Style points are not awarded in the Arena Football League, so don’t expect the Dragons to apologize if they pull out a victory over the Grand Rapids Rampage tonight.

After failing to score double figures in the season opener against Dallas, the Dragons have improved on a weekly basis. A victory over winless Tampa Bay stopped a two-game losing skid two weeks ago, and coach Weylan Harding’s group nearly upset undefeated Philadelphia at Nassau Coliseum last week before a comeback attempt fell just short.

Starting quarterback Aaron Garcia continues to rehab his leg, though it’s been over 13 months since he fractured his tibia last season. Rohan Davey, who started the season as the backup, is working to establish himself as the main quarterback. A victory over the Rampage at Van Andel Arena would help the Dragons improve to 2-3, with two losses coming against teams with a combined record of 10-0.

Against the Soul, Davey lost two fumbles and threw two interceptions, contributing to five Dragons turnovers overall. At 1-3, the Rampage are last in the 19-team league in pass defense, generating just two picks in four games. Only Tampa Bay has surrendered more passing touchdowns than Grand Rapids, who have been torched for 30 touchdowns and 1,177 yards by opposing quarterbacks.

Mike Horacek, the AFL’s ninth-leading receiver, will look to add to his nine touchdowns and 497 receiving yards, which lead all Dragons wide outs. Kevin Swayne (313 yards and five touchdowns) will try to alleviate the pressure on his new teammate and score early against a struggling secondary.

Former Dragon Angel Estrada joins Chuck Wesley and Jerome Riley as the Grand Rapids defensive backs that will look to prevent Davey from putting up another eight-touchdown performance like he recorded against the Soul.

Davey is still getting acclimated to the indoor game after serving as the backup to Tom Brady on the Super Bowl-winning Patriots. The former LSU star also served time on the Arizona Cardinals practice squad before coming to New York, and his acclimation to the indoor game is progressing as he gets set to make his fourth start in the league.

“He’s getting there. He’s enjoyed success at every level,” said Harding about Davey, who won an SEC championship in college. “What you see in him is intangibles. He’s a leader. You see a guy that wants to do it. You see a guy who is tough as nails.”

The Dragons need their new passer to develop consistency quickly, as both the Soul and Desperados built sizable early leads in the Eastern Division. Dallas is 6-0, while Philadelphia enters the end of the week 4-0. There are four wild card spots available, but Harding said it is too early to concede the division title.

“It’s the fourth game. We got 16 games, it ain’t ever over,” Harding said after last weekend’s loss. “I could have sworn Chicago was 7-9 and they won the Arena Bowl [last season]. It ain’t ever over. “

Defensively, the Dragons defense has allowed 24 passing touchdowns but also generated six interceptions through four games. Will Holder is the only secondary member with two interceptions, while 2005 Defensive Player of the Year runner-up Billy Parker registered a team-leading 22 interceptions. Both those cornerbacks will go up against an offense that does not feature one player in the top-10 of any league statistical category.

Grand Rapids is looking to stabilize their quarterback situation. Chad Salisbury, named his team’s 2006 MVP, started the season first on the depth chart before going down with an injury.

Michael Bishop struggled in his first start of the season last week, throwing three interceptions and fumbling once during a 41-point loss to Utah.

Rampage coach Sparky McEwen has occasionally auditioned Matt Sauk in the role, seeing Bishop’s possible replacement go 58-102 for 686 yards and 12 touchdowns.

Regardless of the quarterback’s identity, receiver Timon Marshall and Jerome Riley will be counted on to keep pace with the Dragons attack. Marshall is the Rampage’s best offensive weapon with nine touchdowns and 319 yards, while Riley is second with 233 yards and four touchdowns.

Notes:

Comings and Goings: As a sign of confidence in Davey, the Dragons released Leon Murray and signed Asad Abdul-Khaliq to be the backup quarterback. Murray started in the season-opening 60-7 loss to Dallas, getting pulled at halftime after going 8-18 for 64 yards and an interception. He did not play another snap since the benching.

"We just felt that at this particular time it was in the best interest of both parties that we let Leon have the chance to get with a team where he would have the opportunity to be the starter," Harding said in a statement. "I feel Rohan will be the starter in the foreseeable future and we didn’t feel it was fair to Leon in this situation."

Rapid Facts: The Dragons hold an all-time record of 4-5 against the Rampage, including 0-4 on the road. Grand Rapids lost the meeting last season, 48-24, at the Coliseum.

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