af2 Names Players of the Week
April 29, 2003 - arenafootball2 (af2) News Release
CHICAGO - Cincinnati quarterback CHRISTIAN BATCHELLER, Greensboro wide receiver/defensive back BOBBY SIPPIO and Florida defensive specialist ROY STABLER have been named Offensive Player, Ironman and ADT Defensive Player of the Week, respectively, for Week 5 of the 2003 season.
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Batcheller (6-3, 230, Washington & Lee), a rookie, led the visiting Swarm to a 69-33 rout over the Green Bay Blizzard with a nearly flawless performance. Passing for 269 yards, Batcheller completed 86% of his passes (24-for-28) and threw eight touchdowns. His 86% completion rate is the highest in a single game this season (among QBs with 10 or more attempts) and his eight scoring strikes matches a season high set by TONY ZIMMERMAN of the Quad City Steamwheelers in Week 3. Batcheller's efforts gave the Swarm its second straight win and a share of the Midwest division lead. This is the first player of the week award for Batcheller, and he is the first Swarm player to ever be honored by the league.
IRONMAN OF THE WEEK
Sippio (6-2, 215, Western Kentucky), a rookie, accounted for three of the Prowler's first four touchdowns in the 47-44 win over previously unbeaten Mohegan. On the first play from scrimmage, Sippio hauled in a 47-yard score, forcing Mohegan to play catch-up the rest of the way. For the game, Sippio led all receivers with four catches for 115 yards, averaging 29 yards a catch. Making an impact on both sides of the ball, Sippio grabbed an interception and took it back 22 yards to paydirt just two plays after catching his second receiving touchdown of the night (a 39-yard strike). Sippio also added 2.5 tackles and another pass break-up in the game, helping the Prowlers to the best start in team history (3-1) and sole possession of first place. Sippio is a first-time Ironman of the Week winner, and the first Prowler to receive the accolade in league history.
ADT DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Stabler (6-3, 210, Southern Mississippi), in his third season, gave a gutsy effort to help the Firecats hold off a late Memphis rally. After being carried off the field for an injured sholder late in the fourth quarter, Memphis recovered an onside kick and was threatening to score again. The Firecats, already desimated by injury in the secondary, had no choice but to let Stabler return to the game. Practically playing with one good arm, Stabler batted down a pass on the drive and picked-off a pass in the endzone on to end the Memphis threat. For the game, Stabler tallied 6 tackles, three passes defensed and the interception in the 53-42 Florida win. This is his first ADT Defensive Player of the Week award.
Offensive Player of the Week candidates included: Arkansas' Ted Alford, Louisville's Josh Rogers, Quad City's Tony Zimmerman, Cape Fear's Bryan Snyder, Birmingham's Aryvia Holmes, Hawaii's Chris Paogofie, Florida's Cainon Lamb, Richmond's Roy Johnson, Wichita's Michael Dritlein, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton's Chris Boden.
Ironman of the Week candidates included: Arkansas' Lennie Johnson, Louisville's Norman Mason, Quad City's Cory Bern, Cape Fear's Wilmont Perry, Charleston's Leroy McFadden, Cincinnati's Derrick Shephard, Greensboro's Sigmund Platt, Hawaii's Isaac White, Florida'a Schad Freeman, Richmond's Lawrence Lewis, Wichita's Brian Goolsby, Rochester's Derek Baker.
ADT Defensive Player of the Week candidates included: Arkansas' Kahil Carter, Louisville's Damon Butler, Quad City's Shawn Orr, Cape Fear's Brett Clark, Charleston's Joe Judge, Cincinnati's Mike Mills, Greensboro's Tim Fields, Hawaii's Eddie Klaneski, Richmond's DeShayne Dennis, Wichita's Larry Hollinquest, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton's Kyle Grove.
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