
CPIFL Announces 2014 Individual Awards
June 11, 2014 - Champions Professional Indoor Football League (CPIFL) News Release
Lawrence, KS. - During the CPIFL's 15-week regular season, 37 different players were recognized as Players of the Week for their outstanding performances. Throughout the season, countless league records were broken including records for rushing yards in a season and touchdown passes in a season. Today, CPIFL players and a coach are being recognized for their performances throughout the year. The CPIFL is honoring individuals in seven different categories.
Most Valuable Player: Rocky Hinds, Wichita Wild
Hinds' steady season led Wichita to the best record in the CPIFL this season as the Wild went 10-1 in his 11 starts. Hinds passed for 1,705 yards and 41 touchdowns, which ranked third in the league. In 261 pass attempts this season Hinds only threw six interceptions. He added 89 rushing yards and eight rushing TD's. This is Hinds' fifth season of indoor football. He has spent the last two seasons in Wichita and was named Champions Bowl I MVP last season.
Honorable Mention: Johnny Bentley, Sioux City Bandits
Offensive Player of the Year: Charles Dowdell, Bloomington Edge
Dowdell set a new CPIFL record for passing yards in a season with 2,416. His yardage total crushed the previous record of 1,951. Dowdell passed for 43 touchdowns which is the second most in league history. Dowdell added 306 rushing yards and seven rushing TD's. This was Dowdell's second stint with the Edge as he started the year at QB before moving to WR in 2012. This season marked his fourth season of indoor football. He played college football at Saginaw Valley State in Michigan.
Honorable Mention: Chris Coffin, Omaha Beef
Defensive Player of the Year and Defensive Rookie of the Year: Meshak Williams, Salina Bombers
Williams led all rookies with 8.5 sacks which was third among all players. Coaches routinely described Williams as the hardest player in the league to block. He also amassed 12.5 tackles for loss and 50 total tackles from his position on the defensive line. Williams spent much of the summer of 2013 in training camp with the Baltimore Ravens after a standout career at Kansas State. As a senior in 2012, Williams compiled 10.5 sacks and was named to the All-Big 12 First Team and was named the league's Defensive Lineman of the Year.
Defensive Player of the Year Honorable Mention: Darius Davis, Sioux City Bandits
Defensive Rookie of the Year Honorable Mention: Jason Catchings, Wichita Wild
Special Teams Player of the Year: Frederick Bruno, Sioux City Bandits
Bruno scored six special teams touchdowns with three coming off kickoffs and a league record of three touchdowns off of missed field goals. Bruno averaged 19.7 yards per kickoff return and 34.0 yards per missed field goal return. This was Bruno's fourth season with the Bandits. This was a breakout year as he had only scored one special teams touchdown before this. Bruno played college football at Wayne State College in Wayne, NE.
Honorable Mentions: Ira Autrey, Salina Bombers and LaVaughn Macon, Bloomington Edge
Offensive Rookie of the Year: Dominique Carson, Dodge City Law
Carson's impact on the law was felt both as a running back and kick returner. Carson finished the season with 371 rushing yards which was 10th in the league and 14 rushing touchdowns which was tied for fourth in the league. Carson was equally effective returning kicks as he averaged 20.3 yards per kick return and scored one touchdown. Carson totaled 1,386 all-purpose yards which was the fourth highest total in the CPIFL. Carson graduated from Sul Ross State (TX) in 2013. During his final season at Sul Ross, Carson led all Division-III players in all-purpose yards and tied the NCAA record for touchdowns in a game when he scored eight times against Texas Lutheran.
Honorable Mention: Isaiah Anderson, Oklahoma Defenders and Wayne Jacobs, Lincoln Haymakers
Coach of the Year: Erv Strohbeen, Sioux City Bandits
Strohbeen led the Bandits to a 9-3 record in his third season as head coach. Strohbeen has compiled a 33-6 regular season record and has led the Bandits to the playoffs each season. Prior to becoming head coach, Strohbeen played offensive line for the Bandits for nine years. The Bandits qualified for the playoffs in four of those seasons.
Honorable Mention: Paco Martinez, Wichita Wild
The road to Champions Bowl II begins on Saturday with the first round of the playoffs. The defending league champions from Wichita are the top seed and will host Dodge City. In the other semifinal, Sioux City will host Salina. Both games will take place on Saturday night. Stay connected with the CPIFL by following us on Twitter @CPIFL and becoming a fan on Facebook at facebook.com/cpifl.
Champions Professional Indoor Football League Stories from June 11, 2014
- Edge's Dowdell Named CPIFL Offensive Player of the Year - Bloomington Edge
- Hinds Named CPIFL 2014 Most Valuable Player - Wichita Wild
- CPIFL Announces 2014 Individual Awards - CPIFL
- Carson Named CPIFL Offensive Rookie of the Year - Dodge City Law
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