All-Around Game Earns James Ironman honors for Week 1
April 6, 2004 - arenafootball2 (af2)
Tennessee Valley Raptors News Release
HUNTSVILLE â Wide receiver/defensive back Jerrian James did a little bit of everything during the Tennessee Valley Vipers 60-35 season-opening home victory over Bakersfield on Saturday night.
James' efforts were rewarded Tuesday when he was named the U.S. Army Ironman for Week 1 of the 2004 arenafootball2 season. The 6-foot, 190-pound James rushed for one touchdown, caught six passes for a game-high 122 yards and two more scores, and he set up a second-quarter touchdown with a 28-yard kickoff return.
On defense, the former Houston standout made 2.5 tackles and intercepted a pass to thwart a potential go-ahead scoring drive by the Blitz late in the first half.
"I thought Jerrian had an excellent game and he played well on both sides of the ball,'' said Vipers coach Kevin Guy, whose squad is off this weekend before playing at Quad City on April 17.
"He's a fine example of what a two-way player is supposed to be. He got it done for us offensively and defensively and had some real good returns for us on special teams."
This is the third weekly award of James' career. He earned this same honor in Week 9 of last season, and he was named ADT Defensive Player of the Week for Week 5 of the 2002 season.
Tennessee Valley quarterback Bryan Snyder was also a candidate for the Baby Ruth Real Deal Offensive Player of the Week award after completing 21 of 36 passes for 284 yards and seven touchdowns for the Vipers.
Vipers defensive specialist Henry Freeman, a former Alabama A&M standout, was an ADT Defensive Player of the Week candidate after he picked off a pair of passes and made 9.5 tackles in his Viper debut.
Quad City offensive specialist Jeff Hewitt claimed the offensive honor after scoring five touchdowns in the Steamwheelers' opening-night 71-32 win over Manchester. Hewitt caught four passes, three for touchdowns, totaling 104 yards and he electrified the hometown crowd with two 58-yard kickoff returns.
Karleton Thomas earned the defensive honor after recording three sacks to go along with five tackles during expansion Rio Grande Valley's 37-6 opening win against the first-year Laredo Law.
Seven-game season ticket packages on sale: Tickets to the Vipers' seven remaining home games for the 2004 af2 season are now on sale and are available for $189, $119 and $84. Season and single-game ticket information can be obtained by calling the Vipers' office at (256) 551-3240.
Vipers on the air: For the fifth consecutive season WUMP 730 AM will serve as the flagship station of the Vipers Radio Network. All the home and away games can also be heard on the internet at www.730ump.com.
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