. Tampa is a good team that is going to be pretty mad after their loss the other night and I do want to be the sounding board for their anger. I am sure that emotions will be high with the return of George (LaFrance) to Tampa and all. I will be looking for us to rebound and start to come together as a team, we need to show the league that we are good enough to play with the best and it should start this Thursday in the Ice Palace."

Red Dogs OS, George LaFrance –

 " I am looking forward to going back to the Ice Palace and playing in front of the old crowd. Everybody down there was really great to me and it will be a very emotional game for me. I am very grateful to the Tampa fans and the organization for everything they did for me and my family. It will be strange running out there as a member of the opposing team and hearing the fans boo my team, it will be weird. I am still going to play my best for both my fans, the Red Dogs and myself. I am still a football player and I am paid to help my team win so that will also be strange for me to want to beat my old team. I do not hold anything against them, but I still want to win, that is why we all play the game, isn’t that the old cliché? Either way, I couldn’t of asked for a better setting than to come back to Tampa in front of my old fans and friends and the national television audience on TNN and play. This really couldn’t have been written any better, I am really nervous but I am also very excited to get there and play this game, it should be a good one!"