2008 Arena Football League season

2008 Arena Football League season
LeagueArena Football League
SportArena football
DurationFebruary 29, 2008 – July 27, 2008
Regular season
Season championsPhiladelphia Soul
Season MVPMatt D'Orazio, PHI
AFL Playoffs
National Conference championsPhiladelphia Soul
  National Conference runners-upCleveland Gladiators
American Conference championsSan Jose SaberCats
  American Conference runners-upGrand Rapids Rampage
ArenaBowl XXII
ChampionsPhiladelphia Soul
  Runners-upSan Jose SaberCats
Finals MVPMatt D'Orazio, PHI
AFL seasons
2008 Arena Football League season is located in the United States
Bridgade
Bridgade
Crush
Crush
Rampage
Rampage
Rush
Rush
Avengers
Avengers
Blaze
Blaze
Rattlers
Rattlers
SaberCats
SaberCats
Force
Force
Predators
Predators
Storm
Storm
VooDoo
VooDoo
Desperados
Desperados
Destroyers
Destroyers
Dragons
Dragons
Gladiators
Gladiators
Soul
Soul
National: Eastern, Southern
American: Western, Central

The 2008 Arena Football League season was the 22nd season of the Arena Football League and final season before the 2009 season cancellation and subsequent bankruptcy of the original AFL corporate entity. The regular season began play on February 29, 2008 and concluded on June 22. The playoffs began the following week, and ArenaBowl XXII was held in New Orleans, Louisiana on July 27 between the National Conference champion Philadelphia Soul and the American Conference champion San Jose SaberCats. This game was won by the Soul, 59–56.

Prior to the season, it was announced that the Austin Wranglers would move to the af2, and the Nashville Kats folded, thus leaving the league with 17 teams. The Las Vegas Gladiators relocated to Cleveland.

Standings

National Conference
Eastern Division
Team W L PCT PF PA DIV CONF Home Away
Philadelphia Soul(1) 13 3 .813 992 810 7–1 9–2 7–1 6–2
Dallas Desperados(3) 12 4 .750 861 798 6–2 9–2 6–2 6–2
Cleveland Gladiators(4) 9 7 .563 901 895 4–4 5–6 6–2 3–5
New York Dragons(6) 8 8 .500 822 819 2–6 4–7 5–3 3–5
Columbus Destroyers 3 13 .188 750 893 1–7 2–10 2–6 1–7
Southern Division
Team W L PCT PF PA DIV CONF Home Away
Georgia Force(2) 10 6 .625 927 848 3–3 6–4 6–2 4–4
Orlando Predators(5) 9 7 .563 881 898 3–3 4–6 5–3 4–4
New Orleans VooDoo 8 8 .500 893 835 2–4 4–6 6–2 2–6
Tampa Bay Storm 8 8 .500 903 876 4–2 5–5 5–3 3–5
American Conference
Central Division
Team W L PCT PF PA DIV CONF Home Away
Chicago Rush(1) 11 5 .688 926 765 6–0 9–1 6–2 5–3
Colorado Crush(5) 6 10 .375 847 909 2–4 4–6 4–4 2–6
Grand Rapids Rampage(6) 6 10 .375 952 968 3–3 4–6 3–5 3–5
Kansas City Brigade 3 13 .188 752 923 1–5 1–9 2–6 1–7
Western Division
Team W L PCT PF PA DIV CONF Home Away
San Jose SaberCats(2) 11 5 .688 945 875 6–0 9–1 6–2 5–3
Arizona Rattlers(3) 8 8 .500 842 907 1–5 3–7 3–5 5–3
Utah Blaze(4) 6 10 .375 941 959 2–4 6–4 4–4 2–6
Los Angeles Avengers 5 11 .313 847 1004 3–3 4–6 4–4 1–7
  •   Clinched playoff berth
  •   Clinched division
  •   Clinched division and have conference's best record

Source: ArenaFan.com[1]

Playoffs

Wild Card Playoffs Divisional Playoffs Conference Championships ArenaBowl XXII
            
4 Cleveland 73
2 Georgia 70
4 Cleveland 69
5 Orlando 66
4 Cleveland 35
National Conference
1 Philadelphia 70
3 Dallas 63
6 New York 77
6 New York 48
1 Philadelphia 49
N1 Philadelphia 59
A2 San Jose 56
6 Grand Rapids 58
1 Chicago 41
3 Arizona 41
6 Grand Rapids 48
6 Grand Rapids 55
American Conference
2 San Jose 81
4 Utah 44
5 Colorado 49
5 Colorado 51
2 San Jose 64

Regular season statistics

Passing

Player Comp. Att. Comp% Yards TD's INT's Rating
Matt D'Orazio, PHI 301 416 72.4% 3,331 72 4 131.3
Raymond Philyaw, CLE 357 514 69.5% 4,320 83 10 126.5
Joe Germaine, UTA 411 605 67.9% 4,869 97 13 122.9
Russ Michna, CHI 239 351 68.1% 2,721 57 7 122.4
Chris Greisen, GEO 399 585 65.9% 4,956 97 17 121.7

Rushing

Player Car. Yards Avg. TD's
Marlion Jackson, CLE 105 353 3.2 23
Josh White, DAL 88 265 3.0 8
Dawan Moss, KC 86 244 2.8 10
Dan Alexander, CHI 70 241 3.4 12
Harold Wells, CLB 103 224 2.2 17

Receiving

Player Rec. Yards Avg. TD's
Derek Lee, CLB 142 1,762 12.4 32
Chris Jackson, PHI 140 1,692 12.1 49
T.T. Toliver, ORL 118 1,645 13.9 31
Jason Willis, NY 136 1,555 11.4 30
Huey Whittaker, UTA 126 1,547 12.3 32

All-Arena team

Offense
Position First team Second team
Quarterback Matt D'Orazio, Philadelphia Joe Germaine, Utah
Fullback Marlion Jackson, Cleveland Brian Johnson, San Jose
Center Will Rabatin, Columbus Kyle Moore-Brown, Colorado
Offensive lineman Phil Bogle, Philadelphia
Martin Bibla, Philadelphia
Howard Duncan, Columbus
Ryan Hayslip, Georgia
Wide receiver Chris Jackson, Philadelphia
Huey Whittaker, Utah
T.T. Toliver, Orlando
Otis Amey, Cleveland
Kenny Higgins, Grand Rapids
Damian Harrell, Chicago
Defense
Position First team Second team
Defensive lineman Aaron McConnell, Colorado
Colston Weatherington, Dallas
Henry Taylor, New York
Bryan Save, Philadelphia
Gabe Nyenhuis, Philadelphia
Tim McGill, Tampa Bay
Middle linebacker Steve Watson, San Jose Duke Pettijohn, Dallas
Jack linebacker DeJuan Alfonzo, Chicago Norman LeJeune, New Orleans
Defensive back Dennison Robinson, Chicago
Marquis Floyd, San Jose
Billy Parker, New York
Clevan Thomas, San Jose
Eddie Moten, Philadelphia
Kenny McEntyre, Orlando
Special teams
Position First team Second team
Kicker A. J. Haglund, San Jose Remy Hamilton, Dallas

References