af2 arenafootball2

af2 names players of the week

May 2, 2006 - arenafootball2 (af2) News Release


CHICAGO - Arkansas wide receiver/defensive back KEVIN WILLIAMS, Albany quarterback RYAN VENA, and Bakersfield defensive specialist ALEX WALLACE have been named the U.S. Army Ironman, Schutt Offensive Player and ADT Defensive Player of the Week, respectively, for Week 5 of the 2006 season. In addition to these three awards, the recipient of the Cutters Catch of the Week Award goes to Memphis offensive specialist KENNY HIGGINS. 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

Williams (6-1, 202, Arkansas-Pine Bluff), Arkansas' all-time leading receiver, starred on defense in Week 5 to help lead the Twisters to a 62-56 home win over Tennessee Valley. The sixth-year player from Arkansas-Pine Bluff finished with 4.5 tackles, one pass breakup, two interceptions - one of which he returned for a 21-yard touchdown, and one fumble recovery for a touchdown. On offense, the versatile veteran caught five passes for 62 yards and a touchdown. He's been a big part of the Twisters impressive 4-1 record, which is the best start by any Twisters team in franchise history. This is the second league honor of Williams' career. He was also named Offensive Player of the Week in 2004 (Week 14).

SCHUTT OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK

Vena (6-1, 225, Colgate) helped lead Albany to an impressive, 73-62, Week 5 home win over new East Division rival Quad City. The three-year veteran completed 21-of-30 passes for 353 yards and five touchdowns with no interceptions. The former standout signal caller from Colgate also notched three rushing touchdowns for the Conquest. Vena is no stranger to this honor. This is the third time in his af2 career he has been named Offensive Player of the Week. The first two occasions he was honored were in 2003 (Week 10, Week 15). Vena is the first Albany player honored by the league this season.

ADT DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK

Wallace (5-11, 187, Bakersfield College, San Jose State University) fueled the Blitz defense in the team's Week 5 road win over the expansion Stockton Lightning, 55-26. The second-year veteran recorded 1.5 tackles and an af2 season-high three interceptions as Bakersfield spoiled Stockton's first-ever af2 home game. Wallace currently leads the league in interceptions with five. This is also the first weekly league honor of Wallace's career.

CUTTERS CATCH OF THE WEEK

Memphis rookie offensive specialist Kenny Higgins (6-1, 180, Toledo), who is in his rookie season in the af2, is the Week 5 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. Higgins' catch was a full-layout, diving 30-yard fourth quarter touchdown. Higgins caught one other touchdown on the night and finished with six catches in all for 108 yards as the defending ArenaCup Champion Xplorers cruised past Macon, 62-26. Higgins leads Memphis in receiving with 34 catches for 590 yards and nine touchdowns. Others receiving consideration this week included Amarillo's Derek Jones, Arkansas' Jon Schoonover, Bakersfield's Eric Manhanke, Everett's D.J. Humphries, Florida's Ethenic Sands, Louisville's Rob Mager, Manchester's Steve Gonzalez, South Georgia's Chris McKinney and Tulsa's Stephen Battle.



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