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af2 announces players of the week

April 18, 2006 - arenafootball2 (af2) News Release


CHICAGO - Arkansas wide receiver/defensive back LENNIE JOHNSON, Spokane wide receiver/defensive back RAUL VIJIL and Manchester defensive specialist ALLISTAIR SEBASTIEN have been named the U.S. Army Ironman, Schutt Offensive Player and ADT Defensive Player of the Week, respectively, for Week 3 of the 2006 season. In addition to these three awards, the recipient of the Cutters Catch of the Week Award goes to Macon wide receiver/defensive back JAMES HICKENBOTHAM. The Catch of the Week is a new honor that highlights the player who makes the best catch of the week.

U.S. ARMY IRONMAN OF THE WEEK

Johnson (5-8, 185, Arkansas State), in his sixth af2 season, had an impressive individual showing to help the Twisters to a 55-35 Week 3 road victory against Midwest Division rival Bossier-Shreveport. Johnson was a force on both sides of the ball for Arkansas. On offense, the Arkansas State alum had five catches for 53 yards and two touchdowns, and also scored on a 25-yard touchdown run. "Mr. Twister," as he's known by the Arkansas faithful, added 3.5 tackles and two interceptions on defense. This is Johnson's league-record seventh Ironman of the Week honor of his career and his first since the 2002 season. Johnson's strong early season play is a positive sign that he's finally back to full strength after enduring a knee injury near the end of the 2003 season. The injury almost cut Johnson's career short, as he played in just one game in 2004 and sat out the entire 2005 campaign.

SCHUTT OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK

Vijil (5-10, 185, Eastern Washington) was a difference maker for the Shock in their come-from-behind, 44-41, home win in Week 3 against their new in-state rivals, the Everett Hawks. The af2 rookie from Eastern Washington had a breakout game, catching eight passes for a game-high 121 yards and four touchdowns, including the eventual game-winning score with just 34 seconds to play. Vijil also scored a rushing touchdown to finish with 30 points on the night. His total tied the current league season-high, single-game scoring mark. This is the first Offensive Player of the Week Award of Vijil's career and the second league honor for a Shock player this season. Teammate Rob Keefe won ADT Defensive Player of the Week following his strong Week 1 performance.

ADT DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK

Sebastien (6-0, 200, St. John's), in his fifth af2 season, stood out in the secondary to help lead the Wolves to an important early season road victory against the Louisville Fire, 39-34. Sebastien, who posted a team-high 5.5 tackles and two interceptions, was the star of a stingy Wolves defense that allowed just three offensive touchdowns and a pair of field goals to the Fire. The St. John's alum now has 22 interceptions in his career, which ranks him 4th overall in af2 history. This is the first weekly award of Sebastien's career.

CUTTERS CATCH OF THE WEEK

Macon wide receiver/defensive back James Hickenbotham (5-9, 180, Arkansas State), who is in his second season in the af2, is the Week 3 recipient of the new Cutters Catch of the Week Award, a weekly honor that has emerged this year to highlight the player who makes the best catch of the week. Hickenbotham's catch was a 24-yard second quarter touchdown reception that he snared in stride with one hand. The touchdown was just one of Hickenbotham's game-high three scoring catches on the night. The Arkansas State alum earned US Army Ironman of the Game honors for his strong overall two-way play. His total effort included seven catches for 96 yards on offense and one tackle on defense. Others receiving consideration this week included Albany's Manwell Talbert, Arkansas' Lennie Johnson, South Georgia's Chris McKinney, Spokane's Rob Keefe and Louisville's Rob Mager.

U.S. Army Ironman of the Week candidates included: Albany's Manwell Talbert, Manchester's Mark Kimener, Birmingham's Terrell Browden, Tulsa's Stephen Battle, Macon's James Hickenbotham, Oklahoma City's Al Hunt, Arkansas' Kevin Williams, Memphis' Terrell Adams, Green Bay's Luke Leverson, Spokane's Charles Frederick and Bakersfield's DeRonn Finley.

Schutt Offensive Player of the Week candidates included: Albany's Ryan Vena, Manchester's Marc Bacote, Rio Grande Valley's Dwight Counter, South Georgia's Chris McKinney, Florida's Chris Wallace, Oklahoma City's Craig Strickland, Arkansas' Walter Church, Memphis' Brian Jones, Green Bay's Ronnie Gordon and Central Valley's LaMonte Jones.

ADT Defensive Player of the Week candidates included: W-B/Scranton's Joe Hollister, Birmingham's Bobby Keyes, Tulsa's Chaz Murphy, Florida's Quincy Sorrell, Oklahoma City's Jon Holland, Arkansas' Delenell Reid, Memphis' Joe Crear, Green Bay's Dontrell Jackson, Spokane's Rob Keefe and Bakersfield's Alex Wallace.



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