AFL names players of the week
May 31, 2005 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I) News Release
NEW YORK â Orlando Predators wide receiver/linebacker CORY FLEMING, Georgia' s offensive specialist TROY BERGERON and Chicago Rush offensive/defensive lineman D.J. BLEISATH have been named U.S. Army Ironman, Offensive Player and ADT Defensive Player of the Week, respectively, for the Divisional Round of the 2005 playoffs. The announcement was made live on ESPNews this afternoon.
U.S. ARMY IRONMAN: Fleming (6-3, 215, Tennessee), who is in his ninth season, led the Orlando Predators (11-7) over the New York Dragons (10-7) in Sunday's 47-42 Divisional Round victory. The win for the Predators advances them to the National Conference Championship game. Fleming, a U.S. Army Ironman of the Year candidate, led the Predators with nine receptions for 115 yards and three touchdown receptions. Defensively, he tallied 3.0 total tackles. This marks the sixth time that the former Volunteer has earned an AFL weekly honor.
OFFENSIVE: Bergeron (6-2, 190, Middle Tennessee State), the AFL's youngest player (21) and Rookie of the Year candidate, helped lead the Georgia Force (12-5) to a Divisional Round victory over the Tampa Bay Storm (10-7), 62-46. The win advances the Force to the National Conference Championship game. Bergeron led the team with eight receptions for 85 yards and three touchdown receptions. On special teams, he returned two kickoffs for 35 yards and returned two missed field goals for 67 yards, including a 56-yard return for a touchdown. This marks the first time that the former Blue Raider has earned an AFL weekly honor.
ADT DEFENSIVE: Bleisath (6-3, 280, Tennessee Tech), who is in his second season, helped lead the Chicago Rush (10-7) defeat the Western Division Champion Los Angeles Avengers (10-7), 52-45 in the Divisional Round. Bleisath, recorded 3.0 tackles (2 solo), including 2.0 sacks for a loss of seven yards, one forced fumble and one pass defended. The Rush advance to the American Conference Championships where they will face the Colorado Crush (11-6) at Pepsi Center in Denver. This marks the first time Bleisath he has earned an AFL weekly honor.
U.S. Army Ironman of the Week candidates included: Chicago's Etu Molden, Colorado's Kevin McKenzie and Georgia's Chris Jackson.
Offensive Player of the Week candidates included: Chicago's C.J. Johnson, Colorado's John Dutton and Orlando's Joe Hamilton.
ADT Defensive Player of the Week candidates included: Colorado's Delvin Highley, and Georgia's Kevin Gaines and Orlando's Elfrid Payton.
Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from May 31, 2005
- Force's Troy Bergeron named AFL Offensive Player of the Week - Georgia Force
- Bleisath named AFL Defensive Player of the Week - Chicago Rush
- AFL names players of the week - AFL I
- Los Angeles' Silas Demary named AFL Lineman of the Year - AFL I
- Orlando Predators game notes - Orlando Predators
- Georgia Force game notes - Georgia Force
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