Sports stats



af2 arenafootball2

af2 Names Players of the Week

May 19, 2009 - arenafootball2 (af2) News Release


CHICAGO - Tennessee Valley wide receiver/linebacker BRADLY CHAVEZ, Stockton players CHAD CAVENDER (QB) and JUSTIN TAPLIN (WR) and Tulsa defensive back PIERRE THOMAS have been named the JLS Ironman, Russell Athletic Offensive Players and Aaron's Defensive Player of the Week, respectively, for Week 8 of 2009, the af2's 10th anniversary season. In addition to these three awards, the af2 is also highlighting the player who makes the best catch and the best hit of the week. The Big Game Catch of the Week Award for Week 8 goes to Boise wide receiver JERARD RABB and the NiFTy Hit of the Week is awarded to Tulsa defensive lineman KAMAU JACKSON.

JLS IRONMAN OF THE WEEK

Chavez (6-2, 205, Alabama-Birmingham), in his fourth af2 season, had a stellar all-around effort for Tennessee Valley in the team's Week 8, 49-24, home win against Oklahoma City. The veteran playmaker was a factor on both sides of the ball to help the Vipers (6-2) win their fifth straight game. On offense, the UAD alum caught three passes, two for touchdowns, and finished with 40 yards receiving. He was also a major player on defense with two touchdowns (19-yard fumble return TD, 10-yard INT return TD), 5.5 tackles, one sack and one forced fumble. This is the fourth Ironman of the Week Award of Chavez's career and his second earned this season (Week 3). He currently leads Tennessee Valley in scoring (102 points), total touchdowns (17), receiving touchdowns (14) and fumble recoveries (3). Chavez won the af2's JLS Ironman of the Year Award in 2008 as a member of the Manchester Wolves.

RUSSELL ATHLETIC OFFENSIVE PLAYERS OF THE WEEK

Cavender (6-0, 190, Sioux Falls), in his first af2 campaign and Taplin (6-0, 185, Arizona State), in his third af2 season, both had career nights in Stockton's 83-56 upset win at home in Week 8 against Rio Grande Valley. Cavender, in his third career start, set a team record with 10 touchdown passes against the Dorados. The former Sioux Falls standout also completed 21-of-35 passes for a career-high 359 yards with just one interception. The rookie signal caller also had six rushes for 11 yards and one touchdown. The majority of Cavender's scoring passes on Saturday went to Taplin as the Arizona State alum set a Lightning single-game record with seven touchdown catches. He finished the night with nine receptions for a game-high 172 yards. Taplin leads Stockton in receiving (65-856-21 TDs) and ranks among the league leaders in points per game (3rd-21.7), receiving yards per game (4th-142.7) and receptions per game (4th-10.83). This is the first Offensive Player of the Week honor for both players.

AARON'S DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK

Thomas (5-10, 200, Missouri Western St.) was a major player on defense in Tulsa's 53-19 Week 8 road win at Milwaukee. The fifth-year defensive back from Missouri Western St. was a force for the Talons with nine solo tackles and two first-quarter interceptions. He returned his second interception 26 yards for a touchdown to help spot Tulsa a quick 14-0 lead. The Talons (7-1), winners of six straight games, lead the Central Division by 2.5 games over Oklahoma City (4-3). This is the second Defensive Player of the Week Award of Thomas' career (2007 - Week 12). He currently ranks second on Tulsa in interceptions (4) and tackles (38).

THE BIG GAME CATCH OF THE WEEK

Rabb (6-2, 200, Boise State), in his first af2 season, is the Week 8 recipient of The Big Game Catch of the Week Award. Rabb's catch was a 7-yard, one-handed touchdown grab at the end of the first quarter of the Burn's 77-28 home win against Tri-Cities. The Boise State alum finished with four catches, all for touchdowns, for 118 yards. Eight of Rabb's nine receptions on the season have gone for touchdowns. He is currently tied for second on the Burn in touchdown receptions. Boise is ranked second in the West Division at 5-2.

NIFTY HIT OF THE WEEK

Jackson (6-2, 285, Mississippi State), in his fifth af2 season, is the seventh recipient of the NiFTy Hit of the Week Award, a new weekly honor that highlights the player who makes the best hit or tackle of the week. Jackson's hit came on Milwaukee's first drive of the second half on Friday night in Tulsa's 53-19 road win against the Iron. On a 4th-and-2 play from the Tulsa 10-yard line, Milwaukee QB Shane Adler dropped back looking to pass. Jackson, however, lineup up on the left edge, was left unblocked on the play. As a result, the Mississippi State alum came at Adler untouched and slammed him to the ground hard enough to knock the veteran signal caller out of the game. Jackson finished with 3.5 tackles and two sacks on the night. He is currently tied for the league lead in sacks with seven. Jackson also leads the Talons in fumble recoveries with three.

JLS Ironman of the Week candidates included:

Milwaukee's Scott Burnoski, Green Bay's Anthony Crissinger-Hill, Albany's Alvin Ray Jackson, Boise's Jomo Wilson, Kentucky's John Cooper, Florida's Chris McKinney, Corpus Christi's Nick Gatto, South Georgia's Ivory McCann, Rio Grande Valley's Craig Turner and Arkansas' Robert Kilow.

Russell Athletic Offensive Player of the Week candidates included:

Tulsa's Justin Allgood, Green Bay's Anthony Crissinger-Hill, Manchester's Steven Savoy, Boise's Jerard Rabb, Bossier-Shreveport's Andrico Hines, Tennessee Valley's Kevin Eakin, Spokane's Andy Olson, Amarillo's Alex Watson, Quad City's Jesse Schmidt, Arkansas' Rod Harper and Arkansas' Kyle Rowley.

Aaron's Defensive Player of the Week candidates included:

Green Bay's Tracy Belton, Albany's Anton Lindsay, Boise's Nygel Rogers, Bossier-Shreveport's Adam Huebner, Tennessee Valley's Travis Blanchard, Spokane's Stanley Franks, Amarillo's Myron Newberry, South Georgia's Courtney Young, Stockton's Tim McCullough, Arkansas' Anthony Kelly and Central Valley's Jajuan Huddleston.

The Big Game Catch of the Week candidates included:

Milwaukee's Antoine Burns, Green Bay's Anthony Crissinger-Hill, Albany's Alvin Ray Jackson, Kentucky's Harry Lewis, Tennessee Valley's Bradly Chavez, Florida's Magic Benton, Amarillo's Abraham Holloway, Quad City's Jesse Schmidt and Stockton's Justin Taplin.

NiFTy Hit of the Week candidates included:

Green Bay's Terry Love, Albany's Rob Wright, Boise's Nygel Rogers, Kentucky's Jared Lorenzen, Tennessee Valley's Bradly Chavez, Spokane's Ben McCombs, Corpus Christi's Roshawn Marshall, Quad City's Jermaine Petty and Stockton's Dale Robinson.

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

arenafootball2 Stories from May 19, 2009


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