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af2 Week Fifteen: Quick Hitters

July 5, 2007 - arenafootball2 (af2) News Release


GAMES ON - af2/B2 FEATURED GAMES IN WEEK 15: 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 15 online broadcast schedule is detailed below. All times listed are Eastern.

Week 15

Friday, July 6, 2007

Albany at Green Bay 8:30 p.m.

Saturday, July 7, 2007

Manchester at Cincinnati 7:30 p.m.

South Georgia at Florida 7:30 p.m.

Tulsa at Lubbock 8:05 p.m.

Alabama at Oklahoma City 8:05 p.m.

Bakersfield at Boise 9:00 p.m.

Tennessee Valley at Everett 10:30 p.m.

Monday, July 9, 2007

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

OFF THE NET/week 15: The arenafootball2 league (af2) online radio show, "Off the Net," the only internet radio show devoted solely to af2, will air its 15th show of the season today, Thursday, July 5, on www.af2.com. This week's show features special in-depth interviews with af2 President JERRY KURZ and the all-time leader in af2 coaching wins, CHRIS SIEGFRIED, who now serves as the Offensive Coordinator for the Kansas City Brigade. The program will also include news and notes from around the af2 as the league enters the 15th 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 11TH STRAIGHT WEEK: The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Pioneers have maintained the No. 1 ranking of the Weekly Coaches Poll for the 11th 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 12-0 after a 51-40 Week 14 home win against Mahoning Valley. They have already clinched the East Division title and an automatic berth in the playoffs. With a win this week at Fort Wayne, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton can secure the No. 1 seed in the American Conference. The Pioneers' current 11-week presence at the top of the Coaches Poll is the longest run at No. 1 since the poll was created in 2004. Rio Grande Valley (11-1, 2 first place votes) moved up one spot to No. 2 overall after a 78-17 home win against Texas. The Dorados have won a team-record nine straight games. Florida, winners of six consecutive contests, made a significant jump to No. 3 after entering Week 14 at No. 6. The Firecats (10-3, 381 points, 1 first place vote) gained added respect thanks to an impressive 69-38 win at Oklahoma City. The Arkansas Twisters (9-3, 358 points) also moved into the Top-5 this week after beating Tulsa for the second time in 2007, 45-39, in overtime. The Talons (10-2, 357 points) slipped three spots to No. 5. .

WALKER, SAVAGE, SMITH, DEML EARN WEEK 14 HONORS: Quad City wide receiver/linebacker JACK WALKER, JR., Spokane wide receiver ANTWONE SAVAGE and Texas linebacker STANLEY SMITH have been named the U.S. Army Ironman, Schutt Offensive Player and ADT Defensive Player of the Week, respectively, for Week 14 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 14 goes to Texas wide receiver JASON DEML.

Walker (6-4, 195, Kent State), in his fifth af2 season, had another impressive all-around effort for Quad City in the team's 61-33 home win against Green Bay in Week 14. The veteran from Kent State made his presence felt on offense with a game-high 12 catches for 106 yards and four touchdowns. Walker was also an impact player on defense with 2.0 tackles, two forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and one sack. This is Walker's third Ironman of the Week Award this season. He was also honored for his Week 10 and Week 8 performances. Offensively, Walker ranks among the af2 leaders in receptions (7th - 100) and scoring (7th - 176 points) and is tied for the league lead in fumble recoveries with five. Walker, in his third year with Quad City, earned American Conference All-af2 Second Team honors in 2006. Savage (6-0, 195, Oklahoma) had a record-setting performance on Saturday night for Spokane in the team's important, 76-57, road win at West Division rival Central Valley. Savage, in his third af2 season, scorched the Coyotes defense with 13 catches for 195 yards and an af2-record tying eight receiving touchdowns. The Oklahoma alum also tied af2 single-game highs for points scored (48) and total touchdowns (8). Savage's 195 yards receiving tied a Spokane team record. This is Savage's second Offensive Player of the Week Award this season. He was also honored for his Week 10 effort. Savage currently leads the league in scoring (210 points), total touchdowns (35) and receiving touchdowns (34). He also ranks among the league's elite in receiving yards (3rd - 1,354), receptions (T5th - 101) and all-purpose yards (6th - 2,097). Smith (6-1, 240, Louisiana-Lafayette) had a stellar night defensively in his af2 debut in Week 14 for Texas in the team's 74-44 home loss to Lubbock. Despite the defeat, the Copperheads rookie from Louisiana Lafayette made quite a first impression with five tackles, two sacks, one pass breakup, two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries against the Renegades. Both of Smith's fumble recoveries resulted in touchdowns as well. He snared his first recovery in the end zone for a score in the second quarter and picked up his second in the fourth quarter and returned it 23 yards for a touchdown. Smith is the second Texas player honored by the af2 with a weekly award this season. WR/KR Jarrod Fuller earned the U.S. Army Ironman of the Week Award for his strong two-way play in Week 6. Deml (6-4, 210, Louisiana-Monroe), who is in his first season in the af2, earned the Cutters Catch of the Week Award for his one-handed, 39-yard touchdown in the first quarter of Texas' home loss to Lubbock on Saturday. The rookie from Louisiana-Monroe snared the scoring pass over his left shoulder as a Renegades defender ran stride for stride with him down the left sideline. Deml finished the night with five catches for 83 yards and two touchdowns. He currently ranks third on the squad in receiving with 30 catches for 370 yards and four touchdowns.

DIETZ AND FREDERICK NAMED AFL CO-ROOKIES OF THE YEAR: Tampa Bay Storm QB BRETT DIETZ (6-4, 220, Hanover) and Kansas City Brigade WR CHARLES FREDERICK (5-11, 185, Washington) were selected as the 2007 Co-Rookies of the Year as voted by AFL head coaches, fans, players and the Arena Football League Writers Association (AFLWA), the League announced on Thursday. Dietz, who won both Offensive Player of the Week (Week 14) and Rookie of the Month (May, June) honors, completed 199-of-302 passes for 2,395 yards and 47 touchdowns, setting the AFL single-season record for completion percentage by a rookie with at least 300 attempts (65.9) and achieved the second-highest passer rating for a rookie (119.3) in the process. Dietz, who earned All-Rookie honors last week, guided the Storm to an 8-1 record once he became a regular under center. The Storm began the season 1-6 and due much to the play of Dietz, finished the season at 9-7 earning the third seed in the National Conference playoff standings. He became the first player in AFL history to be named Rookie of the Year in the AFL after winning the same honor in af2 (2006 - Louisville Fire). Frederick, who joined Dietz earning All-Rookie honors last week, 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). His 115 receptions stood eight shy of breaking the all-time rookie record of 122, set in 2006 by 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.

This isn't the first time a former af2 standout earned Rookie of the Year recognition in the AFL. A year after starring for the af2's Columbus Wardogs in 2004, WR TROY BERGERON won the 2005 AFL Rookie of the Year Award after turning in an outstanding first season with the Georgia Force.

LEWIS NAMED AFL KICKER OF THE YEAR: Austin Wranglers K MARK LEWIS, who played for the Tennessee Valley Vipers in 2003, was selected the 2007 Kicker of the Year as voted by AFL head coaches, players, fans, and the Arena Football League Writers Association (AFLWA) earlier this week. Lewis, who earned All-Arena First Team honors last week, ranked second among kickers in scoring (155 points) while connecting on 15-of-25 (60.0 percent) field-goal attempts and converting 110-of-118 extra-point attempts, including a streak of 48 straight which tied as the longest of the season (Tampa Bay's Seth Marler). He also registered 33 touchbacks. In his one season of af2 play with the Vipers, Lewis connected on 10-of-16 field goal attempts and drilled 99-of-112 PATs. Last year's af2 Kicker of the Year, A.J. HAGLUND, now with the San Jose SaberCats, also received strong consideration for the AFL award.

PETTIS HIGHLIGHTS af2 PRESENCE ON AFL ALL-IRONMAN TEAM: The Arena Football League announced the 2007 All-Ironman Team late last week and former Pensacola Barracudas two-way standout and current Dallas Desperados star WR/DB WILL PETTIS highlighted a group of three former af2 players who earned All-Ironman recognition this year. The following is a list of the All-Ironman Team members with af2 experience:

WILL PETTIS - WR/DB - DALLAS DESPERADOS

Pettis made his AFL debut in 2003 and put together one of the League's best seasons by a rookie to earn All-Rookie and Second Team All-Arena honors. He finished his first season with a rookie-club record 1,562 all-purpose yards - 798 receiving, 640 on kickoff returns, 93 on missed field goal returns, 22 on interception returns and nine rushing - while finishing fourth on the team with 34.5 tackles. This season Pettis recorded 46 total touchdowns (2 rush, 40 rec, 4 ret) during regular season play, as well as earning 59.5 tackles, to help guide the Desperados (15-1) to the playoffs.

B.J. BARRE - WR/DB - COLUMBUS DESTROYERS

Despite an injury which forced him to miss a number of games this season, Barre came back with a purpose, proving himself as one of the Columbus Destroyers leading defensive backs. In his second season with Columbus, Barre has recorded 51 tackles, as well as 22 receptions for 291 yards and seven touchdowns on the offensive side. Before joining the Destroyers, Barre spent two seasons in the af2 (Tulsa Talons - 2004, Oklahoma City Yard Dawgz - 2005). In the 2005 season, Barre was second on the Yard Dawgz in tackles with 35.5, recorded 48 receptions for 617 yards and 15 touchdowns, and led the team in interceptions (5) and pass breakups (13).

RYAN DENNARD - WR/LB - UTAH BLAZE

Dennard had a breakout campaign in his second season with the Blaze in 2007. Dennard recorded 35 receptions for 449 yards and 14 touchdowns during regular season play, as well as earning one rushing touchdown. Defensively, the Arizona State alum had 30 tackles on the season, as well as four interceptions for 37 yards.

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 14 win against Mahoning Valley, the veteran leader now has 55 all-time wins and stands just two 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 third on the all-time list with 52. 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* 55

3. Ben Bennett* 52

Kevin Guy 52

5. 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 50 through 12 games. The Dorados are just two sacks away from the current af2 team record (52 - Carolina, 2001) and are on pace to post 67 overall for the season. DL QUINTON STATON leads the team individually with a team-record 13.5 sacks on the year. Staton ranks second overall in the af2 while his teammate KEENAN WASHINGTON is third overall with 12 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 105.5 and in interceptions with 12. If he continues on his current pace, the former FAMU standout has a chance to set the af2 single season records for total tackles (121.5 - William Haith, MAN - 2005) and interceptions (15 - Kelly Snell, TVV - 2002).

RICHEY FLYIN' HIGH FOR HAWKS: Everett standout receiver JOSH RICHEY tied the af2 record for most consecutive 100-yard receiving games with his eighth straight on Saturday in the team's loss at Stockton. The second-year player from Northeastern State University (Okla.) caught a game-high 11 passes for 107 yards and one touchdown against the Lightning.

Richey becomes the third player in league history to record eight consecutive 100-yard receiving games. Jacksonville's Anthony Bright was the first to set the standard in 2001. Quad City's Kris Peters equaled the mark in 2006. Richey's 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. He currently leads the af2 in receiving yards (1,462) and is second in receiving touchdowns (33).

BOSSIER-SHREVEPORT ON VERGE OF WIN RECORD: After assuring themselves just their second winning season in team history, the Bossier-Shreveport Battle Wings next goal is to set the team record for most wins in a season. The Battle Wings tied a team record for most wins in a season with nine thanks to a Week 12 triumph against Corpus Christi. Bossier-Shreveport (9-3) will attempt to set a new team record with 10 wins on Saturday when the team hosts Arkansas (9-3).

DORADOS CONTINUE RECORD-BREAKING CAMPAIGN: Let's just say Rio Grande Valley (11-1) is in the midst of a record-breaking season. Many team marks have been set already and more are likely to come. With the Dorados most recent win against Corpus Christi in Week 14, veteran QB Josh Kellett broke the franchise record for most touchdown passes in one season (66) with five on the night. Rio Grande Valley also broke the franchise record for most points scored in one game with 78. The Dorados also added to their record for consecutive wins (9) in one season, and set a franchise mark for most regular season wins in one season (11). WR George Williams tied the franchise record for most touchdown receptions in one season with 31, and also tied the record for most overall touchdowns (33) last week with a first quarter rushing score.

W-B/SCRANTON STILL THE ONE: Entering Week 15 of the season, there is only one team that remains undefeated - the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Pioneers (12-0). 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 51-40 Week 14 win against Mahoning Valley. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton's current 11-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 play at Fort Wayne (5-8) 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* 12-0 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 NEW CAREER INTERCEPTION LEADER: 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. Sebastien has regained the overall lead after recording his 31st career pick in the Wolves' Week 14 win against South Georgia. Florida WR/DB BRENT BURNSIDE ranks fifth overall with 24 career interceptions.

ALL-TIME REGULAR SEASON

INTERCEPTION LEADERS

NAME INTS

1. Allistair Sebastien* 31

2. Matt Forbes* 30

3. Arkee Thompson 27

4. Michael Brown 25

5. Brent Burnside* 24

* denotes active players

HUNT HITS 800-POINT MARK: Oklahoma City veteran WR/DB AL HUNT became the newest member of the 800-point club with 12 points scored last week in a 69-38 home loss to Florida. Hunt entered the contest with 790 and ended the evening with a career tally of 802. Florida WR MAGIC BENTON is the af2's top scorer with 978 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 934 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 866 points. Quad City veteran WR/LB Jack Walker, jr. moved up to fourth on the all-time scoring list with 826 points after a four-touchdown day against Green Bay in Week 14. WR JARRAIL JACKSON hit 800 in Week 9 and is currently fifth on the list of the league's all-time top scorers with 816 points. Below is a breakdown of the leading scorers in af2 history:

MOST POINTS SCORED, NON-KICKING, CAREER

PTS PLAYER YEARS PLAYED

978 Magic Benton* 2001-present

934 Kevin Williams* 2001-present

866 George Williams* 2001, 2003-present

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

816 Jarrail Jackson* 2000-01, 2005-present

802 Al Hunt* 2003-present

780 Mitch Allner 2000-04

756 Cainon Lamb 2002-05

738 Kevin Prentiss 2003-2006

* denotes active players

POSTSEASON APPEARANCES: The Tulsa Talons officially clinched their eighth straight trip to the af2 playoffs in Week 14 despite a road loss at Central Division rival Arkansas. Tulsa's eight playoff appearances are the most in league history. Florida secured its sixth straight trip to the postseason with a Week 14 win at Oklahoma City. The Firecats rank second overall in playoff appearances. Quad City and Tennessee Valley are tied for the third most postseason appearances in league history with five. The Talons are one of four teams (Arkansas, Alabama, Quad City) that have been a part of the af2 since the league's inception in 2000.

MOST PLAYOFF APPEARANCES, ALL-TIME

TEAM APPEARANCES

TULSA 8

FLORIDA 6

QUAD CITY 5

TENNESSEE VALLEY 5

MACON 4

PLAYOFF SCENARIOS FOR WEEK 15

American Conference

Wilkes-Barre/Scranton can clinch the No. 1 seed with a win against FTW

National Conference

Arkansas can clinch a playoff spot with a win against BSB

Bossier-Shreveport can clinch a playoff spot with a win against ARK

Florida can clinch the South Division and a home playoff game with a win by 12 points or more against SGW

South Georgia can clinch a playoff spot with a win against FLA and a loss by TVV and ALA

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 (12-0) - xy - Clinched East Division

2. Spokane (9-4) - Current West Division Leader

3. Quad City (8-5) - Current Midwest Division Leader

4. Tri-Cities (7-5) - Owns better win % in common games over CVC (BAK, BOI, EVE, SPK, STK)

5. Central Valley (7-5)

6. Manchester (6-6) - Owns SOS advantage over GBB, LOU and STK

7. Green Bay (6-6) - Owns SOS advantage over LOU and STK

8. Stockton (6-6) - Owns better win % in common games over LOU (BOI)

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9. Louisville (6-6)

10. Albany (5-7) - Owns SOS advantage over BAK and MVT

11. Mahoning Valley (5-7) - Owns better win% in common games over BAK (TRI)

12. Bakersfield (5-7)

13. Fort Wayne (5-8)

14. Boise (4-8)

15. Everett (3-9)

16. Cincinnati (1-11)

NATIONAL CONFERENCE STANDINGS

1. Rio Grande Valley (11-1) - y - Current Southwest Division Leader

2. Tulsa (10-2) - y - Current Central Division Leader

3. Florida (10-3) - y - Current South Division Leader

4. Arkansas (9-3) - Owns HTH advantage over BSB

5. Bossier-Shreveport (9-3)

6. South Georgia (8-4)

7. Oklahoma City (6-6) - Owns HTH advantage over LUB

8. Lubbock (6-6)

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9. Tennessee Valley (5-7) - Owns HTH advantage over ALA

10. Alabama (5-7)

11. Amarillo (3-9)

12. Texas (2-10) - Owns point differential advantage over CCS in HTH meetings (14-11)

13. Corpus Christi (2-10)

14. Laredo (1-11)

x - clinched division championship, y - clinched playoff spot

HTH = Head-to-head; SOS = Strength of schedule



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