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af2 week 14 quick hitters

June 28, 2007 - arenafootball2 (af2) News Release


GAMES ON - af2/B2 FEATURED GAMES IN WEEK 14: The arenafootball2 league (af2) has established a new, extensive online network to provide the league's passionate fan base an opportunity to view a vast number of games through the internet. Thanks to a new league partnership with industry leader B2 Networks, fans across the globe are now be able to bring all the action of af2 football right to their home computer or laptop. To tune into the action, fans can log on to www.af2.com and click on the special advertisement located at the top right-hand corner of the page. Viewers looking to enjoy the games via B2 will only need a high-speed internet connection and Windows Media Player 9 or higher. Games will be available for the normal B2 rate of just $6. This week there are eight (8) af2 games available though B2. The Week 14 online broadcast schedule is detailed below. All times listed are Eastern.

Week 14

Friday, June 29, 2007

Green Bay at Quad City 8:30 p.m.

Saturday, June 30, 2007

Louisville at Albany 7:00 p.m.

Mahoning Valley at Wilkes-Barre/Scranton 7:00 p.m.

South Georgia at Manchester 7:05 p.m.

Florida at Oklahoma City 8:05 p.m.

Tri-Cities at Boise 9:00 p.m.

Laredo at Bakersfield 10:00 p.m.

Everett at Stockton 10:00 p.m.

OFF THE NET/week 14: The arenafootball2 league (af2) online radio show, "Off the Net," the only internet radio show devoted solely to af2, will air its 14th show of the season today, Thursday, June 28, on www.af2.com. This week's show features special in-depth interviews with Green Bay Head Coach DOUG LYTLE and Rio Grande Valley Defensive Coordinator CORY STONE. The program will also include news and notes from around the af2 as the league enters the 14th week of the 2007 season. Fans can easily access the program by clicking on a special "Off the Net" advertisement located at the lower right hand corner of af2.com. The show will be available online late this afternoon. "Off the Net," now in its second season, airs every Thursday throughout the regular season and continues all the way until an ArenaCup Champion is crowned in late August. The show is designed to bring af2 fans even closer to their favorite game with in-depth news, interesting interviews and fun feature stories. Veteran broadcaster Dean Jackson serves as host.

PIONEERS TOP COACHES POLL FOR TENTH STRAIGHT WEEK: The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Pioneers have maintained the No. 1 ranking of the Weekly Coaches Poll for the tenth straight week, the arenafootball2 (af2) league office announced on Wednesday. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton collected 461 of a possible 464 points and 27-of-30 first place votes in securing the top position. The Pioneers remain undefeated in 2007 at 11-0 after a 62-55 Week 13 win at Quad City. They also clinched the East Division title and an automatic berth in the playoffs with their last-second victory against the Steamwheelers. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton's current ten-week presence at the top of the Coaches Poll is the longest run at No. 1 since the poll was created in 2004. Tulsa (10-1, 410 points, 2 first place votes), who had a bye in Week 13, continues to hold down the No. 2 position for the third straight week. Rio Grande Valley (10-1, 386 points) also stayed at No. 3 on the strength of a 63-52 win in Week 13 against Oklahoma City. The Dorados have won a team-record eight straight contests. Rounding out the Top-5 this week are the Bossier-Shreveport Battle Wings (9-2, 364 points, 1 first place vote) and South Georgia Wildcats (8-3, 344 points). Both teams were idle in Week 13.

WILLIAMS, VENA, ROGERS, DAVIS EARN WEEK 13 HONORS: Arkansas wide receiver/linebacker KEVIN WILLIAMS, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton quarterback RYAN VENA and Spokane defensive back NYGEL ROGERS have been named the U.S. Army Ironman, Schutt Offensive Player and ADT Defensive Player of the Week, respectively, for Week 13 of the 2007 season. In addition to these three awards, the af2 is also highlighting the player who makes the best catch of the week. The Cutters Catch of the Week Award for Week 13 goes to Corpus Christi wide receiver RANDY DAVIS.

Williams (6-1, 215, Arkansas Pine Bluff), in his seventh af2 season, had an impressive individual performance for Arkansas on Saturday in the team's 64-60 road win against the Everett Hawks. The veteran two-way player from Arkansas Pine Bluff was an impact player on offense, catching seven passes for 48 yards and two touchdowns. Williams also made his presence felt on defense with 3.5 total tackles (2 UA, 3 A), one interception and one fumble recovery. This is the third weekly league honor of his career. Williams was also named Ironman of the Week in 2006 (Week 5) and Offensive Player of the Week in 2004 (Week 14). He is currently tied for second on the Twisters in total touchdowns (17) and ranks third in receptions (45), receiving yards (443) and receiving scores (15). Williams also ranks second in interceptions (7) and fourth in tackles (28). Vena (6-0, 220, Colgate) continued his stellar play in 2007 with another strong showing in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton's 62-55 road win Friday at Quad City. The former Colgate standout, now in his fourth af2 season, completed 29-of-42 passes for 342 yards and nine touchdowns without an interception in the victory. His ninth touchdown pass of the night was a game-winning nine-yard strike to Buchie Ibeh with just three seconds left in the contest. Vena is no stranger to this honor. This is the second straight week he's earned this award and third time in 2007 (Week 4). It's also the sixth time overall that Vena has been named Offensive Player of the Week in his af2 career. He was honored once in 2006 (Week 5) and twice in 2003 (Week 10, Week 15). Vena has led the top-ranked Pioneers to one of the best starts in af2 history at 11-0. He currently leads the league in completion percentage (70.5), passer rating (130.0), touchdown passes (74) and total touchdowns (83 - 74 passing, 9 rushing). Rogers (6-1, 210, Appalachian State), in his first af2 season, had a stellar night defensively in Week 13 for Spokane in the team's impressive, 60-28, West Division win against Boise. The former Appalachian State standout recorded 5.5 total tackles (5 UA, 1 A), two interceptions and four pass breakups. Rogers also returned both of his interceptions for touchdowns (16-yard return TD in first quarter, 44-yard return TD in third quarter). This is the first af2 weekly honor of Rogers' career. The rookie defensive back is currently tied for second on the Shock in interceptions (3) and pass breakups (14) and ranks fourth on the squad with 46.0 total tackles. Davis (5-9, 190, Baylor), who is in his first season in the af2, earned the Cutters Catch of the Week Award for his leaping, 24-yard touchdown as time expired in the first half of Saturday's home contest against Laredo. The Baylor alum snared the scoring pass as it caromed off the rebound net in the midst of a pack of players from both sides. The touchdown gave Corpus Christi a 27-20 halftime advantage. The Sharks carried the effort through to the second half on their way to a 55-38 win. Davis finished the night with four catches for 42 yards and his first touchdown of the season. He also contributed on defense with 2.0 tackles. This is the first Catch of the Week Award of Davis' career.

FORMER BLIZZARD QB SETS AFL TD PASS RECORD: Georgia Force QB CHRIS GREISEN, who played for the af2's Green Bay Blizzard in 2004, set a new AFL single-season record with 117 touchdown passes. Greisen's special year has helped the Force claim the Southern Division title with a franchise-best 14 wins. The former AFL record of 105 touchdown passes was set last season by Dallas QB CLINT DOLEZEL.

GRIESEN HIGHLIGHTS HEAVY af2 PRESENCE ON AFL ALL-ARENA TEAMS: The Arena Football League announced the 2007 All-Arena First and Second Teams on Thursday. Former Green Bay Blizzard QB and current Georgia star signal caller CHRIS GREISEN, who set a new AFL single-season record with 117 touchdown passes while leading the Force to a franchise-best 14 wins, highlighted a group of 10 former af2 players who earned All-Arena recognition this year. The following is a list of the All-Arena First and Second Team members with af2 experience:

All-Arena - First Team

QB - Chris Greisen, Georgia

WR - Bobby Sippio, Chicago

DB - Eddie Moten, Philadelphia

K - Mark Lewis, Austin

All-Arena - Second Team

FB - Josh White, Dallas

OL - Terrance Dotsy, Dallas

WR - Troy Bergeron, Georgia

DL - Silas Demary, Los Angeles

DB - Jermaine Jones, Dallas

K - A.J. Haglund, San Jose

SEVEN af2 ALUMNI EARN AFL ALL-ROOKIE HONORS: Seven former af2 players who have moved up to the Arena Football League have been recognized for their stellar individual efforts in their first AFL season. The group of af2 alumni named to the 2007 AFL All-Rookie Team is highlighted by Tampa Bay Storm QB BRETT DIETZ, who earned af2 Rookie of the Year honors last year as a member of the Louisville Fire. Dietz made his AFL debut in Week 9 and guided the Storm to an 8-1 record, throwing for 2,395 yards and 47 touchdowns in the process. Thanks to their rookie signal caller's strong play, Tampa Bay surged in the second half of the season and earned the No. 3 seed in the National Conference for the upcoming AFL playoffs. The Storm host the No. 6 seed Columbus Destroyers this Saturday, June 30, at 12:00 p.m. ET. The game will be broadcast nationally on ESPN. Another former af2 player who has been especially impressive in his first AFL season is Kansas City WR CHARLES FREDERICK. Frederick led all rookies in receptions (115), yards from scrimmage (1,518), first downs (100), all-purpose yards (2,129), rushing attempts (50), rushing yards (133), rushing touchdowns (14), and scoring (41 TDs, 246 points). Frederick's 115 receptions stood eight shy of breaking the all-time rookie record of 122, set in 2006 by fellow Kansas City WR JEREL MYERS. Frederick was a major player for the af2's Spokane Shock last year, helping lead the team to the ArenaCup title in the organization's first season of play. He earned National Conference All-af2 First Team honors as well. Other af2 alumni named to the AFL All-Rookie Team include C WILL RABATIN (AFL Columbus, af2 Louisville), WR KENNY HIGGINS (AFL Nashville, af2 Memphis), LB STEVE WATSON (AFL San Jose, af2 Arkansas), DB BOBBY KEYES (AFL Dallas, af2 Birmingham) and K A.J. HAGLUND (AFL San Jose, af2 Oklahoma City).

INGOLD CONTINUES MOVE UP WIN LIST: W-B/Scranton Head Coach RICH INGOLD continues to move up the all-time coaching win list. With the Pioneers' Week 13 win at Quad City, the veteran leader now has 54 all-time wins and stands just three victories shy of the league's current all-time coaching wins leader CHRIS SIEGFRIED (57). The only other active coach with 50 career wins is Manchester Head Coach BEN BENNETT, who is currently tied for fourth on the all-time list with 51. Ingold became the fourth coach in league history to win 50 games in Week 8 at Tennessee Valley. He is currently the winningest active coach in the league. Bennett joined the 50-win club with a Week 9 win at Mahoning Valley. Louisville's TOMMY JOHNSON hit a milestone in Week 6 by notching his 40th career af2 win. Johnson, currently with 44 victories, is just the tenth coach in league history to hit the 40-win plateau.

TOP ALL-TIME COACHING VICTORIES

NAME WINS

1. Chris Siegfried 57

2. Rich Ingold* 54

3. Kevin Guy 52

4. Ben Bennett* 51

Bobby Humphrey 51

6. Danton Barto 49

* denotes active coaches

DORADOS ON PACE TO SET SACK RECORD: Rio Grande Valley currently leads the af2 in sacks with a team-record 45 through 11 games. At their current rate of 4.1 sacks per game, they are on pace to post 65 sacks for the season, a mark that would shatter the current af2 team record of 52 set by Carolina in 2001. DL KEENAN WASHINGTON leads the team individually with a team-record 10.5 sacks on the year. Washington ranks second overall in the af2 while his teammate QUINTON STATON is third overall with 10 sacks.

UNBE-LEVY-BLE SEASON FOR BROWN: After a strong rookie campaign for the Firecats in 2006, LEVY BROWN has emerged as arguably the league's top defensive back in 2007. The statistics don't lie. Brown currently leads the league in tackles with 100.5 and in interceptions with 10. If he continues on his current pace, the former FAMU standout has a chance to set the af2 single season record for total tackles (121.5 - William Haith, MAN - 2005). He also has an outside chance to catch the single season league mark for interceptions (15 - Kelly Snell, TVV - 2002).

RICHEY FLYIN' HIGH FOR HAWKS: Everett standout receiver JOSH RICHEY has exceeded 100 yards in receptions in each of the past seven games. The second-year player from Northeastern State University (Okla.) can match the af2 record of eight 100-yard games in succession with another triple-digit performance Saturday when the Hawks (3-8) visit the Stockton Lightning (5-6). The current record was originally set by Jacksonville's Anthony Bright in 2001 and equaled by Quad City's Kris Peters in 2006. Richey currently leads the af2 in both receiving yards (1,355) and touchdowns (32). His current streak began on May 6 with seven catches for 112 yards and a pair of scores in Everett's 2007 home debut, a 43-41 victory over Central Valley.

BOSSIER-SHREVEPORT ON VERGE OF WIN RECORD: The Bossier-Shreveport Battle Wings improved to 9-2 in 2007 with an 81-35 Week 12 win against Corpus Christi. In the process, the Battle Wings tied a team record for most wins in a season with nine. Bossier-Shreveport will attempt to set a new team record with 10 wins on Friday when the team travels to Amarillo to take on the Dusters (2-9).

W-B/SCRANTON STILL THE ONE: Entering Week 14 of the season, there is only one team that remains undefeated - the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Pioneers (11-0). The Pioneers, off to their best start in team history (3rd best start in af2 history), are currently ranked No. 1 in the Weekly Coaches Poll. The Pioneers remained undefeated in 2007 after a 62-55 Week 13 win against Alabama. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton's current 10-week presence at the top of the Coaches Poll surpassed the seven-week run at No. 1 that the Florida Firecats enjoyed in 2005. The Pioneers host Mahoning Valley (5-6) this Saturday at Wachovia Arena. Below is a chart detailing the best starts in af2 history.

TEAM START SEASON

Quad City 16-0 2000

Tennessee Valley 14-0 2003

W-B/Scranton* 11-0 2007

Augusta 7-0 2002

Richmond 7-0 2002

Tulsa 7-0 2007

* denotes active steaks

Of the top six starts in af2 history, however, only one team finished strong as well. The Quad City Steamwheelers ran the table in the league's inaugural 2000 season and won all 16 regular season games and three playoff games, culminating with an ArenaCup Championship. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton's fate however, is yet to be determined.

SEBASTIEN AND FORBES TIED ATOP THE CAREER INTERCEPTION LEADERBOARD: Veteran DB MATT FORBES of the Louisville Fire began the year tied for first on the all-time regular season interceptions list with 27. He moved into first place outright on the all-time list in Week 1 when he recorded his 28th career interception. Entering Week 10, Forbes held the all-time lead over another veteran DB ALLISTAIR SEBASTIEN, 29-28. Sebastien then recorded two interceptions on June 1 against Tulsa to take over the top spot, 30-29. Forbes evened the score the very next night with an interception in a home win against Green Bay. Florida WR/DB BRENT BURNSIDE ranks fifth overall with 24 career interceptions.

ALL-TIME REGULAR SEASON

INTERCEPTION LEADERS

NAME INTS

1. Matt Forbes* 30

1. Allistair Sebastien* 30

3. Arkee Thompson 27

4. Michael Brown 25

5. Brent Burnside* 24

* denotes active players

WALKER JACK-ED UP TO HIT 800-POINT MARK: Quad City veteran WR/LB Jack Walker, jr. became the newest member of the 800-point club with 16 points scored last week in a 62-55 home loss to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. Walker entered the contest with 786 points and ended the evening with a career tally of 802. Florida WR MAGIC BENTON is the af2's top scorer with 966 career points. He became the first player in af2 history to score 900 points in Week 6 with three scores against Albany. Arkansas veteran WR/LB KEVIN WILLIAMS became the second player in af2 history to break the 900-point plateau with two touchdowns in the Twisters' Week 12 win against Oklahoma City. Williams currently stands in second place on the all-time scoring list with 922 points. Rio Grande Valley WR/DB GEORGE WILLIAMS broke past 800 career points thanks to a five-touchdown performance in a Week 11 home win against Texas. He has moved up to third overall with 854 points. Manchester WR JARRAIL JACKSON hit 800 in Week 9 and is currently fourth on the list of the league's all-time top scorers with 816 points. Oklahoma City WR/DB AL HUNT (790) eclipsed the 700-point plateau this season and is almost at 800 as well. Below is a breakdown of the leading scorers in af2 history:

MOST POINTS SCORED, NON-KICKING, CAREER

PTS PLAYER YEARS PLAYED

966 Magic Benton* 2001-present

922 Kevin Williams* 2001-present

854 George Williams* 2001, 2003-present

816 Jarrail Jackson* 2000-01, 2005-present

802 Jack Walker, Jr.* 2002-03, 2005-present

790 Al Hunt* 2003-present

780 Mitch Allner 2000-04

756 Cainon Lamb 2002-05

738 Kevin Prentiss 2003-2006

* denotes active players

PICKED OFF - ARKANSAS DEFENDERS APPROACH RECORD: The Arkansas Twisters secondary boasts a group of ball-hawking defenders that has forced a league-high 27 interceptions so far in 2007. The Twisters are on pace to record 39 for the season, a figure that would surpass the current league record of 36, set in 2001 by Quad City. Pierre Thomas leads Arkansas individually with eight interceptions.

PLAYOFF CLINCHERS: The following teams can clinch a playoff spot in Week 14:

Rio Grande Valley can clinch a playoff spot with a win against Corpus Christi Tulsa can clinch a playoff spot with a win at Arkansas Florida can clinch a playoff spot with a win at Oklahoma City and a Lubbock or Alabama loss Bossier-Shreveport can clinch a playoff spot with a win at Amarillo and a Lubbock or Alabama loss

IF THE SEASON ENDED TODAY - af2 PLAYOFF PICTURE: Sixteen teams qualify for the playoffs, eight from each conference (American and National). The eight qualifying teams in each conference consist of the three division champions and five Wild Cards, determined by best overall record. Seeding in each conference is based on overall record, with the top three seeds in each conference reserved for the division champions, regardless of record. In the First Round (August 3-5), the first three seeds in each conference are the three division winners. The next five teams are seeded by next best five overall records. Teams ranked 1-4 earn home playoff games with 1 hosting 8, 2 hosting 7, 3 hosting 6 and 4 hosting 5. In the Second Round (August 10-12), the winner of the 1-8 game plays the winner of the 4-5 game. The winner of the 2-7 game plays the winner of the 3-6 game. The home team is decided by the team with the higher seed. The winners of the Second Round will meet for the Conference Championships on the weekend of August 17-19. The team with the better overall record hosts the Conference Championship game. The winners of the Conference Championships face off in the 2007 ArenaCup on Saturday, August 25 at the CenturyTel Center in Bossier City, La.

American Conference Standings 1. W-B/Scranton (11-0) - xy - Clinched East Division

2. Spokane (8-4) - Current West Division Leader

3. Quad City (7-5) - Current Midwest Division Leader

4. Central Valley (7-4)

5. Louisville (6-5) - Owns HTH advantage over GBB

6. Green Bay (6-5) - Owns better win % in common games over TRI (MVT)

7. Tri-Cities (6-5) - Loses common opponents tiebreaker with LOU and GBB (MVT)

8. Manchester (5-6) - Owns SOS advantage over MTV and STK

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9. Mahoning Valley (5-6) - Owns better W/L % in common games over STK (TRI)

10. Stockton (5-6)

11. Albany (4-7) - Owns SOS advantage over BAK and BOI

12. Boise (4-7) - Owns HTH advantage over BAK

13. Bakersfield (4-7)

14. Fort Wayne (4-8)

15. Everett (3-8)

16. Cincinnati (1-10)

NATIONAL CONFERENCE STANDINGS 1. Tulsa (10-1) - Current Central Division Leader

2. Rio Grande Valley (10-1) - Current Southwest Division Leader

3. Florida (9-3) - Current South Division Leader

4. Bossier-Shreveport (9-2)

5. South Georgia (8-3) - Owns HTH advantage over ARK

6. Arkansas (8-3)

7. Oklahoma City (6-5)

8. Alabama (5-6) - Owns SOS advantage over LUB

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9. Lubbock (5-6)

10. Tennessee Valley (4-7)

11. Amarillo (2-9) - Owns SOS advantage over CCS and TEX

12. Texas (2-9) - Owns point differential advantage over CCS in HTH meetings (14-11)

13. Corpus Christi (2-9)

14. Laredo (1-10)

x - clinched division championship, y - clinched playoff spot

*Teams in bold currently lead their respective division; HTH = Head-to-head; SOS = Strength of schedule

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