May 28, 2005

Mason takes down AFL single-season tackle record

(Photo courtesy of the ARENA FOOTBALL LEAGUE)

Grand Rapids Rampage defensive specialist and Destrehan graduate Damon Mason broke the AFL single-season tackle record with a 17-tackle performance against the Los Angeles Avengers on Saturday.

In that game he also set team records for tackles in a game (17.0), tackles in a season (84.0), pass breakups in a game (eight) and tied Cecil Doggette's record for most pass breakups in a season (29) in just nine games played. Mason played in six games for the Orlando Predators at the beginning of the season. Overall, he also recorded the third-most pass breakups in league history (34).

Earlier in the season, Mason became the all-time leading tackler in AFL history and now stands at 727.5. In the L.A. game, he became the first player in AFL history to play 17 regular season games in back-to-back seasons.