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July 6, 2005 - arenafootball2 (af2) News Release


af2 WEEK 15: QUICK HITTERS

MORGAN MAY SET RECORD: Tulsa Talons' offensive specialist DONOVAN MORGAN may tie or break the record for receiving touchdowns in a season this week at Memphis. He currently has 41 touchdown receptions. He needs four more to tie JACK WALKER JR.'s record of 45 touchdown receptions with Peoria in 2003. If he doesn't reach the mark this week, he can do so the following week against Rio Grande Valley at home.

arenafootball2 RETURNS AFTER WEEK OFF: After taking the first league wide bye in league history, af2 arenas will again be filled with the sound of screaming fans and colliding helmets this weekend. Two games will be played on Friday night, six on Saturday and one contest, Oklahoma City at Amarillo, will be played on Sunday.

TITANS SIGN BIRONAS: Former af2 kicker RICK BIRONAS has been signed by the Tennessee Titans. The former Auburn Tiger kicked for the Charleston Swamp Foxes of af2 in 2003. In 12 games he connected on 12-of-27 field goal attempts and totaled 94 points. He has spent the last two seasons kicking in the AFL. In 2004 played for the Carolina Cobras, connecting on 17-of-40 field goal attempts and 70-of-89 extra point attempts. This past season he was a member of the division winning New York Dragons. In 2004 he was in the Pittsburgh Steelers' camp, playing in all four pre-season games. He made two-of-three field goal attempts and all nine extra points attempts.

NOW HERE'S THE KICKER: On June 24 Louisville Fire kicker DANNY KIGHT connected on a 61-yard field goal in Louisville's 73-63 win over Albany. The 61-yarder was the longest of the season in af2 and the third longest in af2 history. TONY DODSON connected on a 63-yard kick for Tulsa in 2002 against Hawaii and JON BAKER made a 62-yard field goal for Bakersfield against Hawaii in 2003.

SMITH, YOU'RE IN: San Diego's WR/DB RYAN SMITH learned the true definition of "Ironman Football" when starting quarterback KANE CLAUNCH went down with an injury in the first quarter of the Riptide's game against Rio Grande Valley on June 25. With Claunch being the only quarterback on the active roster for the Riptide, the ball was put in the hands of Smith. He hadn't played quarterback since the early days of his college career and he performed admirably under the conditions. Smith completed 9-of-23 passes for three touchdowns and one interception. He had the Riptide up by nine points with less than 90 seconds to go in the game before the Dorados made furious comeback.

WORTH ANOTHER LOOK: Speaking of that comeback, the San Diego Riptide-Rio Grande Valley Dorados contest featured perhaps the most exciting final 150 seconds in arenafootball2 all season. The final 2:30 featured an interception, a safety, two forced fumbles, a touchdown, a missed field goal and a missed field goal recovered by the Dorados for the winning score with no time remaining. It went down like this. NIAN TAYLOR picked off a pass to give the Riptide the ball with 2:22 remaining. On their first play CURTIS JETER sacked RYAN SMITH and forced a safety to make it a seven-point game. CHRIS ROBINSON then scored on a six-yard run to tie the game at 58. On the ensuing kickoff JULIUS GRANT forced a STEVE GONZALEZ fumble to give the Dorados the ball. On the Dorados first offensive play, JEFF MACREA forced a JOSH KELLETT fumble and gave the Riptide back the ball at the Dorados' 17. Three players later the Riptide missed a 31-yard field goal wide right over the net. The Dorados took over the ball with 18 seconds left and moved down to the Riptide 18. ERIC HOULE attempted a 33-yard field goal with four seconds left. It was missed wide right. The Riptide couldn't control the bounce off the nets and GATHA MCGINNIS took the ball in from three yards out for the touchdown.

SPEEDY GONZALEZ: If the San Diego-Rio Grande Valley game on June 25 wasn't wild enough already, there was almost a record set in the contest. STEVE GONZALEZ returned totaled 267 yards return yards on eight kickoffs. This was one yard short of tying the af2 record for kickoff return yards in a game. The record is currently held by the Battle Wings' SHADRICK MCAFEE. In 2003 McAfee totaled 268 kickoff return yards against the Charleston Swamp Foxes.

DORADOS TIED FOR FIRST: After a 1-3 start the Rio Grande Valley Dorados have turned their season around, winning seven of their last eight games. They hold the same 8-4 record Tulsa holds, but currently hold the tiebreaker with Tulsa due to defeating them 65-64 earlier in the season. Tulsa and Rio Grande Valley play once more this season, Week 16 in Tulsa.

BLIZZARD BERTH: With a win over Birmingham and Albany's loss to Louisville, the Green Bay Blizzard clinched their first playoff berth in franchise history on June 24. The Blizzard are currently holding the number three spot in the American Conference standings and would host a home game in the playoffs if the season ended today.

STEAMWHEELERS BACK TO .500: After an overtime loss at Memphis the Steamwheelers were sitting at 4-6 and not in the playoff picture. But after a win at home against Albany and an impressive win in Manchester to end the Wolves' ten game winning streak on June 24 the 'Wheelers are back at .500 and in the playoffs if the season ended today. This week they host Green Bay. They will be looking to avenge a 49-56 loss to the Blizzard earlier in the season. If the 'Wheelers make the playoffs they will earn their spot. Aside from their Week 17 game against Bossier-Shreveport, the combined record of their other three opponents (Green Bay, Amarillo and Louisville) is 23-13.

PLAYOFF SPOTS AVAILABLE IN WEEK 15: This week can have a major impact on the 2005 ArenaCup Playoffs. Look below for the teams who can clinch playoff berths a division Championship this week.

American Conference: Manchester can clinch the East Division with a win AND losses by Green Bay AND Louisville

Louisville can clinch a playoff berth with a win OR losses by Albany AND Arkansas

Wilkes-Barre/Scranton can clinch a playoff berth with a win OR losses by Albany AND Arkansas

National Conference: Memphis can clinch the Midwest Division with a win AND an Amarillo loss

Memphis can clinch a playoff berth with a win OR a loss by either Quad City OR Central Valley

AND THE WINNER IS...: With four weeks remaining in the regular season till the ArenaCup Playoffs it is time to start thinking about the end of the season awards. Look below for candidates for each award and their credentials. Candidates are listed in no particular order and are not the official nominees.

OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR:

J.J. McKelvey - OS - MAN - Leads the league in receptions (103), second in receiving touchdowns (36).

Jake Eaton QB - MAN - Leads the league in passer rating (127.3) and completion percentage (71.5). Has thrown for 65 touchdowns and 3,101 yards.

Julian Reese - QB - AMR - Currently has 22 rushing touchdowns and has the record for rushing touchdowns in a season in his sights.

Donovan Morgan - OS - TUL - On pace to set scoring and receiving touchdowns in a season record. Currently has 41 receiving touchdowns.

Brian Jones - QB - MEM - Has 18 rushing touchdowns to go with his 51 passing touchdowns and only six interceptions.

ADT DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR:

Khreem Smith - OL/DL - MEM - Leads the league in sacks with 13.0. Has forced three fumbles, blocked two kicks and recorded one safety.

Dahnel Singfield - DS - MEM - Leads the league with 35 passes defended and tied for the league lead in interceptions with nine.

William Haith - DS - MAN - On pace to set the record for tackles in a season, currently leads the league with 94.0. Tied for second in passes defended.

Ryan Bowers - DS - GBB - Tied for the league lead in interceptions (9) and fifth in the league in tackles (76.0).

Matt Forbes - DS - QUA - Has taken three of eight interceptions back for touchdowns. Sixth in the league in tackles (73.0)

U.S. ARMY IRONMAN OF THE YEAR:

Matt Jackson - WR/DB - MAC - Leads the team in interceptions with seven and second in tackles with 49.5. On special teams, four field goal returns for 122 yards and one touchdown and 32 kickoff returns for 719 yards and three touchdowns.

Marquis Floyd - WR/DB - RGV - Leads the team in receiving with 77 receptions for 1,024 yards and 20 touchdowns. Also has two rushing touchdowns. The Dorados' second leading tackler (36.5), leads the team in interceptions with eight.

Nian Taylor - WR/DB - SAN - Leads the team in receiving with 69 receptions for 797 yards and 22 touchdowns. Second on team in interceptions (three), and third in tackles (31.5).

B.J. Barre - WR/DB - OKC - Ten receiving touchdowns and two rushing touchdowns. Leads team in interceptions (four), passes broken up (12). Also has two fumble recoveries and 2.5 tackles for loss.

Jack Walker Jr. - WR/LB - QUA - Two interceptions, two fumble recoveries and 25.0 tackles on defense. On offense, 69 receptions for 666 yards and 13 touchdowns.

KICKER OF THE YEAR:

Eric Houle - RGV - League leading 15 made field goals. 53-of-62 (85.5%) on extra points. Made game winning field goal against Tulsa, made field goal with under a minute to play against Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.

Brian Hazelwood - BOS - Second in the league in made field goals with ten. 56-of-68 (82.4%) on extra points and 20 touchbacks. 9-of-12 on two-point extra point attempts.

John Gockman - CEN - The rookie is 9-of-16 on field goals and has made 62-of-73 (84.9) extra points.

Danny Kight - LOU - Made a 61-yard field goal at Albany and game winning field goal against South Georgia. Eight field goals made. 67-of-84 (79.8%) on extra points.

Kimo Naehu - SAN - Eight made field goals and 55-of-68 (80.9%) on extra points. Made a 37-yard field goal to beat Birmingham 58-57 with no time remaining.

ROOKIE OF THE YEAR:

Donovan Morgan - OS - TUL - Leads the league in touchdown receptions and scoring and on pace to break both records.

Julian Reese - QB - AMR - Has thrown for 2,870 yards and 55 touchdowns with just seven interceptions to go with his 22 rushing touchdowns.

Khreem Smith - OL/DL - MEM - League leading 13.0 sacks along with three forced fumbles, two blocked kicks and one safety.

Josh Blankenship - QB - TUL - Has adjusted quickly to the arena game with 2,773 passing yards and 66 touchdowns and just nine interceptions.

Matt Jackson - WR/DB - MAC - The former Florida Gator has made contributions on offense, defense and special teams.

COACH OF THE YEAR:

Bob Landsee - GBB - Has guided Green Bay to their first playoff berth in franchise history

Ben Bennett - MAN - Turned a 5-11 team last season into an ArenaCup favorite.

Kevin Bouis - FLO - Has the Firecats thinking back-to-back championships.

Danton Barto - MEM - The Xplorers have improved each season under his guidance.

Kevin Guy - RGV - Has the Dorados in position for a division championship in just their second season.

LINEMAN OF THE YEAR:

Khreem Smith - MEM - Leads the league with 13.0 sacks. Has also registered four hits on the quarterbacks, three forced fumbles and one safety.

Asi Faoa - SAN - Second in the league in sacks with 10.0. Has also forced and recovered a fumble, blocked a kick and scored a safety.

Shawn King - BAK - Tied for third in the league in sacks with 5.5. Also has forced and recovered a fumble and broken up three passes.

Vai Natoa - CEN - Registered 4.0 sacks, 6.5 tackles for loss and a forced fumble, blocked kick and safety

Chris McIver - TUL - Tied for third in the league in sacks with 5.5. Also has two tackles for loss and a safety.

IF THE SEASON ENDED TODAY: In 2005 six teams from each the American and National Conference qualify for the playoffs. The six qualifying teams in each conference consist of the two division champions and four Wild Cards, determined by best overall record. Seeding in each conference is based on overall record, with the top two seeds in each conference reserved for the division champions, regardless of record. In the First Round (August 5-7), the two division winners in each conference receive a bye. The top-seeded Wild Card team hosts the lowest-seeded Wild Card team, while the No. 2 seeded Wild Card team hosts the No. 3 seeded Wild Card team. In the Second Round (August 12-14), the division winners who had byes in the First Round host the winners from the First Round. The top seeded division champion plays the lowest seeded team advancing from the First Round, while the second-seeded division winner plays the other winner from the First Round. The winners of the Second Round will meet for the Conference Championships on the weekend of August 19-21. For this round seeding no longer matters, meaning the team with the better overall record hosts the Conference Championship game. The winners of the Conference Championships face off in the 2005 ArenaCup on August 27 at the CenturyTel Center in Bossier City, Louisiana televised on FOX Sports Net.

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