AFL: Georgia A "Force" to Be Reckoned With

At the halfway point of the season, the Georgia Force had a 3-5 record, and were on the outside of the playoff hunt.

Since that point, they have been the hottest team in the AFL, having won a franchise-record six consecutive games. The winning streak took them from third to first in their division, and third in the league-wide power poll. They are also in second place in the National Conference playoff standings heading into the final two games of the season.

When looking for a reason for the turn around, one needs to look no further than the Georgia offense.

In the offense-oriented game of Arena football, the Force are as good as it gets.  They have lead the league in total offense most of the season with help from a handful of playmakers.

Receiver Troy Bergeron became only the third player in the history of the AFL to register 1,000 receiving yards three years in a row, having tallied 1156 yards to date. He has a total of 81 catches for 21 touchdowns.

Probably the most impressive fact about Bergeron is that he has been a standout in Arena football having never played a down of college ball.

The only player on the team making more big plays than Bergeron is rookie wide receiver Tiger Jones.  Jones, who was named AFL Rookie of the Month for May, has 84 receptions for 1156 yards and 27 scores, making him a legit Rookie of the Year candidate.

Force quarterback and AFL Offensive Player of the Month Chris Greisen is the catalyst of the offense. He has completed 350 passes on 512 attempts for 4,293 yards and 83 touchdowns.  His yards, touchdowns, and passer rating of 123 put him in second place in the league in each of those categories.

As offense heavy as this game is, a team still has to have a solid defense to get to the top of the heap.

Georgia's defense is lead by defensive back Stephen Cason.  His 68 tackles are tops on the team, and he also has an interception.

Up front, the defense is anchored by Ernest Allen. The defensive lineman has registered five sacks for the season, and one of them caused a key fumble which resulted in a Force score in a game against the New Orleans Voodoo on May 3.

Defensive back/linebacker Cam Newton leads the team in interceptions with four. The former Furman standout returned three of those for touchdowns, to go along with his 52 total tackles.

The Force look to continue their winning ways, and clinch a playoff spot on June 14 as they play host to the Central Division-leading Chicago Rush (10-4).

The Rush come into the game having lost two of their last three, and will be looking to right the ship against the Force.

Georgia will close out the regular season with a trip to San Jose, California to take on the defending Arenabowl champion SaberCats.

The 'Cats are tops in the Western Division of the American Conference. They bring a 9-5 record into the contest, but have yet to beat a National Conference team this season.

The Force made it all the way to the conference finals last season before being upset by the Columbus Destroyers.

They are hoping their late season hot streak will be enough to get them over the hurdle that snagged them last year, and move them on to their ultimate goal, an Arena Bowl Championship.