Former Orange Starring In The Arena Football League

Five former Orange football standouts are currently enjoying careers in the Arena Football League, and four of them have led their respective teams to the AFL playoffs that begin this weekend. Duke Pettijohn and Ricky Simpkins both play for the Dallas Desperados, which had the best record in the league this season. Wilky Bazile plays for the Las Vegas Gladiators, Jerry Sharp suits up for the Arizona Rattlers, and Sir Mawn Wilson is currently with the Austin Wranglers.

Pettijohn and Simpkins helped lead the Desperados to a 13-3 record in the regular season and a bye in the first round of the playoffs. Dallas will host a divisional round game at the American Airlines Center on May 27. The game is slated for 3:30 p.m. and will be televised nationally by NBC. It is the first playoff game that Dallas will host since 2003.

Pettijohn, a full back and linebacker in his fifth season in the league, has rushed 35 times for 80 yards and a pair of touchdowns. He has also caught seven passes for 90 yards, a 12.9 average, and a touchdown. On the defensive side of the ball, he has amassed 38 tackles, including 36 solo, and three sacks.

Pettijohn was a two-time All-BIG EAST performer while at Syracuse. In 1999, he was named to the first team and then in 2000 he was a member of the second team. He finished his Orange career 105 tackles, including 86 solo stops. He also amassed 24.5 sacks at Syracuse, third on the all-time list.

Simpkins is a part of the offensive line that leads one of the most potent air attacks in arena football. He anchors a line that blocks for Clint Dolezel who has thrown a league-leading 99 touchdowns passes this season. Dolezel has amassed 4,417 yards through the air, which ranks third in the AFL. Simpkins is also in his fifth year of AFL service.

Simpkins was a All-BIG EAST Second Team honoree in 2000. On the defensive line, he compiled 161 tackles in his Orange career, including 68 solo tackles. He also racked up seven sacks in his four years on The Hill.

Sharp, a lineman for the Rattlers in his 12^th season in the league, has compiled 14 tackles, including nine solo stops this season. Arizona, a two-time ArenaBowl champion, will host the Utah Blaze on May 20 at US Airways Arena. That game is slated for 5:00 p.m. on OLN.

Sharp earned two letters at Syracuse in 1991 and 1992 as an offensive lineman.

Wilson is in his eighth AFL season and plays wide receiver and line backer for the Austin Wranglers. Austin finished 10-6 this year and will host the Philadelphia Soul on May 21 at 3:00 p.m. on NBC. Wilson caught 12 passes this season for 105 yards, an 8.8 per catch average. He has also caught two touchdowns passes. On defense, he has registered 16 tackles, including 13 solo, and an interception.

Wilson caught 43 passes at Syracuse for 609 yards and a touchdown. He returned one kickoff in his career in 1993 which he returned for 86 yards and a touchdown. He also had one rush that same year, a 66-yard burst.

Bazile is in his 11^th season in the AFL as a lineman. This year, he recorded 14.5 tackles, including 12 solo, and 3.5 sacks. The Las Vegas Gladiators finished the season 5-11. In 2004, Bazile was the Columbus Destroyers’ Ironman of the Year.

In Orange, Bazile amassed 103 tackles, including 59 solo stops. He also sacked the quarterback 12.5 times in his four years.

ArenaBowl XX is scheduled for Sunday, June 11 at 3:00 p.m. It will be televised live on NBC from the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas.

Syracuse University Athletics

Former Orange Starring In The Arena Football League

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