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Arena Football League (1987-2008)

Grand Rapids' Gowins Earn Player of the Month Honors

June 25, 2008 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I) News Release


NEW YORK - Grand Rapids Rampage QB JAMES MACPHERSON, San Jose SaberCats DB CLEVAN THOMAS, Tampa Bay Storm WR/LB LAWRENCE SAMUELS, Chicago Rush WR DONOVAN MORGAN and Grand Rapids Rampage K BRIAN GOWINS have been named Offensive Player, ADT Defensive Player, Ironman, Rookie, and Kicker of the Month, respectively, for the month of June.

OFFENSIVE: MacPherson (6-2, 200, Wake Forest) led all AFL quarterbacks in passing yards (930), completion percentage (73.8) and total touchdowns (26) to lead Grand Rapids (6-10) to a 2-1 record in June. MacPherson's best performance came in Week 15 when he completed 35-of-43 passes for a Week 15-high 385 yards and accounted for a League-best 11 touchdowns (10 - passing, 1 - rushing) as Grand Rapids defeated the Colorado Crush 84-65. The Rampage travel to US Airways Center to face the Arizona Rattlers (8-8) on Russell Athletic ESPN Arena Football Monday, June 30 at 9:30 p.m. ET (ESPN2 HD, ESPN360.com, SIRIUS Radio - Channel 127).

ADT DEFENSIVE: Thomas (5-10, 199, Florida St.) led all defenders in interceptions with four as the San Jose SaberCats (11-5) posted a 2-0 record during the month of June. Thomas ended the month having registered 12.5 tackles and three passes defensed. His best performance came in Week 17 as he recorded six-and-a-half tackles, one pass defensed and two interceptions, including one returned 35-yards for a touchdown as San Jose defeated the Georgia Force (10-6), 68-62. The SaberCats will host a Divisional Round matchup on Russell Athletic ESPN Arena Football Saturday, July 5 at 3 p.m. ET (ESPN, SIRIUS Radio - Channel 127).

IRONMAN: Samuels (6-3, 220, Livingston) accounted for five receiving touchdowns, registered seven tackles, one pass defensed and one interception in three games for the Tampa Bay Storm (8-8). Samuels' best performance came in Week 16 as he recorded a team-high 11 receptions for 94 yards and three touchdowns along with two-and-a-half tackles in a 73-70 loss to San Jose.

ROOKIE: Morgan (6-2, 195, LA-Lafayette) led all rookies in receptions (32), receiving yards (353), touchdowns (8) and scoring (48) over the course of three games during the month of June. Morgan's best performance came in Week 16 as he recorded 12 receptions for 127 yards with three receiving touchdowns and one rushing touchdown in a 50-47 loss to Georgia. The Rush (11-5) will host a Divisional Round matchup on Russell Athletic ESPN Arena Football Sunday, July 6 at 3 p.m. ET (ESPN, SIRIUS Radio - Channel 127).

KICKER: Gowins (5-10, 180, Northwestern) connected on 30-of-31 PATs and converted 5-of-5 field goal attempts for a League leading 45 points during the month of June. Gowins best performance came in Week 17 as he converted 3-of-3 field goal attempts and 11 PATs (11-of-11) during Grand Rapids' 86-70 victory over the New Orleans VooDoo.

Offensive Player of the Month candidates included: Arizona WR Siaha Burley, Cleveland QB Raymond Philyaw and FB Marlion Jackson, Columbus WR C.J. Johnson, Georgia WR/DB Carl Morris, Grand Rapids WR Kenny Higgins and WR Cole Magner, New York WR/DB Jason Willis, Philadelphia QB Matt D'Orazio, San Jose QB Mark Grieb, Tampa Bay QB Brett Dietz and WR Hank Edwards, Utah QB Joe Germaine

ADT Defensive Player of the Month candidates included: Colorado DB Rashad Floyd, Los Angeles LB Brandon Perkins, New Orleans DB Lin-J Shell and LB Michale Spicer, Philadelphia DB Eddie Moten and Tampa Bay DB Traco Rachal

Ironman of the Month candidates included: Cleveland DL Karon Riley, Columbus FB/LB Harold Wells, Grand Rapids WR/DB Jermaine Lewis, New York FB/LB Idris Price, Orlando FB/LB Odie Armstrong, Philadelphia FB/LB Clifton Smith, Tampa Bay FB/LB Phil Glover, Tampa Bay FB/LB Torrance Marshall

Rookie of the Month candidates included: Colorado WR Chad Owens and DL John Syptak, Georgia WR Tiger Jones, Grand Rapids WR/DB Chris Martin, Orlando DB Jason Perry, New York DB Levy Brown, Tampa Bay WR Tyrone Timmons, Utah LB Kelvin Morris

Kicker of the Month candidates included: Colorado's Deric Yaussi, New York's Steve Azar, Tampa Bay's Seth Marler and Utah's Steve Videtich

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