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AFL I Arena Football League (1987-2008)

AFL Announces Players of the Week

April 23, 2002 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I) News Release


Los Angeles Avengers' OS CHRIS JACKSON, Georgia's DS/KR RON CARPENTER, and Indiana Firebirds' WR/LB GARY COMPTON have been named the Arena Football League's Offensive Player, Defensive Player, and Ironman of the Week, respectively, for their performances during opening weekend of the 2002 season. Jackson (6-2, 205, Washington State), the league's leading scorer, hauled in 12 receptions for 145 yards and four touchdowns. The former Rookie of the Year winner added a rushing touchdown in the Avengers' 43-25 victory over the New York Dragons. Jackson, in his first season as an offensive specialist, tied single-game team records for touchdowns (5) and scoring (30 points) and currently leads the AFL in four offensive categories (scoring, touchdowns, receptions, and receiving yards).

Carpenter (6-1, 195, Miami, OH), who is in his fourth AFL campaign, tallied nine tackles, recorded four pass break-ups, and returned a JAY GRUDEN interception 34 yards for a touchdown. In addition to his solid defensive efforts, Carpenter returned two kickoffs for touchdowns and compiled 173 return yards. Carpenter's effort helped lead the Force (1-0) to a 67-49 debut victory over Orlando.

Compton (6-2, 210, East Texas State), last season's "Built Ford Tough" Man of the Year, made the best of his debut with the Firebirds (0-1) by hauling in seven receptions for 114 yards and three touchdowns. On the defensive side, Compton had two interceptions, one and a half tackles in the 47-42 loss to the Chicago Rush (1-0).

Candidates for Offensive Player of the Week included: Buffalo's Fred McNair, Chicago's Joe Douglass, Dallas' Andy Kelly, Georgia's Travis Reece, Grand Rapids' Terrill Shaw, San Jose's Mark Grieb and James Hundon, and Toronto's Chad Salisbury.

Candidates for Defensive Player of the Week included: Buffalo's Corey Johnson, Chicago's Dameon Porter, Dallas' Shante Carver, Indiana's Gary Compton and Cornelius Coe, Los Angeles' Tony Plantin and Chad Dukes, San Jose's Clevan Thomas, and Toronto's Ty Law.

Candidates for Ironman of the Week included: Buffalo's Eddie Brown, Dallas' Shante Carver, Georgia's Travis Reece, Grand Rapids' Willis Marshall, Los Angeles' Tony Plantin, San Jose's Clevan Thomas, and Toronto's Ty Law.

"BUILT FORD TOUGH" WINNERS

This week, Cobras' coaches selected FB/LB MARRIO GRIER as one of last week's Built Ford Tough Players of the Game. The Built Ford Tough Award is a national recognition award given after every game to the player or players on each team best demonstrating determination and toughness in that game. The award honors the players who made a game-saving tackle or score-saving tackle, threw a key block on the big play or exhibited physical sacrifice or consistent tough blocking and tackling on both sides of the ball. You might not find Grier's name plastered all over the stat book, but Grier was solid on both sides of the ball. Rushing, receiving, blocking for the QB or tackling on defense – Grier was there in the middle of it. Up to five players who display the "get-it-done" kind of attitude are honored. A point system is maintained on the league's official site, www.arenafootball.com, throughout the season that will culminate in the "Built Ford Tough" Man of the Year, a player who will win a Ford Truck at the end of the season. Here is a list of this week's winners.

WEEK ONE TEAM-BY-TEAM WINNERS

Arizona: Chris Horn, Bo Kelly, Hunkie Cooper, Randy Gatewood, Tim Croff
Buffalo: Eddie Brown, David Caldwell, Prentice Taylor, Corey Johnson
Carolina: Marrio Grier, Carl Bond, Jon McCall
Chicago: John Moyer, Anthony Ladd
Dallas: Shante Carver, Tom Briggs, Dialleo Burks, Andy McCullough and Andy Kelly
Detroit: R-Kal Truluck, Kevin Scott, Toran James, Kelvin Kinney, Chuck Levy
Georgia: Ron Carpenter, Ben Crosland, Cliff Green
Grand Rapids: Michael Baker, Travis McDonald, Willis Marshall, Chris Ryan, Lucas Yarnell
Indiana: Gary Compton, Leroy Thompson, Ricky Hall, Mark Valvo
Los Angeles: Chris Butterfield, Greg Hopkins, Tony Plantin, Anthony Rice, J.J. Washington
New Jersey: Jay McDonagh, Mike Horacek, Dwayne Sabb
New York: Robert Stewart
Orlando: Ernest Allen, Clif Dell, Andre Cooper
San Jose: Clevan Thomas, Barry Wagner, Bob McMillen, James Hundon, Mike Ulufale
Tampa Bay: Lawrence Samuels, Melvin Cunningham
Toronto: Charlie Davidson, Ty Law, Jermaine Younger, Anthony Derricks, Steve Konopka

ARENA HEROES IN THE AFL COMMUNITY WEEK OF APRIL 23-30

CAROLINA

April 24 – As part of the Cobras C.A.R.E. program, Penny Road Elementary will be visited by Cobras WR/LB RJ ANDERSON and WR/DB JAMAAL GARMAN.

CHICAGO

April 24 -- Hendricks Elementary will be visited by members of the Chicago Rush staff as part of the ongoing "Rush to Read" Initiative.

April 29 -- Rush staff will be visiting Jenner Elementary to promote the "Rush to Read" Initiative.

April 30 -- Rush staff will conclude the 2002 "Rush to Read" initiative at Cumberland Elementary. Cumberland was the first school to become involved in this exciting program. Students participating will still have until the end of May to read four books and write four book reports to receive four tickets to a Chicago Rush home game.

INDIANA

April 24 -- Team mascot Spike, Firebirds' linemen MARK VALVO, MIKE GANTOUS, KYLE MOORE-BROWN, AARON JOHNSON, JOHN SIKORA, BRIAN CREEL, and kicker NELSON GARNER will be at Methodist hospital in the Adolescent child life department visiting kids and signing autographs during Child Appreciation week.

April 24 -- Spike and Gantous will be at Washington middle school for a charity basketball game between America's heroes, the Indianapolis Fire Department and the Indianapolis Police Department. All proceeds will go to the Dayspring House for the homeless.

April 25 -- Spike will be the Circle rocking in a rocking chair to raise money for the Legacy House.

April 25 -- Members of the Flames along with Firebirds' Players; WR/DB JAY JONES, Gantous, Sikora, and Garner will play in the 5th annual Deputy Duffels Charity Golf Classic to raise money for Sheriff's FOP program for Indiana Children. The Firebirds tee off at 2pm at Royal Oak Country Club on St. Road 135 in Greenwood, Ind.

April 27 -- Spike, the Flames, the Football Toss, Bubba, Firebirds' Players WR/DB JAY JOHNSON and WR/LB BRIAN DOLPH will be at the Anderson Community day at Peyton Wells Chevrolet in Anderson, Ind., from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m.

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Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from April 23, 2002


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