ARENA FOOTBALL

• Playoffs begin with Wild Card match-ups

  
  

  (Courtesy of Arena Football) New York, NY (Sports Network) - The Mitsubishi Motors Drive to Virgin Mobile ArenaBowl XXII New Orleans gets underway Friday and concludes with a Monday night doubleheader on ESPN2.

  For the first time in its 22-year history, the AFL will debut instant replay for all postseason games. Each coach will have a total of two (2) challenges per game that can be used at anytime during regulation.

  Coaches will be equipped with a red "challenge" flag to be thrown on the field to alert officials that they wish to challenge a play. Reviewable plays will include: scoring, change of possession, fan interference and, at the referee?s discretion, game administration.

  For the first time in team history, the #3 Dallas Desperados (13-3) welcome the New York #6 Dragons (8-8) to American Airlines Center for postseason action on Russell Athletic ESPN Arena Football Friday, June 27 at 7:30 p.m. ET (ESPN HD, ESPN360.com, SIRIUS Radio - Channel 127) in a National Conference match up.

  Dallas ended the regular season winning five of its last eight, including a 51-49 victory over New York at home in Week 16.

  Desperados QB CLINT DOLEZEL looks to lead Dallas into the Divisional Round for the third consecutive season with a victory. Dallas is 2-3 all-time at home during the playoffs and 1-1 all-time during the Wild Card Round.

  After beginning its season 1-4, New York has won seven of its final 11 games on its way to its 10th playoff berth in 14 seasons (including Iowa). The Dragons are 1-2 all-time in the Wild Card Round.

  New York QB AARON GARCIA needs 211 passing yards and four passing touchdowns to move into seventh place all-time in both postseason categories. The Desperados lead the all-time series 8-3, are 4-2 all-time at home against the Dragons including three in a row dating back to 2006.

  The #5 Colorado Crush (6-10) travel to EnergySolutions Arena to face the #4 Utah Blaze (6-10) on Russell Athletic ESPN Arena Football Saturday, June 28 at 4 p.m. ET (ESPN HD, ESPN360.com, SIRIUS Radio - Channel 127) in an American Conference match up.

  After an 0-9 start, the Blaze won six of its final seven games to clinch its third consecutive playoff berth and climb up to the fourth seed.

  Utah?s offense is anchored by QB JOE GERMAINE, who is one of only two (Chris Greisen, Georgia) players to throw for 4,800-or-more yards in consecutive seasons (5,005 - 2007; 4,859 - 2008).

  The Blaze also has an explosive receiving corps in WR AARON BOONE, WR/LB HUEY WHITTAKER and WR/LB J.J. MCKELVEY. Each receiver ranked in the top 12 in both receptions and receiving yards while becoming the first trio in professional football history to each amass 100 receptions, 1,000 receiving yards and 20 receiving touchdowns in a single season.

  Colorado enters the postseason for the fifth consecutive season and is 2-0 on the road all-time in first round games.

  Crush QB JOHN DUTTON holds an 8-3 postseason record and needs six touchdowns to become the fifth player to record 60 career. Colorado is 3-2 all-time on the road during the postseason although Utah leads the all-time series against the Crush 3-0.

  The #4 Cleveland Gladiators (9-7) welcome the #5 Orlando Predators (9-7) to Quicken Loans Arena in the first game of a Monday night doubleheader on Russell Athletic ESPN Arena Football Monday, June 30 at 7 p.m. ET (ESPN2 HD, ESPN360.com, SIRIUS Radio - Channel 127) in a National Conference match up.

  Orlando enters the postseason for a record 17th consecutive season and will face a Cleveland franchise in the postseason for the first time since Orlando?s first playoff game against the Cleveland Thunderbolts in 1992.

  The Predators are 3-3 all-time on the road in the first round of the playoffs and advanced to the ArenaBowl after two of the three opening round road victories.

  Orlando head coach JAY GRUDEN can tie Chicago Rush head coach MIKE HOHENSEE for the fourth-most postseason victories in AFL history with a win (12).

  Cleveland has won six of its last 10, including four of its last five at home. The Gladiators are making their first postseason appearance since 2003 and are hosting their first home playoff contest since a 49-46 loss to Orlando in 2002 (while in New Jersey).

  The Predators lead the all-time regular-season series 7-3 and are 2-0 against the Gladiators in postseason play.

  The #6 Grand Rapids Rampage (6-10) travel to US Airways Center to face the #3 Arizona Rattlers (8-8) in the second-half of the Monday night doubleheader on Russell Athletic ESPN Arena Football Monday, June 30 at 9:30 p.m. ET (ESPN2 HD, ESPN360.com, SIRIUS Radio - Channel 127) in an American Conference match up.

  This will be the first postseason meeting between the two teams with Arizona making its first playoff appearance since 2006 and Grand Rapids making its first postseason since 2003. This will also be a match up between two head coaches in KEVIN GUY (Arizona) and STEVE THONN (Grand Rapids) who can secure their first career postseason win.

  Arizona QB MATT SAUK and Grand Rapids QB JAMES MACPHERSON will each be making their postseason debut. The Rattlers hold a 14-3 first-round record overall.

  Grand Rapids ended the regular season on a three-game winning streak for the first time since 2001, when the Rampage won ArenaBowl XV.

  Arizona defeated Grand Rapids, 52-48, in Week 13 at US Airways Center and leads the all-time series 5-2.

  06/26 09:59:18 ET