NFL, MLB, NHL, NBA, CFL stats



 arenafootball2

af2 names players of the week

May 9, 2006 - arenafootball2 (af2) News Release


CHICAGO - Louisville wide receiver/defensive back LANCE TAYLOR, Oklahoma City quarterback CRAIG STRICKLAND, and Amarillo defensive line specialist TRENTON JORDAN have been named the U.S. Army Ironman, Schutt Offensive Player and ADT Defensive Player of the Week, respectively, for Week 6 of the 2006 season. In addition to these three awards, the recipient of the Cutters Catch of the Week Award goes to Arkansas wide receiver/defensive back JON SCHOONOVER. 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

Taylor (5-10, 190, Alabama), in his second af2 season, was an all-around force for the Louisville Fire in their narrow, 63-60, Week 6 road loss to Birmingham on Friday. He torched the Steeldogs for six total touchdowns, including two 50-yard kick returns, three receiving scores (10, 6, 40) and one rushing touchdown. He finished with 178 total kick return yards and five catches for 74 yards. His 36-point single game total also equaled the af2 season high for points scored in a game. In addition to his offensive exploits, Taylor also tallied 2.5 tackles on the defensive side. This is the first league award of Taylor's career and the first af2 honor bestowed to a member of the Fire this season.

SCHUTT OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK

Strickland (6-2, 215, UTEP) led Oklahoma City to an impressive, 90-54, Week 6 home win over Midwest Division and in-state rival Tulsa. The Yard Dawgz' 90 points scored established a new team record. The five-year veteran completed 18-of-32 passes for 282 yards and an af2 single-game, season-high 10 touchdowns. He also tied his own team record for most touchdown passes in a game. Strickland also became the first quarterback in af2 history to pass for 20,000 yards. An interesting note is that the milestone was reached against the same team where Strickland began his af2 career. The former UTEP signal caller starred for Tulsa for three years (2000-01, 2003), leading the Talons to the 2003 ArenaCup title, before becoming a Yard Dawg in 2004. This is the fourth time in his af2 career Strickland has been named Offensive Player of the Week. He is the first Oklahoma City player honored by the league this season.

ADT DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK

Jordan (6-3, 250, Central Florida) sparked the Amarillo defense in the team's important Week 6 home win against Midwest Division rival Arkansas, 45-34. The rookie from Central Florida, playing in his first af2 game, recorded 3.0 tackles, including 2.0 sacks and one forced fumble that he returned for a 38-yard touchdown. Jordan's effort helped Amarillo gain a bit of payback on the same Twisters team that routed the Dusters by 38 points in Week 2. This is the first weekly league honor of Jordan's career.

CUTTERS CATCH OF THE WEEK

Arkansas wide receiver/defensive back Jon Schoonover (5-10, 190, Missouri Western St.), who is in his rookie season in the af2, is the Week 6 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. Schoonover's catch was a 2-yard fourth quarter touchdown grab in which he was almost immediately planted over the back endzone boards and onto the concrete below. Schoonover caught nine passes in all for 92 yards. He also scored on a 1-yard touchdown run. His individual efforts weren't enough, however, as the host Amarillo Dusters defeated Arkansas, 45-34. Schoonover ranks second on the Twisters in receptions (28) and receiving yards (405), and ranks third in touchdowns with seven. Others receiving consideration this week included Birmingham's Anthony Morris, Bakersfield's Eric Mahanke, Bossier-Shreveport's Anthony Rozier, Central Valley's Wes Borba, Florida's Magic Benton, Macon's James Hickenbotham, Memphis' Kenny Higgins, Oklahoma City's Jarrail Jackson, Stockton's Atnas Maeko and W-B/Scranton's Yaacov Yisrael.

U.S. Army Ironman of the Week candidates included: W-B/Scranton's Yaacov Yisrael, Macon's Matt Jackson, Manchester's Steve Gonzalez, Amarillo's Michael Broussard, Oklahoma City's Al Hunt, Florida's Brittney Tellis, Rio Grande Valley's Travis McAlpine, Spokane's Chris Stallworth, Stockton's Marques Bobo, and Quad City's Jack Walker, Jr.

Schutt Offensive Player of the Week candidates included: Birmingham's Kerry Wright, W-B/Scranton's J.R. Thomas, Macon's James Hickenbotham, Memphis' Kenny Higgins, Amarillo's Gathan McGinnis, Florida's Magic Benton, Bossier-Shreveport's Brandon Campbell, Bakersfield's Michael Wall, Stockton's Josh Blankenship, and Quad City's Kris Peters.

ADT Defensive Player of the Week candidates included: Birmingham's Michael Gholar, W-B/Scranton's Jamie Hattley, Macon's Ed Wrangler, Memphis' Scott Cunningham, Oklahoma City's Kendrick Walker, Florida's Levy Brown, Rio Grande Valley's Landrick Brody, Bakersfield's Alex Wallace, Stockton's Lyndell Hawkins, and Quad City's Reggie Perkins.

• Discuss this story on the arenafootball2 message board...

arenafootball2 Stories from May 9, 2006


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.


Sports Statistics from the Stats Crew
OurSports Central