08/17/2012 12:09 PM
It’s hard to believe the 25th season is already in the books. It was quite the season; and when it is all said and done, the 25th season of Arena Football was one for the ages.
Records were shattered and the excitement of this wonderful game was certainly there. We saw the barnburners. We saw the blowouts. We saw the heartbreak, we saw the drama, we saw the close of legends careers and we mourned for those that were lost.
But most of all, we saw the game. And as soon as the 25th season came, it went.
This week, I will be counting down the Top 5 Moments of the Silver Anniversary Season. And coming in second on the countdown is…
2. Record Breakers
It’s only fitting that the Silver Anniversary season was filled with mind-blowing statistics. Why was 2012 different from any other season? Of course, it could be attributed to the 18-game schedule but why didn’t we have such heightened numbers last year when the League transitioned to 18 games? Nearly every quarterback in the postseason had the best statistical year of their career. And that includes the longtime veterans in Mark Grieb and Aaron Garcia.
For your reading pleasure, let’s circle back to the records that were shattered in 2012.
ARIZONA RATTLERS QB NICK DAVILA became the first quarterback in pro football history to record three consecutive 100-touchdown seasons.
CLEVELAND GLADIATORS QB JOHN DUTTON became the sixth passer in pro football history to join the “700 Club”, tossing his 700th career touchdown in Week 7.
CHICAGO RUSH WR REGGIE GRAY became “Chicago’s Touchdown King” in Week 9, breaking the franchise record for most touchdowns in a career. Gray now has 105 touchdowns to his name.
The PHILADELPHIA SOUL became the first team in AFL history to begin a season with eight consecutive 60+ point games.
The PITTSBURGH POWER rallied from 31 points down to defeat the ORLANDO PREDATORS in Week 6, completing the largest comeback in AFL history.
SAN ANTONIO TALONS QB AARON GARCIA broke LAWRENCE SAMUELS’s AFL record for most regular seasons games played in a career. Garcia finished 2012 with 209 games played.
SPOKANE SHOCK QB KYLE ROWLEY broke the AFL’s single-game passing touchdowns record after throwing 12 touchdown passes in Week 16. UTAH BLAZE QB TOMMY GRADY tied the mark in Week 19.
SAN JOSE SABERCATS QB MARK GRIEB became just the third player in pro football history to record 900 touchdown passes in a career in Week 16. In Week 17, he became the first quarterback in AFL history to notch back-to-back 5,000-yard passing seasons.
SAN JOSE SABERCATS DL JOE SYKES broke the AFL’s single-season record for sacks with 16 in 2012.
UTAH BLAZE QB TOMMY GRADY broke the AFL’s single-season passing touchdowns record by tossing his 118th score of the season in Week 16. He finished the year with 142 passing scores. Grady also broke the single-season AFL record for passing yards (5,870), attempts (743) and completions (507).
ARIZONA RATTLERS WR MAURICE PURIFY broke the AFL’s ArenaBowl record for receiving touchdowns in a single game with seven.
The countdown will continue tomorrow with the greatest moment of 2012.
TOP 5 MOMENTS OF THE 2012 SEASON
5. Naming the 2012 AFL Hall of Fame Class
4. Capozzoli Kicks the Sharks into American Conference Championship
3. Aaron Garcia and his San Antonio Talons
2. Record Breakers
