
Big Plays Earn Three Standouts Week 6 AAF Player of the Week Honors
by Fran Stuchbury
March 18, 2019 - Alliance of American Football (AAF)
San Antonio Commanders
Birmingham Iron quarterback Luis Perez, San Antonio Commanders defensive back Derron Smith and Arizona Hotshots defensive end Rykeem Yates were named Alliance of American Football Offensive Player, Defensive Player and Unsung Hero of the Week, respectively, for week six of the AAF season.
Luis Perez completed 27 of 49 passes for 359 yards, 3 touchdowns and two interceptions in the Birmingham Iron's 32-29 victory over the San Diego Fleet. He came off the bench when starting quarterback Keith Price was injured briefly in the first quarter and played the rest of the game due to his solid play.
Perez connected on throws to eight different receivers. He also added 28 rushing yards.
Perez, 24, played college football at Texas A&M""Commerce and participated in Los Angeles Rams training camp in 2018. He was waived from the team's practice squad on September 14th.
Perez delievered one of his three touchdown passes, an 83-yarder to L'Damian Washington in the second quarter, as he was being leveled by the San Diego defense.
Derron Smith finished with three tackles, two pass deflections and one interception returned 87 yards for a touchdown in the San Antonio Commanders' 37-6 victory over the Atlanta Legends.
Smith, 27, played college football at Fresno State, and was taken by the Cincinnati Bengals in the sixth round of the 2015 NFL Draft. He spent two seasons with Cincinnati and also played with the Cleveland Browns until he was released prior to the 2018 season.
Smith returned an interception off Atlanta Legends quarterback Aaron Murray 87 yards for a touchdown late in the fourth quarter.
Rykeem Yates sacked Orlando quarterback Garret Gilbert and forced a fumble that was recovered by Hotshots defensive end Olubunmi Rotimi with two minutes left in the fourth quarter in their 22-17 victory over the Orlando Apollos.
Yates, 26, played college football at Nevada and logged one game for the CFL Edmonton Eskimos during the 2017 season.
Yates' sack and forced fumble proved instrumental in holding off the previously undefeated Apollos.
Previous Winners
• Discuss this story on the Alliance of American Football message board...
Alliance of American Football Stories from March 18, 2019
- Johnny Manziel Arrives in Memphis - Memphis Express
- Big Plays Earn Three Standouts Week 6 AAF Player of the Week Honors - OSC Original by Fran Stuchbury
- Big Plays Earn Three Standouts Week 6 AAF Player of the Week Honors - OSC Original by Fran Stuchbury
- Big Plays Earn Three Standouts Week 6 AAF Player of the Week Honors - OSC Original by Fran Stuchbury
- Week 6 Postgame Notes & Quotes - Birmingham Iron
- Tables Turned, Fleet Fall on Final Play - San Diego Fleet
- San Antonio's Third Straight Win and Birmingham's Last Second Field Goal Close out Week Six of the Alliance - AAF
The opinions expressed in this article are those of the writer(s), and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
Other Recent San Antonio Commanders Stories
- San Antonio Commanders Issue Official Statement
- San Antonio Commanders Fall to 5-3 After 23-6 Loss to Arizona Hotshots
- San Antonio Commanders' Joseph Zema Named Alliance of American Football Special Teams Player of the Week
- Commanders' Bausby, Hotshots' Wolford and Richardson Capture Week 7 AAF Honors
- San Antonio Commanders Score Late to Beat Salt Lake 19-15

