NFL, MLB, NHL, NBA, CFL stats



arenafootball2

af2 Weekly Awards

June 19, 2007 - arenafootball2 (af2) News Release


CHICAGO - Alabama wide receiver HERMAN BELL, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton quarterback RYAN VENA and Arkansas defensive back PIERRE THOMAS have been named the U.S. Army Ironman, Schutt Offensive Player and ADT Defensive Player of the Week, respectively, for Week 12 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 12 goes to Laredo wide receiver COREY READY.

U.S. ARMY IRONMAN OF THE WEEK

Bell (5-8, 180, Jacksonville State), in his third af2 season, had an impressive individual performance for Alabama on Saturday in the team's 77-62 loss to top-ranked Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. Bell broke the af2 record for kick return yards with 286 against the Pioneers on 12 returns. He surpassed the previous league record of 268 yards set by Bossier City's Shadrick McAfee in 2003. The former Jacksonville State alum also had a 57-yard return touchdown in the second quarter. In addition to his return yards, Bell also caught five passes for 54 yards and a score. He finished with 343 all-purpose yards (third highest all-purpose output of 2007) and recorded one tackle on defense. Bell has amassed 633 all-purpose yards (158.3 per game) and three touchdowns in only four games.

SCHUTT OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK

Vena (6-0, 220, Colgate) continued his stellar play in 2007 with another amazing showing in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton's 77-62 win Saturday against Alabama. The former Colgate standout, now in his fourth af2 season, set two new team records in the victory against the Steeldogs, one for touchdown passes (10) and one for total touchdowns (11; 10 passing, 1 rushing). Vena completed 27-of-34 passes (.794 completion percentage) in the contest for a season-high 360 yards with just one interception. Vena is no stranger to this honor. This is the second time in 2007 (Week 4) and fifth time overall that Vena has been named Offensive Player of the Week in his af2 career. He was also 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 10-0. He currently leads the league in completion percentage (70.7) and passer rating (129.6) and is also tied for the af2's top spot in total touchdowns with 74 (65 passing, 9 rushing).

ADT DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK

Thomas (5-11, 200, Missouri Western St.), in his third af2 season, had a stellar night defensively in Week 12 for Arkansas in the team's important, 51-39, Central Division win against Oklahoma City. The former Missouri Western standout recorded a Week 12-best 12.0 total tackles (10 UA, 4A), one interception and one pass breakup. Thomas' interception stopped a Yard Dawgz drive at the end of the first half that preserved Arkansas' two-score advantage, 25-13. This is the first af2 weekly honor of Thomas' career. He currently ranks among the league leaders in interceptions (T2nd - 8) and tackles (5th - 68.5). Thomas leads a group of ball-hawking defenders in the Twisters secondary that has forced a league-high 26 interceptions so far in 2007.

CUTTERS CATCH OF THE WEEK

Ready (6-0, 205, Catawba), who is in his first season in the af2, is the Week 12 recipient of the Cutters Catch of the Week Award, a weekly honor that emerged last year to highlight the player who makes the best catch of the week. Ready's catch was a leaping, 7-yard touchdown late in the fourth quarter of Saturday's home contest against Texas. The former Catawba alum snared the scoring pass just as he slammed up against the back boards of the end zone to cap off the Lobos first win of the season, 66-41. Ready finished the night with five catches for 46 yards and his first two touchdowns of the season. This is the first Catch of the Week Award of Ready's career.

U.S. Army Ironman of the Week candidates included:

Albany's Jared Jones, Mahoning Valley's Mike Andrews, Laredo's Johnny Anderson, Tulsa's Jeff Hughley, Bossier-Shreveport's Chris Ibezim, Central Valley's Donyell Booker, Tri-Cities' Robert Garth, Florida's Brent Burnside, Tennessee Valley's Gary Elliott, Arkansas' Kevin Williams, Amarillo's Craig Fulton and Louisville's Demetrius Forney.

Schutt Offensive Player of the Week candidates included:

Albany's Antwun Williams, Rio Grande Valley's George Williams, Amarillo's Steve Panella, Arkansas' Davon Vinson, Fort Wayne's Cesare Manning, Bakersfield's Dan Riley, Mahoning Valley's Tim Murphy, Tulsa's Josh Blankenship, Florida's Magic Benton, Tri-Cities' Brian Baker, Bossier-Shreveport's Quincy Carter and Laredo's Jason Johnson.

ADT Defensive Player of the Week candidates included:

Albany's Atcheson Conway, Bossier-Shreveport's Elex Reed, Tennessee Valley's Chris Gunn, Bakersfield's DeRonn Finley,

W-B/Scranton's Chris Royal, Fort Wayne's Barry Drakeford, South Georgia's Daryon Brutley, Florida's Tony Stubbs, Mahoning Valley's Reggie Perkins, Tulsa's C.J. McLain and Spokane's Rob Keefe.

Previous 2007 Winners:

Week 11: South Georgia's Chavis McCollister (Offensive), Rio Grande Valley's Curtis Jeter (Defensive), Green Bay's Danny Donaldson (Ironman), Bossier-Shreveport's Jamaal Perry (Catch)

Week 10: Spokane's Antwone Savage (Offensive), Oklahoma City's Aaron Chavers (Defensive), Quad City's Jack Walker, Jr. (Ironman), Florida's Chris McKinney (Catch)

Week 9: Tri-Cities' Brian Baker (Offensive), Everett's Johnny Jackson (Defensive), Tri-Cities' Robert Garth (Ironman), Lubbock's Chris Highshaw (Catch)

Week 8: Everett's Josh Richey (Offensive), Central Valley's Aaron Miller (Defensive), Quad City's Jack Walker, Jr., (Ironman), Bossier-Shreveport's P.J. Winston (Catch)

Week 7: Central Valley's Clay Groefsema (Offensive), W-B/Scranton's William Ferguson (Defensive), Stockton's Kenyatte Morgan (Ironman), Albany's Antwun Williams (Catch)

Week 6: Albany's Bakari Brown (Offensive), Tennessee Valley's Farouk Adelekan (Defensive), Texas' Jarrod Fuller (Ironman), W-B/Scranton's Jim Jones (Catch)

Week 5: Oklahoma City's Danny Howard (Offensive), W-B/Scranton's Chris Royal (Defensive), W-B/Scranton's Larry Kendrick (Ironman), Arkansas' Kevin Williams (Catch)

Week 4: W-B/Scranton's Ryan Vena (Offensive), Tri-Cities' Jamie Hattley (Defensive), Boise's Emmett White (Ironman), Manchester's David Bailey (Catch)

Week 3: Oklahoma City's Stan Hill (Offensive), Bossier-Shreveport's Elex Reed (Defensive), Florida's Chris McKinney (Ironman), Lubbock's Alvance Robinson (Catch)

Week 2: South Georgia's D. Bryant (Offensive), Bossier-Shreveport's Kendrick Walker (Defensive), Central Valley's Wes Borba (Ironman), Amarillo's Steve Bergeski (Catch)

Week 1: Florida's Chris Wallace (Offensive), Tennessee Valley's Quentin Burrell (Defensive), Quad City's Jermaine Petty (Ironman), Mahoning Valley's Chris Archie (Catch)

About U.S. Army

The U.S. Army Accessions Command, USAAC, headquartered at Fort Monroe, Va., is charged with overseeing recruiting and training of both enlisted soldiers and officers for the Army. USAAC is composed of the U.S. Army Recruiting Command at Fort Knox, Ky., the U.S. Army Cadet Command at Fort Monroe, Va. and the U.S. Army Training Center at Fort Jackson, S.C.

About Schutt® Sports, Inc.

Schutt Sports is synonymous with innovation in sports equipment, from the pros to youth leagues. Schutt Sports is the largest provider of football helmets and faceguards in the world and has introduced many of the game's most important advances in protective equipment, from its first football faceguard in 1935 to breakthrough helmet technology in 2003 via the Schutt® DNA™ helmet with SKYDEX™ material. Schutt Sports also markets innovative, quality, protective and field/court equipment for baseball, basketball, and softball, and is the Official Base Supplier of Major League Baseball®. The Litchfield, Ill. based company also markets collectible football helmets and bases to promote fan enjoyment. Schutt Sports is The Gear That Makes The Game™.

About ADT

Celebrating its 131st anniversary, ADT Security Services is the largest single provider of electronic security services to more than six million commercial, federal and residential customers throughout the United States. ADT's total security solutions include intrusion, fire protection, closed circuit television, access control, critical condition monitoring, electronic article surveillance and integrated systems. ADT's Web site address is www.adt.com.

About Cutters

Cutters is the innovator of performance grip material. Other gloves have attempted to meet their standards and may look similar, but they don't match their grip, durability, or overall performance. No other glove performs like this. IT'S IN YOUR HANDS.

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

arenafootball2 Stories from June 19, 2007


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