UNIONDALE, NY — It wasn’t a downfield high-arching procession pass that garnered the milestone accomplishment. A defender wasn’t closing in fast, necessitating a bullet throw into a tight spot. The ball barely crossed the line of scrimmage.

For all the highlight-worthy plays Aaron Garcia has produced in his 12-year Arena Football League career, the Dragons quarterback made history with a simple screen pass in the third quarter of last night’s 82-54 loss to Austin at Nassau Coliseum.

Will Holder caught the outlet toss at the Wranglers 3-yard line, racing in untouched to make Garcia just the fourth quarterback in league history to record 800 career touchdown passes. All four accomplished that feat this season, but the 37-year-old Garcia said the moment would mean more if his team pulled out the victory despite the warm reception from the announced attendance of 8,391.

“I didn’t really want to deal with it,” a dejected Garcia said after the game. “The crowd that we did have was appreciative. But the win was way more important.”

Clint Dolezel of the Dallas Desperados became the first quarterback to exceed the threshold. Arizona’s Sherdrick Bonner and New Orleans’ Andy Kelly soon followed, as Garcia joins a select club of veteran AFL passers.

A fractured tibia sidelined Garcia for 14 months, forcing him to sit out 18 regular season games between last season and the current campaign. If not for the potential career-ending setback he suffered in February 2006, it is possible the California native and original Dragon could have been the first quarterback to get to the 800-touchdown mark.

“I really didn’t worry about 600,” Garcia said, “I didn’t worry about 700. I’m not going to worry about 800. I’m trying to go way beyond that. Whatever touchdowns get us in the win column and get us closer to the championship, those are the ones I care about.”

The Dragons were forced to turn to rookie Rohan Davey during Garcia’s absence in the beginning of the season, and coach Weylan Harding’s team struggled to a 1-6 start that nearly derailed their postseason hopes.

Since Garcia’s return against Arizona April 28, the Dragons are 4-2 and in the middle of the National Conference’s playoff race. His return has galvanized the offense. Mike Horacek, the team’s leading receiver, sat out his second straight game with a sprained ankle, but Garcia still recorded eight touchdowns on 28-42 passing for 305 yards against the Wranglers.

Instead of sputtering, the passing attack continued to thrive, as Garcia and Kevin Swayne sustained their productive chemistry. Swayne caught six touchdown passes in Monday’s dramatic victory over New Orleans, and the former Jets wide out matched Austin star receiver Derrick Lewis by making a game-high five touchdown catches last night.

Garcia registered 25 touchdowns against no interceptions the previous three games and ran that ledger to 33 touchdowns before throwing a pick late in the fourth quarter against Austin. While the Dragons dropped to 5-8 in the 16-game regular season, they remain just one game behind Tampa Bay, Columbus and Philadelphia for one of the final three playoff spots in the National Conference.

“Right now, it doesn’t hold a lot of weight,” coach Weylan Harding said. “If you asked him, right now, I [don’t] think he’d be too overjoyed. But it’s a career accomplishment. Not too many guys have been able to do that. I’m pretty sure once you put the past down, it will be more enjoyable. Right now, it’s just defeat."