AFL names players of the week
Published on February 22, 2005 under Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I) News Release
NEW YORK â Dallas Desperados wide receiver/defensive back WILL PETTIS, Columbus Destroyers quarterback MATT D'ORAZIO and Georgia Force defensive specialist KEVIN GAINES have been named U.S. Army Ironman, Offensive Player and ADT Defensive Player of the Week, respectively, for Week 4 of the 2005 season. The announcement was made live on ESPNews this afternoon.
U.S. ARMY IRONMAN: Pettis (6-0, 200, Midwestern State) led the Eastern Division-leading Dallas Desperados (3-1) in Thursday's 42-28 victory over the previously-unbeaten Orlando Predators (3-1). On offense, the All-Ironman performer hauled in three receptions for 17 yards and two touchdowns. On special teams, he returned four kickoffs for 83 yards. Defensively, he finished second on the team with 5.0 total tackles (all solo), a single-game career-high three pass breakups and a fourth quarter interception to preserve the victory. This marks the first time that the third-year veteran has earned an AFL weekly honor.
OFFENSIVE: D'Orazio (6-4, 215, Otterbein), who is in his rookie AFL season, earned Offensive Player of the Week honors by leading the Columbus Destroyers (1-2) to a 52-39 victory over the Central Division-leading and then-AFLWA's No. 2-ranked Chicago Rush (2-2) on Saturday in his first career start. D'Orazio completed 26-of-33 passes (78.8%) for 281 yards with four touchdowns and one interception. He added 27 yards rushing, including an 8-yard touchdown run late in the third quarter to put the game out of reach. This marks the first time that the former Cardinal has earned an AFL weekly honor.
ADT DEFENSIVE: Gaines (6-1, 205, Louisville), who is in his eighth AFL season, helped lead the Georgia Force (3-1) to a 38-13 victory over the Las Vegas Gladiators (2-2) on Sunday. The former Cardinal recorded 7.5 total tackles, a fumble recovery and tallied three interceptions as the Force defense held the Gladiators to their lowest point total in franchise history. This marks the first time that the All-Arena performer has earned an AFL weekly honor.
U.S. Army Ironman of the Week candidates included: Austin's Kevin Nickerson, Colorado's Saul Patu, Columbus' Cornelius White, Georgia's Derek Lee, Los Angeles' Greg Hopkins, New Orleans' Lamont Moore and New York's Josh White.
Offensive Player of the Week candidates included: Colorado's Damian Harrell, Dallas' Jason Shelley, Georgia's Jim Kubiak, Grand Rapids' Michael Bishop, Los Angeles' Tony Locke, New Orleans' Andy Kelly, New York's Kevin Swayne, Philadelphia's Steve Smith and San Jose's Rashied Davis.
ADT Defensive Player of the Week candidates included: Austin's Cedric Walker, Colorado's Rashad Floyd, Columbus' Donvetis Franklin, Dallas' Duke Pettijohn, Los Angeles' Greg Hopkins, New Orleans' Monty Montgomery and New York's Mike Horacek.
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