The 2012 South Division Champion Jacksonville Sharks announced Tuesday that defensive back Bill Alford has been activated from inactive reserve. In addition, quarterback R.J. Archer has been activated from league suspension.

The 31-year-old Alford (5’9”, 190) started the first seven games of the 2013 season before suffering an injury in the team’s Week 7 loss to the Arizona Rattlers. Making six starts at Jack linebacker and one at defensive back, Alford has totaled 17 tackles (13 solo), 0.5 tackles for loss, three pass breakups and one interception to this point in the year.

Alford is in his fourth year with the Sharks, and is one of four players to suit up for Jacksonville in every season of the franchise’s existence. Alford became one of the first players to join the Sharks’ 2013 squad, agreeing to a two-year contract on October 24, 2012.

Alford finished third on the team with three interceptions in 2012 and was the only Shark to return multiple interceptions for touchdowns last season. Alford also recorded 10 pass breakups and both forced and recovered a fumble in 2012. In 2011, his second year in Jacksonville, Alford notched 40 total tackles, a career-high total of 2.5 tackles for loss, five pass breakups and two interceptions during the regular season. Alford’s biggest play of 2011 came in the American Conference Championship, as he hauled in an interception with under a minute left to seal a Shark victory over the Georgia Force.

In his rookie 2010 season, Alford started each of Jacksonville’s 16 regular-season games, recording eight pass breakups and recovering a pair of fumbles.

Before beginning his professional career, Alford completed his collegiate football career at Vanderbilt. He was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Baltimore Ravens in 2005, and also spent time with the NFL’s Denver Broncos and Atlanta Falcons as well as the Frankfurt Galaxy of NFL Europe.

The 25-year-old Archer (6’2”, 220) had been placed on league suspension on Monday, June 10 in anticipation of an excused personal absence. Archer is in his first year in Jacksonville and has appeared in five games to this point in the 2013 season, starting the team’s Week 9 matchup against the San Jose SaberCats. With Jacksonville, Archer has completed 52 of his 77 pass attempts (67.5%) for 509 yards, nine touchdowns and three interceptions. He has also totaled 25 rushing yards on four attempts.

Archer is in his third AFL season, as he spent the 2012 season with the Georgia Force. In 11 games at the helm of Georgia’s offense, Archer completed 229 of his 382 pass attempts for 2,446 yards and 49 touchdowns against 12 interceptions. Archer also finished the 2012 season as the Force’s third-leading rusher, as he gained 43 yards and a touchdown on seven carries. Archer got his first AFL experience with the Milwaukee Mustangs in 2011. That year, Archer completed just over 59 percent of his passes and threw 27 touchdown passes. Archer also finished third among Mustangs in rushing, gaining 35 yards on the ground to go along with five rushing touchdowns.

To make room for Alford and Archer on the active roster, the team announced that fullback Rendrick Taylor has been placed on injured reserve, and quarterback Lee Chapple has been placed on recallable reassignment. In addition offensive lineman Wondell Rutledge has been placed on refused to report, retroactive to June 15.

The Sharks return to the playing field on Saturday, June 22, hosting the Cleveland Gladiators on Sea Best Field at the Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena. Kickoff is set for 7:00 p.m.

About the Jacksonville Sharks

The Jacksonville Sharks are members of the Arena Football League (AFL). The ArenaBowl XXIV and back-to-back-to-back South Division Champions are presented by Sea Best Seafood and play all home games on Sea Best Field at the Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena. Season Tickets for the 2013 season are still available, two tickets as low as $105. To reserve your season tickets, or for more information, please call (904) 621-0700. Follow the Sharks on facebook at facebook.com/jaxsharks and on Twitter @jaxsharks, as well as the Attack Dance Team at facebook.com/sharkattackdance and Chum at facebook.com/chumsharks.

About the AFL

Since its inception in 1987, the Arena Football League has showcased its fast-paced and exciting game to millions of fans in a myriad of markets across the country. CBS Sports Network will broadcast an AFL National Game of the Week on Saturday nights for the entire regular season and postseason through the semifinal round. The ArenaBowl XXVI Championship Game will air on the CBS Television Network on August 17, 2013.

Orlando Magic and New Orleans Pelicans to Face Off in October

JACKSONVILLE, Fla., June 18, 2013 — Continuing Jacksonville’s momentum as a destination for sports and entertainment, Mayor Alvin Brown announced today that the NBA’s Orlando Magic and New Orleans Pelicans will kick off their 2013-14 season with a preseason game on Oct. 9.

An interactive fan venue will be located outside the Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena on game day. The event will include a salute to members of the military and veterans community, which are an integral part of Jacksonville.

“This is a great opportunity to shine the spotlight on Jacksonville and show the NBA the promise our city holds in the future,” Brown said. “In addition to the game, we are proud to create this partnership with the NBA as we honor the brave men and women of the military who put themselves in harm’s way to protect us and the freedoms we hold dear.”

This event marks the third time the Magic have played in Jacksonville and the first since 2008. It will be the first game in Jacksonville for the newly named Pelicans, who will debut new uniforms.

“We are extremely excited to open the 2013 preseason in the city of Jacksonville,” said Orlando Magic CEO Alex Martins. “It is always a pleasure to bring NBA basketball to fans in Northeast Florida, and we look forward to seeing them all at Veterans Memorial Arena.”

The event will provide a chance for the Jacksonville community to see up-and-coming stars on both teams, while combining the experience of NBA near Downtown at Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena.

Tickets are on sale now at the Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena Box Office, all Ticketmaster outlets, online at www.Ticketmaster.com, or by phone at 1-800-745-3000. Seats start for little as $15, with courtside seats available for $250 each. For more information on sponsorships or VIP opportunities, contact the City of Jacksonville Sports & Entertainment office at (904) 630-3697.

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The 2012 South Division Champion Jacksonville Sharks and the Arena Football League announced Tuesday that wide receiver Jeron Harvey has been awarded the Cutters Catch of the Week for his leaping touchdown grab in the third quarter of the Sharks’ most recent game against the Spokane Shock.

On fourth-and-five from the Spokane 23 yard line, Shark quarterback R.J. Archer dropped back and fired a pass toward Harvey in the back-left corner of the end zone. After beating a Spokane defender, Harvey jumped toward the wall to reach for the pass. After he got both hands on the ball, Harvey’s momentum carried him over the boards as he tumbled down into an open corner. The sure-handed receiver was able to hang onto the ball and secure his team-leading 26th touchdown catch of the season. A video clip of Harvey’s catch may be found here.

Though Jacksonville lost the game by a 76-41 score, Harvey put together an impressive performance in defeat, catching a team-high nine passes for 123 yards and two touchdowns. The fourth-year pro is in the midst of an impressive hot streak, as Harvey has now caught a touchdown pass in eight consecutive games and racked up five 100-yard games in the Sharks’ last six contests.

For the season, Harvey leads the Sharks in every major receiving category with totals of 97 receptions for 1,027 yards and 26 touchdowns. In fact, he is on pace to set a new career high in each of those areas, as his current personal bests stand at 101 receptions (2012), 1,077 receiving yards (2011) and 31 receiving touchdowns (2011). Harvey has also totaled 17 yards on six rushing attempts and made three solo tackles.

Harvey becomes the fifth Shark player to win a weekly League award this season. Defensive lineman Jerry Turner was named the Riddell Defensive Player of the Week for Week 2, while wide receiver Jeff Hughley earned both the J. Lewis Small Playmaker of the Week and AFL Highlight of the Week honors in Week 4. Finally, defensive back Tracy Belton was selected as the Defensive Player of the Week for Week 6.

Harvey and the Sharks will play their second consecutive road game against a West Division opponent this weekend, as the team faces the Utah Blaze on Saturday, June 15 at 9:00 p.m. Saturday’s game will air live on CBS Sports Network and on AM 600 WBOB. The Sharks return home to host the Cleveland Gladiators on Sea Best Field on Saturday, June 22.

About the Jacksonville Sharks



The Jacksonville Sharks are members of the Arena Football League (AFL). The ArenaBowl XXIV and back-to-back-to-back South Division Champions are presented by Sea Best Seafood and play all home games on Sea Best Field at the Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena. Season Tickets for the 2013 season are still available, two tickets as low as $105. To reserve your season tickets, or for more information, please call (904) 621-0700. Follow the Sharks on facebook at facebook.com/jaxsharks and on Twitter @jaxsharks, as well as the Attack Dance Team at facebook.com/sharkattackdance and Chum at facebook.com/chumsharks.

About the AFL

Since its inception in 1987, the Arena Football League has showcased its fast-paced and exciting game to millions of fans in a myriad of markets across the country. CBS Sports Network will broadcast an AFL National Game of the Week on Saturday nights for the entire regular season and postseason through the semifinal round. The ArenaBowl XXVI Championship Game will air on the CBS Television Network on August 17, 2013.

The 2012 South Division Champion Jacksonville Sharks announced Monday that the team has been assigned quarterbacks Kyle Rowley and Lee Chapple. Per team policy, terms of the deals were not disclosed.

“We were put in a situation where we needed to act quickly, and we are excited to bring aboard a player with the championship experience of Kyle Rowley,” Sharks head coach Les Moss said. “He is a quarterback with a long history of success in the indoor game, and we expect him to step in and help our team win games. In addition, Lee Chapple is a young talent who did a great job of competing during training camp, and is already familiar with our system and personnel. We’re glad to have Lee back.”

The 34-year-old Rowley (6’0”, 195) is a fourth-year AFL veteran who began the 2013 season with the Orlando Predators. Appearing in five games with Orlando, Rowley completed 93 of his 180 passes for 1,153 yards, 18 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. Before joining the Predators, Rowley enjoyed an outstanding three-year run with the Spokane Shock.

Rowley first played with the Shock in 2010, leading the team to the ArenaBowl XXIII title in the franchise’s first season in the League. That year, Rowley completed 65.3% of his passes for 4,428 yards and 100 touchdowns against just 11 interceptions, setting what was a the time an AFL rookie record with a passer rating of 120.8. He capped that rookie season with a stellar nine-touchdown performance in ArenaBowl XXIII, earning ArenaBowl MVP honors in the process.

Returning to Spokane in 2011, Rowley again completed well over 60 percent of his passes, going 294-for-454 for 3,322 yards and 78 touchdowns. In his final year with the Shock in 2012, Rowley nearly hit the 100-touchdown mark for a second time, ending the year with 96 touchdown passes and a career-best 65.4% completion percentage. On June 23, 2012, Rowley established a new single-game AFL record by throwing 12 touchdowns against the San Jose SaberCats – though that record was tied by Utah quarterback Tommy Grady later in the season.

Prior to the start of his AFL career, Rowley gained significant experience in af2. In 2006, he led the Shock, then an af2 franchise, to an Arena Cup championship and was named the 2006 Arena Cup Offensive Player of the Game. The native of Warwick, Rhode Island spent his collegiate career at Brown University, leading the school to an Ivy League Championship in 1999.

The 23-year-old Chapple (6’1″, 215) participated in the Sharks’ training camp prior to the start of the 2013 season before being placed on recallable reassignment on March 16. Chapple is in his first season in the Arena Football League after wrapping up a stellar career at North Alabama, where he spent the final two years of his collegiate career. As a senior in 2011, Chapple led the Lions to a 9-3 regular-season record, completing 65% of his passes for 3,322 yards and 24 touchdowns against 12 interceptions. He also topped the 3,000-yard mark the previous year, totaling 3,051 yards and 21 scores against 12 interceptions as a junior in 2010. During that 2010 season, Chapple established a new single-game school record by racking up 447 passing yards in a game against Glenville State.


Chapple transferred to North Alabama after spending three years at Georgia Southern. After redshirting in 2007, he appeared in seven games as a freshman in 2008 and served as the team’s full-time starter in 2009. He completed 233 of his 360 passes (64.7%) for 1,774 yards and eight touchdowns during his final season at Georgia Southern. A native of Alpharetta, Georgia, Chapple attended Greater Atlanta Christian High School.

To make room for Rowley and Chapple on the team’s active roster, the Sharks also announced Monday that quarterback Bernard Morris has been placed on inactive reserve, and quarterback R.J. Archer has been placed on league suspension. Following the transactions, the Jacksonville roster remains at the league maximum of 24 active players.

About the Jacksonville Sharks



The Jacksonville Sharks return home on Saturday, June 22 to host the Cleveland Gladiators, with kickoff set for 7:00 p.m. The Sharks are members of the Arena Football League (AFL), and the ArenaBowl XXIV and back-to-back-to-back South Division Champions are presented by Sea Best Seafood and play all home games on Sea Best Field at the Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena. Season Tickets for the 2013 season are still available, two tickets as low as $105. To reserve your season tickets, or for more information, please call (904) 621-0700. Follow the Sharks on facebook at facebook.com/jaxsharks and on Twitter @jaxsharks, as well as the Attack Dance Team at facebook.com/sharkattackdance and Chum at facebook.com/chumsharks.

About the AFL

Since its inception in 1987, the Arena Football League has showcased its fast-paced and exciting game to millions of fans in a myriad of markets across the country. CBS Sports Network will broadcast an AFL National Game of the Week on Saturday nights for the entire regular season and postseason through the semifinal round. The ArenaBowl XXVI Championship Game will air on the CBS Television Network on August 17, 2013.

EVERBANK FIELD TO HOST TOP-RANKED MEXICAN TEAMS ON JULY 3

Two of the top-ranked teams from the premier division of Mexican soccer will face off in a friendly match at EverBank Field on July 3. Regular season champions Tigres de Monterrey (U.A.N.L.) will face the league runner-up Cruz Azul in the match that kicks off at 7:30 p.m.

“We are excited to bring this match to EverBank Field as our company’s first step in promoting the sport of soccer in the Jacksonville area,” said Dario Sala, President of Sunshine Soccer Group. “The growth of soccer in Jacksonville has been amazing and our company looks to fill the void of bringing soccer events and growing the game here.”

The match is the first for the newly formed Sunshine Soccer Group, LLC. Based in Jacksonville, its focus is on growing the game of soccer in the area and bringing friendly matches for the growing fan base as well as leading the quest to bring a major professional franchise to the community.

“This promises to be a great matchup that will shine a well-deserved international spotlight on our city,” said Jacksonville Mayor Alvin Brown. “I’m excited to welcome fans from here and afar as the appetite for professional soccer continues to grow throughout the Northeast Florida region.”

Tickets are on sale now at EverBank Field, with club seats available for $35 and general admission seats for $25. Group rates are available by calling the Arena ticket office at (904) 630-3900. Fans can also purchase tickets via Ticketmaster.com andJaxEvents.com (Click here to directly buy your tickets).

“Every day we hear from people who want more soccer in Jacksonville and we are excited to partner with Sunshine Soccer Group to bring this event to EverBank Field,” said Alan Verlander, Executive Director of Sports & Entertainment for the City of Jacksonville. “For us to continue getting top-rated friendlies, we need all of the soccer fans to buy their tickets in support of this event.”