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Bergeron, Mahanke and Campbell take week 15 honors

July 13, 2004 - arenafootball2 (af2) News Release


CHICAGO - Columbus offensive specialist TROY BERGERON, Bakersfield wide receiver/defensive back ERIC MAHANKE and Peoria wide receiver/defensive back BRANDON CAMPBELL have been named the Baby Ruth Real Deal Offensive Player, U.S. Army Ironman and ADT Defensive Player of the Week, respectively, for Week 15 of the 2004 season.

BABY RUTH REAL DEAL OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK

Bergeron (6-2, 180, Middle Tennessee State), in his rookie season, scored seven total touchdowns in Columbus' 63-61 loss at Louisville. While the defeat hurt the Wardogs' playoff chances, Bergeron certainly did everything he could to try to change the outcome. At twenty years old and af2's youngest player ever, Bergeron recorded fourteen receptions for 216 yards and six touchdowns, setting three new Wardogs records. He also added two kickoff returns for 87 yards including a 56-yard return for a touchdown. Bergeron was key in the Wardogs taking an early 12-point lead as he recorded the first three Columbus touchdowns. Of the nine touchdowns Columbus scored, Bergeron was responsible for seven of them, including scoring a touchdown in every quarter. This is the second time in three weeks Bergeron has earned this honor. In Week 13 against Macon Bergeron caught six passes for 98 yards and four touchdowns with one rushing touchdown to win the award.

U.S. ARMY IRONMAN OF THE WEEK

Mahanke (6-3, 210, Fresno State), in his third season, helped solidify the Bakersfield Blitz as the top team in the West Division, in Bakersfield's 43-41 victory over the Hawaiian Islanders. Mahanke caught three passes for 95 yards and one touchdown. On defense the former Bulldog recorded 5.5 tackles (5UA 1A), a half sack and a forced fumble. Mahanke's forced fumble was the turning point in the game. With a 30-26 lead Hawaii took the ball on their first possession of the second half and had the ball at their own 24-yardline facing a third and ten. Hawaii completed a pass to the Bakersfield 10-yardline for a potential first down, but Mahanke came in and forced a fumble, which was recovered by teammate Nathan Munson. Bakersfield took the ball down the field for a touchdown and took an 11-point, two-possession lead and control of the game. This is the first weekly award for Mahanke and the first for the Blitz this season.

ADT DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK

Campbell (5-10, 178, Eastern Michigan), in his second season, led the top ranked Peoria Pirates' defense over the Bossier-Shreveport Battle Wings 46-38. On the night Campbell finished with 4.5 tackles (4UA 1A), one forced fumble, one fumble recovery and one interception. With under a minute remaining in the first half Peoria scored a touchdown to go up 25-20. On the ensuing kickoff Campbell forced the return man to fumble and then took the ball nine yards for a touchdown. The touchdown pushed the Peoria lead to two possessions and was crucial in giving Peoria the momentum and control of the game. Campbell's interception was just as important of a play. With under a minute left and the Battle Wings down by eight points, the Battle Wings had the ball at the Peoria 11-yardline. On second down Campbell intercepted the pass attempt in the endzone to seal the game for the Pirates. It was the Pirates' fifth win in six games keeping them as one of the hottest teams in the league. Now standing at 7-6, the Pirates are over the .500 mark for the first time this season and are thinking playoffs because of performances like those of Campbell. Teammate Lawrence Matthews won this same award in Week 9 of this season.

Baby Ruth Real Deal Offensive Player of the Week candidates included: Green Bay's DeRonn Finley, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton's Tim Hicks and J.R. Thomas, Cape Fear's Matt Burstein, Wichita's Damon Thompson, San Diego's Kevin Feterik, Bakersfield's Chad Elliott, Florida's Steve Gorrie, Columbus' Kyle Rowley, Louisville's James Scott, Albany's D Bryant and Tony Locke, Louisville's Matt Sauk.

U.S. Army Ironman of the Week candidates included: Peoria's Chris Robinson, Laredo's Mike Jones, Louisville's Tony Stallings, Tulsa's Corky Martin, San Diego's Jesus Reyes, Peoria's Brandon Campbell, Green Bay's Robert Garth, Tulsa's Mike Duncan, Albany's Cy Butler, Florida's Chris Morant, Wichita's Marc Bacote.

ADT Defensive Player of the Week candidates included: Green Bay's Ronnie Washburn, Laredo's Traco Rachal, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton's Nate Bundy, Florida's Desmond Washington, Louisville's Jabir Walker, Tennessee Valley's Marquis Floyd, Bakersfield's Kenny Haslip, Albany's Rob Green, Hawaii's Hal Muagututia.



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