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AFL I Arena Football League (1987-2008)

Bonner's Play Earns AFL Honors

July 2, 2002 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I) News Release


Arizona Rattlers' QB SHERDRICK BONNER, Indiana Firebirds' DS EVAN HLAVACEK, and Chicago Rush WR/DB DAMEON PORTER have been named the Arena Football League's Offensive Player, "ADT" Defensive Player, and Ironman of the Week, respectively, for their performances during Week Eleven of the 2002 season.

Bonner (6-4, 240, Cal St.-Northridge), an eight-year AFL veteran, led the Rattlers (8-3) by connecting on 20-of-24 for 225 yards, six touchdowns, and no interceptions in their 69-42 playoff-clinching victory over the Buffalo Destroyers. This marks the second time this season that the former All-Arena performer has earned a league weekly honor. Currently, Bonner's 431 career-passing touchdowns trails only Dallas' ANDY KELLY (442) on the all-time list. Bonner has thrown for 54 touchdowns, while completing 61.8 percent of his passes this season. This marks the eighth time that Bonner has won a weekly award.

Hlavacek (5-10, 185, San Diego), a two-year AFL defensive specialist, earned the weekly award by recording three solo tackles, five assists (5.5 total tackles), two interceptions, one pass breakup to help lift the Firebirds (5-6) to a 56-42 victory over defending champion Grand Rapids Rampage. The former Torero currently has 25.5 total tackles, three interceptions and a fumble recovery this season. This award marks the first time that Hlavacek has garnered league-wide weekly recognition in his career.

Porter (6-1, 180, Wayne St. NE), a four-year AFL veteran, led the Rush (7-4) by hauling in three receptions for 74 yards and two touchdowns in their 55-45 victory over the New York Dragons. On the defensive side, Porter recorded two solo tackles, an assist, and his league-leading eighth interception on his way to garnering Ironman of the Game honors. The victory secured sole possession of first place in the Central Division for Chicago. The defending Ironman of the Year is currently leading his team is pass breakups (10) and is two interceptions away from posting double-digits in interceptions and touchdowns in consecutive seasons. This marks the third time that Porter has earned a league-wide weekly recognition in his career.

Other candidates for Offensive Player of the Week included: Arizona's Maurice Bryant, Dallas' Shannon Culver, Grand Rapids' Derin Graham, Indiana' s Eddie Brown and Raymond Philyaw, Los Angeles' Tony Graziani and Kevin Ingram, New Jersey's Mike Horacek and Jay McDonagh, Orlando's Jay Gruden, San Jose's Mark Grieb, Tampa Bay's Shane Stafford, and Toronto's Pat O'Hara.

Other candidates for "ADT" Defensive Player of the Week included: Chicago's Marvin Taylor, Dallas' Lamar Grant, Georgia's Cliff Green, Los Angeles' Kevin Ingram, and Orlando's Rashad Floyd.

Other candidates for Ironman of the Week included: Arizona's Randy Gatewood, Carolina's Cory Fleming, Detroit's Al Hunt, Indiana's Leroy Thompson, Los Angeles' Chad Dukes, New Jersey's James Bowden, San Jose's Barry Wagner, and Tampa Bay's Alvin Ashley.

PREVIOUS WEEKLY AWARD WINNERS
Week, Offensive, "ADT" Defensive, Ironman
Week 1, Chris Jackson (Los Angeles), Ron Carpenter (Georgia), Gary Compton (Indiana)
Week 2, Sherdrick Bonner (Arizona), Bob McMillen (San Jose), Mike Furrey (New York)
Week 3, Lamont Cooper (Buffalo), Andre Bowden (Carolina), Greg Hopkins (Los Angeles)
Week 4, Chris Horn (Arizona), Sam Hernandez (San Jose), Lawrence Samuels (Tampa Bay) v Week 5, Sedrick Robinson (New Jersey), Chris Snyder (Indiana), Mike Furrey (New York)
Week 6, Chris Jackson (Los Angeles), Donvetis Franklin (New York), Chad Dukes (Los Angeles)
Week 7, Clint Dolezel (Grand Rapids), Hassan Shamsid-Deen (Dallas), Greg Hopkins (Los Angeles)
Week 8, Andy Kelly (Dallas), Hassan Shamsid-Deen (Dallas), Barry Wagner (San Jose)
Week 9, Greg Hopkins (Los Angeles), Dwaine Carpenter (Buffalo), Darryl Hammond (Georgia)
Week 10, Fred McNair (Buffalo), Joe Jacobs (San Jose), Greg Hopkins (Los Angeles)

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"BUILT FORD TOUGH" WINNERS

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Toronto coaches selected WR/DB KERRY BROWN as one of last week's "Built Ford Tough" Players of the Game. The "Built Ford Tough" Award is a national recognition award given after every game to the player or players on each team best demonstrating determination and toughness in that game. The award honors the players who made a game-saving tackle or score-saving tackle, threw a key block on the big play or exhibited physical sacrifice or consistent tough blocking and tackling on either side of the ball. KERRY BROWN has now scored a pair of touchdowns in each of the Phantoms' last three contests. Against Los Angeles in Week Eleven, he snared four passes for 52 yards, taking two to the end zone. On defense, Brown record one solo tackle, but also helped to contain one of the league's top receivers, Avengers WR/LB GREG HOPKINS, allowing him to net just one reception. Up to five players who display the "get-it-done" kind of attitude are honored by each team every week. A point system is maintained on the league's official site, www.arenafootball.com, throughout the season that will culminate in the "Built Ford Tough" Man of the Year, a player who will win a Ford Truck at the end of the season. This week's winners, by team:

WEEK ELEVEN TEAM-BY-TEAM WINNERS
Arizona: Sherdrick Bonner, Maurice Bryant, Chris Horn, Randy Gatewood, Stacy Evans
Buffalo: Jason Bratton, Carlos James
Carolina: Cory Fleming, Carl Bond, Jon McCall, Clarence Lawson
Chicago: James Baron, Tony Bowick, John Moyer, Anthony Hutch, Rich McKenzie
Dallas: Not reported
Detroit: Kelvin Kinney, Bernard Williams, Eric England, Al Hunt, R-Kal Truluck
Georgia: Ron Carpenter, Oscar Sturgis, Jermaine Smith
Grand Rapids: Gary Compton, Brian Gowins, Israel Raybon, Chris Ryan, Lucas Yarnell
Indiana: Eddie Brown, Chris Snyder, Evan Hlavacek, Donnie Caldwell, Kyle Moore-Brown v Los Angeles: Chris Butterfield, Chad Dukes, Greg Hopkins, Kevin Ingram, Mathias Vavao
New Jersey: Mike Horacek, Otis Moore, Jay McDonagh
New York: Todd Doxzon, Mike Furrey, Shea Showers, Sean Tremblay Rodney Filer
Orlando: Ernest Allen, Duke Pettijohn, Tommy Dorsey
San Jose: Barry Wagner, Mike Ulufale, Omarr Smith, Mark Grieb, Darrin Kenney
Tampa Bay: David White, Juaquin Feazell, Darion Conner
Toronto: Charlie Davidson, Kerry Brown, Ty Law, Damian Harrell, Pat O'Hara



Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from July 2, 2002


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