Sports stats



af2 arenafootball2

Counter, Jackson and Smith win week 11 awards

June 14, 2005 - arenafootball2 (af2) News Release


CHICAGO - Rio Grande Valley wide receiver/defensive back DWIGHT COUNTER, Macon wide receiver/defensive back MATT JACKSON and San Diego wide receiver/defensive back RYAN SMITH have been named the Offensive Player, U.S. Army Ironman and ADT Defensive Player of the Week, respectively, for Week 11 of the 2005 season.

OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK

Counter (6-2, 200, New Mexico), in his rookie season, helped the Rio Grande Valley Dorados defeat the Tulsa Talons for the first time in franchise history and move within one game of Tulsa in the West Division. Counter caught 18 passes for 216 yards and four touchdowns. His 18 catches marked the most receptions in a game the last two seasons and one short of the af2 record for receptions in a game. His 216 receiving yards is tied for the second most this season. The former Lobo caught 69.2% (18-of-26) of the Dorados' completed passes. He caught two passes on the Dorados' final drive of the game that set up the game winning 33-yard field goal. This is Counter's first weekly award. Teammate Norman Mason was honored by the league in Weeks 8 and 9, winning the ADT Defensive Player of the Week Award both weeks.

U.S. ARMY IRONMAN OF THE WEEK

Jackson (5-11, 200, Florida), in his rookie season, moved the Macon Knights back into a playoff spot with a 57-36 win over Bossier-Shreveport on Saturday. On offense Jackson caught three passes for 21 yards. Then on defense Jackson recorded 4.5 tackles (4 solo), broke up two passes and returned an interception eight yards. On special teams Jackson returned a kickoff 30 yards and returned a missed field goal 58 yards for a touchdown. The 58-yard field goal return is the longest return possible in Arena Football and Jackson is only the second player to accomplish the feat. Kevin Williams of Arkansas also returned a kickoff 58 yards against Wichita in 2002. In Week 3 Jackson won this same award for his performance against Birmingham.

ADT DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK

Smith (6-0, 200, Southern Utah), in his fourth season, has earned the ADT Defensive Player of the Week honors for his contributions in San Diego's 79-38 win over Central Valley on Saturday. Smith recorded three solo tackles, two interceptions, one fumble recovery and one pass broken up. He returned the fumble 12 yards for a touchdown to give San Diego a 13-0 lead and the early momentum. Smith's first interception came on Central Valley's first drive of the second half. On first and goal for the Coyotes, Smith jumped in front of a Juston Wood pass at the goaline to give San Diego the ball, and for all intents and purposes, the game. This is the first time Smith has earned a weekly af2 award. Teammate Asi Faoa won U.S. Army Ironman of the Week last week.

Offensive Player of the Week candidates included: Bakersfield's Jason Thomas, Louisville's Matt Sauk and Rob Mager, San Diego's Kane Claunch, Manchester's J.J McKelvey, Macon's Lionel Hayes, Memphis' Stephen Battle, Oklahoma City's Craig Strickland and Jarrail Jackson, Amarillo's Julian Reese and Chavis McCollister, Tulsa's Josh Blankenship and Donovan Morgan, Florida's Magic Benton and Chris Wallace, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton's Rocco Forgione.

U.S. Army Ironman of the Week candidates included: Arkansas' Ted Alford, Louisville's Dennis Fryzel, San Diego's Ryan Smith, Green Bay's Lance Taylor, Quad City's Tim Dodge, Oklahoma City's Al Hunt, Tulsa's Aleric Clark, South Georgia's Antwone Savage, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton's Rocco Forgione.

ADT Defensive Player of the Week candidates included: Bakersfield's Shawn King, Birmingham's George Williams, San Diego's Asi Faoa, Green Bay's David Crocker, Macon's Tyrone Myers, Memphis' Khreem Smith and Deon Giddens, Quad City's Matt Forbes, Oklahoma City's Jeromy Flowers, Rio Grande Valley's Pierre Thomas, Florida's Cainon Lamb, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton's Chris Ekwueme.

• Discuss this story on the arenafootball2 message board...

arenafootball2 Stories from June 14, 2005


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