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af2 Names Players of the Week

July 8, 2003 - arenafootball2 (af2) News Release


CHICAGO - Albany quarterback RYAN VENA, Greensboro wide receiver/defensive back BOBBY SIPPIO and Mohegan offensive/defensive lineman CHARLIE COOK have been named Offensive Player, Ironman and ADT Defensive Player of the Week, respectively, for Week 15 of the 2003 season.

OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK

Vena (6-foot, 220, Colgate), in his second season, brought the Albany Conquest one step closer to its second straight division title with 20-of-30 passing for 342 yards with five touchdowns and three rushing tallies in a 59-58 win over the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Pioneers last Saturday. Vena is one of only four quarterbacks to account for nine touchdowns in a single game this season, and he now ranks No. 1 among af2 signal-callers in passer rating (122.78), passing yards (3,558) and total offense (3,705). No af2 passer has ever finished the season leading all three categories. Vena has been named Game MVP 10 times this season, which leads the league, and this is his second af2 weekly honor. He also won the award in Week 10.

IRONMAN OF THE WEEK

Sippio (6-2, 215, Western Kentucky), a rookie, followed up his Week 14 Ironman of the Week performance with another outstanding all-around effort in the Prowlers 76-62 win over Charleston last Saturday. Sippio caught six passes for 96 yards and six touchdowns, which led all Prowlers receivers in the game. Defensively, Sippio totaled 5.5 tackles, three passes defended and he grabbed a fourth quarter interception off red-hot Charleston quarterback JOHNNY TURMAN. On special teams, Sippio returned one missed field goal for 20 yards and three kickoffs for 66 yards, including a 31-yard runback in the first quarter that set up Greensboro's first score of the night. This is Sippio's third Ironman of the Week award this season. He is the first player to win three Ironman awards in the same season since LENNIE JOHNSON did it in 2001.

ADT DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK

Cook (6-foot, 290, C.W. Post), in his second season, anchored a solid defensive effort for the Wolves who beat the Bossier City Battle Wings 38-26 last Saturday. Cook registered 5.5 tackles, which was second most on his team, and he tallied 3.5 sacks for a combined loss of 31 yards. His 3.5 sacks broke a team record, which he set back in May when he posted three against Richmond, and he now leads the league with 10.5 sacks for the season. Cook's efforts helped the Wolves hold its opponent under 30 points for the third time in the last four games. Overall, the Wolves lead the league in team defense, allowing only 36 points per game. Cook is the first Wolves player to win a weekly award this season.

Offensive Player of the Week candidates included: Cincinnati's James Scott, Birmingham's Demontray Carter, Florida's Ken Mastrole, Greensboro's Caleb Slover, Quad City's Tony Zimmerman, Macon's Jacques Rumph, Tennessee Valley's Matt Sauk, Mohegan's Mel Long, Norfolk's Chris Wallace, Louisville's Pookie Jones.

Ironman of the Week candidates included: Cincinnati's Miguel Merritt, Albany's Phil Taylor, Arkansas' Reggie Cooley, Florida's Anthony Dixon, Quad City's Jeff Hewitt, Macon's Mario Evans, Tennessee Valley's Reggie Worthy, Mohegan's Anthony Comer, Norfolk's Chris Stahl, Louisville's Alfonzo Browning.

ADT Defensive Player of the Week candidates included: Cincinnati's Justin Coleman, Albany's John Stuart, Birmingham's Daedrick Cail, Florida's Quincy Sorrell, Greensboro's Adrian Jones, Quad City's Asa Francis, Macon's Denario Smalls, Tennessee Valley's Joe Todd, Norfolk's Quesuan Wigfall, Louisville's Arkee Thompson.



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