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af2 week eight quick hitters

May 17, 2007 - arenafootball2 (af2) News Release


GAMES ON - af2/B2 FEATURED GAMES IN WEEK 8: 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 seven (7) af2 games available though B2. The Week 8 online broadcast schedule is detailed below. All times listed are Eastern.

Week 8

Friday, May 18, 2007

Cincinnati at Green Bay 8:30 p.m.

Everett at Quad City 8:30 p.m.

Saturday, May 19, 2007

Mahoning Valley at Florida 7:30 p.m.

Oklahoma City at Lubbock 8:05 p.m.

Spokane at Boise 9:00 p.m.

Tri-Cities at Bakersfield 10:00 p.m.

Central Valley at Stockton 10:30 p.m.

OFF THE NET/week 8: The arenafootball2 league (af2) online radio show, "Off the Net," the only internet radio show devoted solely to af2, will air its eighth show of the season today, Thursday, May 17, on www.af2.com. This week's show features special interviews with Central Valley Head Coach FRED BILETNIKOFF, JR. and Rio Grande Valley Director of Broadcasting/Media Relations RICH BOCCHINI. The program will also include news and notes from around the af2 as the league enters the eighth 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 FOURTH STRAIGHT WEEK: The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Pioneers have maintained the No. 1 ranking of the Weekly Coaches Poll for the fourth straight week, the arenafootball2 (af2) league office announced on Wednesday. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton collected 462 of a possible 464 points and 27-of-30 first place votes in securing the top position. The Pioneers, who are off to their best start in team history at 6-0, further solidified their claim to the top spot with a 56-26 road win in Week 7 at Mahoning Valley. The Tulsa Talons (6-0, 423 points, 3 first place votes) held firm at the No. 2 spot on the strength of a 60-42 home win Saturday against Lubbock. The Arkansas Twisters (5-1, 398 points) moved up two positions to No. 3 after handing the previously unbeaten Bossier-Shreveport Battle Wings their first loss of 2007, 64-50. The defeat dropped the Battle Wings (5-1, 327 points) two spots to No. 5. Rio Grande Valley (5-1, 337 points) improved three spots this week to No. 4 overall with a 45-20 road win at Corpus Christi.

MORGAN, GROEFSEMA, FERGUSON, WILLIAMS EARN WEEK 7 HONORS: Stockton wide receiver/defensive back KENYATTE MORGAN, Central Valley quarterback CLAY GROEFSEMA and Wilkes-Barre/Scranton wide receiver/defensive back WILLIAM FERGUSON have been named the U.S. Army Ironman, Schutt Offensive Player and ADT Defensive Player of the Week, respectively, for Week 7 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 7 goes to Albany wide receiver ANTWUN WILLIAMS.

Morgan (5-8, 175, Montana State), in his fourth af2 season, had an impressive all-around effort for Stockton in the team's dramatic 55-54 road win at Everett in Week 7. The former Montana State star was an impact player on offense and special teams. He had nine catches for 122 yards and one touchdown offensively and also amassed a team-record 237 kick return yards on nine returns (26.3 ypr), the sixth-highest single game total in league history. His team-record 359 all-purpose yards also tied for the ninth best single-game mark in af2 annals. Morgan chipped in defensively with one tackle. This is Morgan's third league award of his af2 career. He was honored as the Ironman of the Week with Stockton in 2006 (WK18) and as the Offensive Player of the Week with Central Valley in 2004 (WK17). Morgan leads the af2 in all-purpose yards (1,313) and kick return yards (733) and also ranks among the af2's best in receptions with 52 (T6th). He is also the league's all-time leader in kick return yards with 4,487. Groefsema (6-2, 205, University of Redlands) had a career night for Central Valley on Saturday in a 79-70 home win against Boise. The rookie signal caller from the University of Redlands was on fire in the victory over the Burn, setting three team records on the night. Groefsema accounted for 12 touchdowns, compiled 405 yards of total offense and rushed for four touchdowns, all new Central Valley single-game highs. He completed 28-of-40 passes for 373 yards and eight touchdowns with just one interception through the air while also rushing for 32 yards and four scores. This is the first af2 weekly honor of Groefsema's career. He currently leads the league in total offensive TDs (44 - 36 passing, 8 rushing) and total offensive yards per game (274.7) and also ranks among the af2's elite in rushing touchdowns (3rd - 8), touchdown passes (T3rd - 36) and passing yards (6th - 1,578). Ferguson (5-10, 190, Pittsburgh), in his third af2 season, was a major force on defense in Week 7 for Wilkes-Barre/Scranton in the Pioneers' 56-26 road win at Mahoning Valley. The former Pittsburgh Panther harassed the Thunder with 8.0 total tackles (7 UA, 2 A), three interceptions (39 INT return yards) and one pass breakup. This is the first weekly af2 award of Ferguson's career. He is also the second Defensive Player of the Week Award winner for Wilkes-Barre/Scranton in 2007 (DB Chris Royal - WK5). He currently leads the Pioneers in interceptions (5) and also ranks third on the squad in tackles with 35.5. W-B/Scranton is 6-0 and currently the top-ranked team in af2. Williams (6-2, 185, Virginia State), who is in his second season in the af2, earned the Cutters Catch of the Week Award for a sliding, 11-yard touchdown in the third quarter that he clutched on a rebound against the side boards in the end zone. Despite Williams' effort, the Conquest lost in a close contest on the road at Manchester, 53-48. The former playmaker from Virginia State finished the night with nine catches for 90 yards and two touchdowns. Williams also recovered a fumbled kickoff by the Wolves in the end zone for an Albany touchdown. He currently leads the Conquest in scoring (96 points) and receiving touchdowns (14).

VENA IN THE ZONE: Wilkes-Barre/Scranton veteran signal caller RYAN VENA is off to the best start of his four-year af2 career. In six starts (all wins), the former Colgate standout has completed nearly 72 percent (71.7 - 1st in af2) of his passes and thrown 36 touchdowns without an interception. Vena also leads the league in passer rating at 135.8. He is also just one touchdown pass shy of 250 for his career. Before this year, Vena spent his previous three af2 seasons with the Albany Conquest (2002-03, 2006).

BENNETT AND INGOLD ABOUT TO TURN 50: Manchester Head Coach BEN BENNETT and W-B/Scranton Head Coach RICH INGOLD are on the cusp of joining the exclusive 50-win club for coaching wins in the af2. To date, only three coaches in league history have hit the 50-win plateau. The league's all-time leader is CHRIS SIEGFRIED with 57 career wins. Siegfried, now the offensive coordinator of the AFL's Kansas City Brigade, helped guide the expansion Spokane Shock to the 2006 ArenaCup title. Both Bennett and Ingold are currently tied with 49 wins each after the Wolves and Pioneers claimed Week 7 wins. Bennett goes for No. 50 this Friday at Bossier-Shreveport while Ingold seeks No. 50 at Tennessee Valley on Saturday. Ingold and Bennett are tied for fourth all-time in af2 career wins. They are the two winningest active coaches in the league. Louisville's TOMMY JOHNSON hit a milestone in Week 6 by notching his 40th career af2 win. Johnson, currently with 41 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. Kevin Guy 52

3. Bobby Humphrey 51

4. Danton Barto 49

4. Ben Bennett* 49

4. Rich Ingold* 49

* denotes active coaches

DOWN TO TWO: Entering Week 8 of the season, there are only two teams that remain undefeated. They are the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Pioneers (6-0) and Tulsa Talons (6-0). The Pioneers are currently ranked No. 1 in the Weekly Coaches Poll. This is Wilkes-Barre/Scranton's fourth straight week atop the chart. The Talons are ranked No. 2 overall. The Pioneers and Talons are off to their best starts in team history. The Battle Wings, who entered Week 7 unbeaten at 5-0, lost for the first time last Saturday at Arkansas, 64-50. This Saturday night Wilkes-Barre/Scranton travels to Tennessee Valley (4-2) to take on the No. 11-ranked Vipers, while Tulsa plays at Amarillo (1-5). If the Pioneers and/or the Talons win, they will move to 7-0 and tie for the third-best start in league history.

Below is a chart detailing the best starts in af2 history.

TEAM START SEASON

Quad City 16-0 2000

Tennessee Valley 14-0 2003

Augusta 7-0 2002

Richmond 7-0 2002

HAZELWOOD SETS LEAGUE FIELD GOAL RECORD: Bossier-Shreveport K BRIAN HAZELWOOD, in his fourth af2 season, became the league's all-time leader in field goals made last Saturday in the Battle Wings' 64-50 loss at Arkansas. Hazelwood's record-breaking 43rd field goal was a 22-yard connection in the second quarter. Former Florida K BRANDON KORNBLUE held the previous af2 all-time record with 42 field goals made over his five-year career. Currently Hazelwood is tied for the league lead in field goals made (7) and field goal percentage (77.8 percent: 7-of-9).

GATTO KICKS IT UP A NOTCH: Texas K NICK GATTO connected on 5-of-7 field goals in the Copperheads' 42-34 home win against the Laredo Lobos last Sunday. Gatto's five field goals made was the second-highest single game total in af2 history. Former Norfolk Nighthawks K LEE MCDONALD connected on six field goals in a game at Charleston on April 22, 2000. Gatto split the uprights from 21, 31, 33, 38 and 46 yards.

VILLANEUVA TRUE IRONMAN: Arkansas QB Brian Villanueva helped lead the Twisters to a 64-50 home victory against the previously unbeaten Bossier-Shreveport Battle Wings last Saturday, throwing for 355 yards and nine touchdowns. That's a strong effort on its own, but what's even more amazing is that Villaneuva's performance came on a broken foot. The second-year signal caller from Fort Valley State was injured on the third play of the game when a Bossier-Shreveport player fell on his foot. Villaneuva, who limped noticeably throughout the rest of the game, completed 26-of-43 passes with just one interception. His 355 yards passing was the third highest single game total in team history, bested only by former Twisters signal callers Jon Nielsen and Ricky Hebert. Villaneuva's nine touchdown passes was also the second highest single game sum in Arkansas history. After a doctor's visit earlier this week, it was formally discovered that Villanueva suffered three broken bones in his foot and will be out up to six weeks.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: On Monday night in Everett, one of the most exciting finishes of the season occurred between the visiting Stockton Lightning and the host Hawks. With 1:25 to play in the contest, the Lightning scored on a 9-yard pass play from EVAN GRAY to SALE' KEY to go ahead by four, 52-48. The Hawks fought back on the next possession. Everett QB Jason CampbelL gave Everett a 54-52 lead with a 7-yard touchdown pass to Marvin Brown with 8.6 seconds remaining. The point after attempt by K ADAM WILLIAMS, however, which would have given the Hawks a 3-point advantage, was wide left. Despite the miss, the Hawks felt like the win was within their reach as the Lightning got the ball back with just 5.0 seconds to play deep inside their own territory. Stockton then lined up to try a 57-yard field goal. Everett blocked the attempt, but Head Coach CEDRIC WALKER had called for a timeout and the play was negated. After the timeout, the Lightning decided to try one more play before another kick attempt. Gray completed an 18-yard pass to Kenyatte Morgan to set up a 39-yard field goal try with just .4 seconds left. Stockton K Alex Walls stepped up and drilled the game-winner as time expired to give the Lightning a stunning 55-54 victory.

BENTON SCORES 900: Florida WR MAGIC BENTON became the first player in af2 history to score 900 points in the Firecats 56-51 win in Week 6 at Albany. The veteran, who entered the contest with 898 points, scored three touchdowns against the Conquest to increase his career total to 916 points. Benton, in his seventh season, is currently the league's all-time scoring leader. His next closest competitor is Arkansas veteran WR/LB KEVIN WILLIAMS (880). Manchester WR JARRAIL JACKSON's five touchdown performance in Week 7 vaulted him into third place on the all-time list with 784 points. Quad City WR/LB Jack Walker and Oklahoma City WR/DB AL HUNT both reached the 700-point plateau last week with three scores apiece in their respective games. Walker and Hunt, in the midst of their fifth af2 seasons, both have 712 career points. Benton also holds a number of other af2 all-time records, including receptions (520), receiving yards (6,853) and receiving touchdowns (150). Below is a breakdown of the leading scorers in af2 history:

MOST POINTS SCORED, NON-KICKING, CAREER

PTS PLAYER YEARS PLAYED

916 Magic Benton* 2001-present

880 Kevin Williams* 2001-present

784 Jarrail Jackson* 2000-01, 2005-present

780 Mitch Allner 2000-04

756 Cainon Lamb 2002-05

746 George Williams* 2001, 2003-present

738 Kevin Prentiss 2003-2006

* denotes active players

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