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af2 announces week one award winners

April 4, 2006 - arenafootball2 (af2) News Release


CHICAGO - Wilkes-Barre/Scranton wide receiver/defensive back YAACOV YISRAEL, Arkansas quarterback WALTER CHURCH and Spokane wide receiver/defensive back ROB KEEFE have been named the U.S. Army Ironman, Schutt Offensive Player and ADT Defensive Player of the Week, respectively, for Week 1 of the 2006 season. In addition to these three awards, a new honor has emerged this year, highlighting the player who makes the best catch of the week. The inaugural Cutters Catch of the Week award for Week 1 goes to Bakersfield offensive specialist Rennard Reynolds.

U.S. ARMY IRONMAN OF THE WEEK

Yisrael (6-0, 195, Penn State), in his first season, played a key role in the Pioneers season-opening 45-37 win against the defending American Conference Champion Louisville Fire. Yisrael showed the skill of a veteran with his impressive two-way play in the win. Offensively, the former Penn State Nittany Lion caught five passes for a team-high 97 yards. Yisrael also paced the Pioneers with 10.0 total tackles (8 ua) and four pass breakups, both game-highs.

SCHUTT OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK

Church (6-3, 225, Eastern Michigan) led a Twisters offense in Week 1 that blew through a solid Quad City defense for 68 points in a 68-58 road victory. Church, in his second year as an af2 signal caller, made the Steamwheelers defense into believers by completing 20-of-27 passes for 277 yards, one interception and eight touchdowns, a league-high for the week. The former Eastern Michigan standout has had success in the af2 in the past, leading the Peoria Pirates to the 2002 ArenaCup Championship. In 13 games played that season, he threw for 50 touchdowns and had a passer rating of 109.1. This is Church's first af2 weekly award.

ADT DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK

Keefe (5-10, 190, Mercyhurst), a two-year af2 veteran, came up with a number of big plays on defense to lead the Spokane Shock to victory in the franchise's first-ever af2 game. Keefe recorded a team-best eight total tackles (6 ua) and two interceptions (tied a league-high for Week 1) in the Shock's 41-40 home win against the Stockton Lightning, another expansion team. Keefe also returned one of his two interceptions for a touchdown.

CUTTERS CATCH OF THE WEEK

Bakersfield offensive specialist Rennard Reynolds (6-2, 190, Alcorn State), who is entering his second season in the af2, is the first recipient of the brand 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. Reynolds' catch was a leaping 17-yard touchdown reception that took him over the end zone dasherboards in Bakersfield's Week 1 contest at Everett. The scoring toss, courtesy of new Blitz QB Michael Wall, began the second quarter in style for Bakersfield. Reynolds went on to catch three more touchdowns from Wall in the game, helping Bakersfield to a 60-54 win. Reynolds caught eight passes in all for 120 yards.

U.S. Army Ironman of the Week candidates included: Arkansas' Ted Alford, Quad City's Jack Walker, Albany's Manwell Talbert, Green Bay's Peter Lazare, Tennessee Valley's Torrey Day, Everett's Kendrick Walker, Central Valley's Tim Wilkins.

Schutt Offensive Player of the Week candidates included: Louisville's Rob Mager, Memphis' Brian Jones, Bakersfield's Rennard Reynolds, Spokane's Antwone Savage, Albany's Ryan Vena, Central Valley's Scott Rislov.

ADT Defensive Player of the Week candidates included: W-B/Scranton's Joe Hollister, Arkansas' Steve Watson, Memphis' Deon Giddens, Green Bay's Edward Kwaku, Everett's Charles Davis, Central Valley's Maurice Taylor.

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