Dodd-Masters, London, Peko Assigned to 2009 Roster

Published on December 3, 2008 under arenafootball2 (af2)
Stockton Lightning News Release


STOCKTON, Calif. - The Stockton Lightning of the arenafootball2 league have announced DB Ruschard Dodd-Masters, WR/DB Maurice London and LB Mike Peko have been assigned to the team by the af2 League Office.

Dodd-Masters enters his fourth af2 season and third overall with Stockton following a split 2008 season between the Lightning and Tri-Cities Fever, posting 46.5 tackles in 12 combined games. Dodd-Masters reached a season-high 5.5 tackles three times and notched a career-high 5 interceptions. Dodd-Masters' speed was used in a versatile role and ranked eighth in the af2 with 22.0 yards per kick-return.

Dodd-Masters, 26, was a member of the Lightning's inaugural season-opening roster in 2006 and ranked second on the Fever in 2007 with 68.5 tackles, third with four interceptions and led the team with 32 pass breakups. Dodd-Masters split the 2006 season between the Lightning and Everett Hawks, amassing 53.5 tackles in 15 combined games. The UNLV product ranked second on Everett in tackles (49.0), interceptions (2) and pass breakups (8) in 2006.

London is the second player with college-playing experience with Arizona State University (NCAA) (joining FB/LB Dale Robinson) to join the Lightning roster. A 6-foot, 182-pound receiver and defensive back, London played in 22 career games for the Sun Devils in two seasons (2004-05), amassing 69 career tackles (41 solo) and seven pass breakups.

London helped guide Arizona State to a bowl appearance as a 2005 senior, ranking fourth on the program with 55 tackles (31 solo) and leading the Pac-10 Conference with three fumble recoveries. A first-team All-American selection at Grossmont Junior College in San Diego, Calif., London tallied 70 tackles, eight interceptions, 10 pass breakups, three fumble recoveries and three caused fumbles for the program and led Grossmont to a state championship final berth in 2003.

Peko, 6-3 and 215 pounds, returns for his second season in a Lightning uniform after splitting five games between Stockton and the Boise Burn last season and registered one tackle, 0.5 tackles-for-loss and one pass break-up.

The Lightning open the 2009 af2 regular season on Sunday, March 29 against the Central Valley Coyotes with a Week one road matchup at Selland Arena, starting at 7:00 p.m. Both teams face a Week four rematch in the Lightning home opener on Saturday, April 18 at 7:00 p.m. at Stockton Arena.

Group Season tickets for the 2009 Lightning regular season are on sale now. For more information on season tickets, merchandise, or other information, please call the Lightning at (209) 373-1500 or visit www.stocktonlightning.com.

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