af2 Names Players of the Week
Published on July 29, 2003 under arenafootball2 (af2) News Release
CHICAGO - Norfolk offensive specialist TRAVIS BURNS, Charleston wide receiver/defensive back MICHAEL BROWN and San Diego wide receiver/defensive back KENNY HASLIP have been named Offensive Player, Ironman and ADT Defensive Player of the Week, respectively, for Week 18 of the 2003 season.
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Burns (5'10, 180, Liberty), in his second season, single handedly tried to secure a postseason berth for the Nighthawks, but his seven touchdown, 359 all-purpose yards performance was not enough as Norfolk fell 67-65 at the hands of division rival Greensboro. Burns was a jack-of-all-trades, scoring touchdowns on the ground, in the air and on a kickoff return. After opening the game with a 55-yard kickoff return for a touchdown, Burns concluded the game with a 22-yard touchdown grab to give Norfolk a glimpse of hope with seven ticks remaining. The Nighthawks were unable to recover the ensuing onside kick and thus succumbed to defeat. Burns finished the game with 197 return yards, ten receptions for 142 yards and five scores and three rushes for 20 yards and a touchdown.
IRONMAN OF THE WEEK
Brown (6'0'', 190, Cha. Southern), in his third season, earns Ironman of the Week for the final week of the regular season after standing out for the Swamp Foxes in their 48-13 victory over Richmond. Charleston upended the Speed largely in part to Brown's all-round effort. The WR/DB caught two passes for 54 yards and a touchdown on offense and returned two missed field goals for a combined 65 yards and a score on special teams. Brown's greatest contributions came on defense, where one of his two interceptions stopped the Speed at Charleston's five-yard line. Brown finished the game with 5.5 tackles and four passes defended in addition to his two picks.
ADT DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Haslip (5'10'', 180, Southern Cal), in his second season, helped San Diego to a 31-28 come from behind victory over the Green Bay Blizzard. Haslip produced a crucial tackle for a three- yard loss as Green Bay threatened at the Riptide four yard line with 1:50 to play in the game. On the ensuing fourth and long, the Riptide forced RAMON ROBINSON to toss an incomplete pass. San Diego took the ball 43-yards on the following drive, eradicating a 28-24 deficit with a Rico Curtis two-yard touchdown scramble. The second year player tallied game highs of 11 tackles and seven passes defended and forced a fumble.
Offensive Player of the Week candidates included: Bakersfield's Eric Mahanke, Macon's Jacques Rumph, Florida's Terrence Samuel, Peoria's Jack Walker, Wichita's Anthony Buich and Tulsa's Craig Strickland.
Ironman of the Week candidates included: Arkansas's Lennie Johnson, Cape Fear's Marcus Whitehead, Tulsa's Mitch Allner, San Diego's Dwight Carter, Greensboro's Bobby Sippio, Florida's Cainon Lamb, Rochester's Derek Baker, Peoria's Chris Martin and Bakersfield's Kusanti Abdul-Salaam.
ADT Defensive Player of the Week candidates included: Macon's Denario Smalls, Rochester's Zac Jones, Albany's Elijah Beamon, Quad City's Leo FenceRoy, Arkansas's Kahlil Carter and Bakersfield's J'Sharlon Jones.
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