Sports stats



AFL Arena Football League

Bush, Mace and Gray Earn Week 19 Honors

July 17, 2012 - Arena Football League (AFL) News Release


CHICAGO - New Orleans VooDoo WR JOSH BUSH has been awarded the Russell Athletic Offensive Player of the Week, while Utah Blaze DL KEENAN MACE has been named the Riddell Defensive Player of the Week and Chicago Rush WR REGGIE GRAY has been named J. Lewis Small Ironman of the Week for Week 19 of the 2012 AFL season. In addition to these awards, the AFL is also awarding the Cutters Catch of the Week, AFL Playmaker of the Week and Spalding Highlight of the Week. Tampa Bay Storm WR JOE HILLS was awarded the Cutters Catch of the Week, while Utah Blaze QB TOMMY GRADY earned the AFL Playmaker of the Week award. San Antonio Talons WR JOMO WILSON was awarded the Spalding Highlight of the Week.

RUSSELL ATHLETIC OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK

Bush (5-9, 170, Western Michigan) finished Week 19 with an AFL single-game high 256 receiving yards and tied a single-game franchise record with five receiving touchdowns in the team's 77-78 overtime loss to the Tampa Bay Storm. Bush has caught a touchdown pass in 10 consecutive games. He is also two touchdown grabs and 18 receiving yards shy of becoming the VooDoo's single-season record holder in both respective categories.

RIDDELL DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK

Mace (6-3, 300, Lindenwood) tallied 5.5 tackles and two sacks in Utah's 83-63 victory over the Cleveland Gladiators in Week 19. Mace has notched 17 tackles and seven sacks in ten games played this season.

J. LEWIS SMALL IRONMAN OF THE WEEK

Gray (5-10, 175, Western Illinois) caught 10 passes for 173 yards and four touchdowns in Week 19, but also continued to star as a kick returner, returning two kicks for 73 yards including a 54-yard return for a score. It was the fourth consecutive game in which Gray accumulated more than 225 all-purpose yards. He has also caught a touchdown pass in 11 straight contests. He will be awarded a timepiece crafted by J. Lewis Small for his efforts.

CUTTERS CATCH OF THE WEEK

Hills (6-4, 210, Tennessee State) displayed great concentration as he made a touchdown catch against the boards in the opening quarter of Tampa Bay's 78-77 overtime victory against the New Orleans VooDoo. Hills finished with 139 yards and four touchdowns, recording his second consecutive 100+ yard and four touchdown performance, as well as his third straight multiple touchdown game.

AFL PLAYMAKER OF THE WEEK

Grady (6-7, 250, Utah) tied the AFL single-game record for passing touchdowns with 12 in Utah's 83-63 victory over the Cleveland Gladiators on NFL Network's broadcast of "NET10 Arena Football Friday". Grady also broke Andy Kelly's single-season AFL records for completions and attempts in the game, bringing his 2012 total to 483 completions on 701 attempts.

SPALDING HIGHLIGHT OF THE WEEK

Wilson (6-0, 205, Eastern Oregon) returned his third kickoff for a touchdown this season in Week 19, finishing with 112 kickoff return yards including the 55-yard score. Wilson also recorded three catches for 33 yards and two touchdowns from the receiver position.

Russell Athletic Offensive Player of the Week candidates included: Chicago's Reggie Gray, Jacksonville's Josh Philpart, Pittsburgh's Mike Washington, San Antonio's Jason Willis, San Jose's Huey Whittaker and Utah's Tommy Grady.

Riddell Defensive Player of the Week candidates included: Chicago's Jorrick Calvin, Jacksonville's LaRoche Jackson, Kansas City's Rashad Barksdale, Milwaukee's Marcus Everett, Pittsburgh's Christian Wise, San Antonio's Fred Shaw, San Jose's Jermaine Smith and Tampa Bay's Steve Octavien.

J. Lewis Small Ironman of the Week candidates included: Arizona's Virgil Gray, Georgia's CJ Johnson, Jacksonville's Terrance Smith, Kansas City's Jackie Chambers, Milwaukee's Marcus Everett, New Orleans' Josh Bush and Pittsburgh's Christian Wise.

The Arena Football League is also awarding the National Guard MVP of the Week, where fans are given the opportunity to select the winner. Candidates include Chicago Rush WR REGGIE GRAY, Tampa Bay Storm QB STEPHEN WASIL and Utah Blaze QB TOMMY GRADY. Fans will have 24 hours to vote beginning at 1 p.m. ET on Wednesday, July 18. The winner will be announced on Thursday, July 19.

Check out the Arena Football League Statistics

• Discuss this story on the Arena Football League message board...

Arena Football League Stories from July 17, 2012


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.


Sports Statistics from the Stats Crew
OurSports Central