PITTSBURGH (June 26, 2014) – The Pittsburgh Power (11-3) head south to Florida for a matchup with the Jacksonville Sharks (5-8.) Kickoff for Saturday night’s showdown is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. ET. The game will be featured on CBS Sports Network as the Net 10 Wireless Arena Football Saturday game of the week. The game will also air on TribLIVE Radio with Daniel Dudley and Mike Logan calling the action.
THE GAME:
Jacksonville Sharks (5-8) vs. Pittsburgh Power (11-3)
Saturday, June 28, 2014 – 7:00 p.m. ET
Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena – Jacksonville, FL
TV: CBS Sports Network
Radio: TribLIVE Radio
All-Time Series: Jacksonville leads 4-0
LAST WEEK:
The Pittsburgh Power clinched their first ever playoff berth with a 57-27 win over the Iowa Barnstormers. Pittsburgh outscored the Barnstormers 36-7 in the second half, shutting Iowa out in the final frame. The Power were led offensively by Tommy Grady who finished the game with 334 yards and seven touchdown passes. The win was Pittsburgh’s eighth-straight and they have not lost since April.
The Jacksonville Sharks had their best defensive performance of the season as they rolled the New Orleans VooDoo 54-13 on the road. The Sharks allowed the fewest points ever in the history of their franchise and recorded a season-high 9 sacks.
POWER OFFENSE TO WATCH:
Tommy Grady moved into 13th place all time in Arena Football History for passing yards in the Power’s win over the Barnstormers passing AFL Hall of Famer and Head Coach of the Washington Redskins, Jay Gruden. Grady now chases Tony Graziani, needing 1,862 yards to climb another step closer to the Top 10.
Power WR Prechae Rodriguez hauled in another two touchdowns against Iowa giving him 18 on the season which ties him for the fourth most in Power history. Rodriguez has had multiple touchdowns in every game he has played in 2014 except for one.
SHARKS OFFENSE TO WATCH:
Three weeks ago the Sharks acquired wide receiver Maurice Williams from the LA KISS. Williams, a Pitt product, has averaged a touchdown a game since joining Jacksonville. Williams faced off with the Power in Week 10 when he was with the KISS recording five receptions for 52 yards and three touchdowns.
POWER DEFENSE TO WATCH:
Power DB Al Phillips recorded 13 tackles against the Iowa Barnstormers, which set a new franchise record. Phillips leads the Power in 2014 with 61 tackles, which is the fifth most in Power history for a single season. Phillips has also picked off four passes this season for the Power secondary.
Curtis Young recorded his fifth sack of the season against Iowa and it gave the Power a safety late in the contest. In two seasons with the Power, Young has recorded six sacks.
SHARKS DEFENSE TO WATCH:
Sharks DB Terrance Smith is tied for the third most interceptions in the AFL this season with eight. He has taken two of his picks back for scores. He is third on Jacksonville’s defense with 30.5 tackles.
In their win over New Orleans, the Sharks showed they can get after the quarterback. The men leading the push up front for Jacksonville are Jerry Turner and former Power defensive lineman Justin Parrish. Both players have recorded a team-leading 6.5 sacks in 2014.