ARENA FOOTBALL
1989
Transatlantic Challenge - Detroit Drive (43) v (14) Chicago Bruisers - In the 1st ever AFL game played outside the USA, the Drive blew out the Bruisers in a friendly played in London, England. The Drive featured QB Mike Trigg and WR George LaFrance. The Bruisers were led by QB Ben Bennett and WR Carl Aikens, Jr.. This was the final game for the Bruisers franchise (9, 24 minute hi-lites, 1 Disc, CH4 - Eanet/Clark, PAL)
1996
Regular Season - Minnesota Fighting Pike (36) @ (24) Texas Terror - The opening week of the season saw both teams play their inaugural games. Both teams struggled early but the Pike held a 23-18 lead at the half. Despite a brief comeback in the 3rd quarter by the Terror, the Pike scored the final 14 points of the game to take the win. Minnesota were led by QB Ricky Foggie (3 TD passes) and a Defense that returned 2 fumbles for TD's. Texas were led by QB Jimmy Klingler (2 TD passes) and featured 4 ex-Texas Tech players : DB Sammy Walker (6 tackles, 2 pass break-ups, 1 fumble recovery), OS Robert Hall (6 catches, 71 yards), WR/DB Lloyd Hill (2 catches, 21 yards + 7 tackles) and KR Bo Adams (4 returns, 53 yards) (8, 2 Discs, UPN 20 - Patrick/Dawson, NTSC)
Arenabowl 10 - Tampa Bay Storm (42) @ (38) Iowa Barnstormers - In arguably the greatest Arena Football game ever, the #2 ranked Storm out-lasted the #1 ranked Barnstormers, clinching their 6th title with a late TD pass. The Storm were led by QB Jay Gruden (18-31-264-5) and the Barnstormers were led by QB Kurt Warner (27-42-316-4) who both had big games. Both teams battled for a full 4 quarters before the Storm denied Iowa the winning TD in the final minute with a goal-line stand. After the game Storm QB Gruden retired. Tampa Bay also featured WR's Stevie Thomas (7-103-2) and George LaFrance (4-63-1). Iowa also featured WR Leonard Conley (10-91-0 + 4 tackles) (8, 1 Disc, ESPN - Christensen/Herbstreit, NTSC)
1997
Regular Season - Texas Terror (52) @ (64) Milwaukee Mustangs - The Mustangs won their 5th straight game with a big Offensive outing against the Terror. Milwaukee scored on all 10 of its possessions with QB Todd Hammel (16-30-250-5 + 1 TD run) the triggerman. The Terror pulled to within 2 points in the 4th quarter but a late interception returned for a TD finally sealed the win for the Mustangs. The Terror were led by QB Clint Dolezel (22-35-261-6) and WR's Lloyd Hill and Rodney Blackshear (8, 2 Discs, ESPN 2 - Adamle/Golic, NTSC)
1999
Regular Season - Tampa Bay Storm (49) @ (42) Milwaukee Mustangs - The Storm finally kick-started their 1999 season with a tough win against the Mustangs. Storm QB Peter Tom Willis (16-30-283-6) gave the Storm a 20-7 lead in the 2nd quarter and the deficit was just too much for the Mustangs to pull back. The Mustangs, led by QB Todd Hammel (18-37-246-3) played the Storm even in the 2nd half but could never get closer than 3 points. The Storm also featured WR George LaFrance (5-80-3 + 5-89-0 on kick returns) and DL Andre Bowden (2 sacks). The Mustangs also featured RB Lincoln Coleman (6-36-1) and DB Wayne Wade (8, Missing the 1st quarter including 2 Tampa Bay TD's, 1 Disc, Sunshine Network - Unknown, NTSC)
2001
Regular Season - Carolina Cobras (68) @ (99) New York Dragons - In a record-setting game, the Dragons and the Cobras played out the highest scoring AFL game ever. Dragons QB Aaron Garcia (27-37-378-11) set a single game record for TD passes while Dragons WR Kevin Swayne (11-171-7) tied the single game TD catches record. Cobras QB Fred McNair (20-28-268-5) and WR Aaron Bailey (13-181-4) also had big games (9, Player-to-Recorder copy, 2 Discs, TNN - Gold/Davis/Arrington, NTSC)
2003
Regular Season - Dallas Desperados (65) @ (64) Arizona Rattlers - The Desperados ended a 2 game losing streak with a big overtime win against the Rattlers. Both QB's had big games, with Dallas QB Jim Kubiak (33-45-387-7) and Arizona QB Sherdrick Bonner (24-36-338-8) scoring freely. Arizona forced overtime with a FG with 49 seconds left then gambled on a 2 point conversion in OT and failed, leaving the door open for Dallas to score and kick the PAT for the win. Dallas also featured WR's Andy McCullough (12-130-2) and Dialleo Burks (12-130-2) + LB Jermaine Jones (5 tackles). Arizona also featured WR's Tom Pace (6-89-2 + 2 tackles) and Hunkie Cooper (5-44-1 + 5 tackles) (9, 2 Discs, NBC - Hammond/Haden, PAL)
2005
Regular Season - Las Vegas Gladiators (56) @ (49) Philadelphia Soul - Las Vegas overcame a slow start to sensationally win on a TD pass with 1 second left. The Soul led 21-7 in the 2nd quarter, thanks to QB Tony Graziani (17-31-214-3), but the Gladiators fought back in the 2nd half, led by QB Clint Dolezel (28-43-341-8) who threw a 27 yard TD pass to Joe Douglass with 1 second left to win the game (9, 2 Discs, NBC - Papa/Bentley/Sikahema, PAL)
ArenaBowl 19 - Colorado Crush (51) v (48) Georgia Force - In a tight game at the Thomas and Mack Center in Las Vegas, the Crush won their 1st ever ArenaBowl title. The game started uncharacteristically with the first 6 TD's coming from runs but both QB's warmed up in the 2nd half. Led by QB Matt Nagy (24-36-247-4) the Force tied the game with 18 seconds left but the Crush, led by QB John Dutton (23-41-347-3) moved downfield to set up the game-winning 20 yard FG as time expired. The win gave Crush GM John Elway his 1st ArenaBowl title (9, 2 Discs, NBC - Hammond/Haden, PAL)
2007
Regular Season - Los Angeles Avengers (44) @ (37) Orlando Predators - Los Angeles survived a last play FG attempt by Orlando to win the game in regulation and won the game on a 4th down batted down pass by the defense. LA QB Sonny Cumbie (32-48-340-5) out-shone his Orlando counterpart Shane Stafford (22-46-274-3) and led his team to the overtime win (9, 2 Discs, ESPN - Jaworski/Hoge, PAL)