Dorados Honored by af2
August 17, 2004 - arenafootball2 (af2)
Rio Grande Valley Dorados News Release
HIDALGO, TX: August 17, 2004 â The arenafootball2 league announced the All-af2 Team for the league's American Conference and National Conference, and Dorados lineman Spencer Conley and rookie defensive specialist Eddie Moten were listed as First Team honorees.
Conley, a 6'3" 290-pound native of San Antonio, receives his first league postseason honor. He already received two team awards, as he took home the "Soul to Service" and the "Lineman of the Year" honor. Conley co-led the af2's National Conference in sacks with 8.5 to become the af2 all-time active career leader with 23. The third year af2 pro ranked tied for second in the league with 10.5 tackles for a loss on the year and was tied for third with 4 forced fumbles in the af2. He earned the "Soul to Service" honor for all his efforts in community relations and his dedication to improve younger athletes in the Rio Grande Valley with their football careers.
Moten's honor is his third league-issued award this season. The 5'10 185-pound Dallas native recently claimed the af2 ADT Defensive Player of the Week honor for the final week of the regular season to become the league's only two-time winner this season. He also earned the Dorados "Rookie of the Year" award and the team's "Defensive Player of the Year" honor. The Texas A&M-Kingsville product co-led the af2 in interceptions with 10, while finishing second on the squad in tackles (47.5), pass break-ups (18), forced fumbles (tied 2) and leading the league in interception return yards (124).
Missing out on league honors was rookie Dorados kicker Eric Houle. He was beat out by first team member Peter Martinez of Oklahoma City and Hawaii's Kimo Naehu for second team honors in the voting, which was conducted by league head coaches. Houle finished tied for second in the af2 in field goals with 11 and second in field goal percentage at 25.6%, behind Naehu, who only made 5 field goals. Martinez was 6 of 24 in field goals (25%), but had a higher PAT percentage than Houle at 87.1%. Houle's PAT percentage ranked 6th in the league at 83.5% and was higher than Naehu's 77.6%. The Saginaw Valley State product also ranked third on the Dorados squad in points with 104 (fifth in league for kicking points). Of Houle's 11 field goals, five were beyond 40 yards, including two 46-yard conversions and a career high 49-yard blast. Martinez' season high was 43 yards and Naehu's was 39.
Rio Grande Valley was the only team other than Oklahoma City to have two First Team members on the Northern Conference's list. A full list of team members can be found on the af2's official website at www.af2.com. Head coach Gary Gussman is unavailable for comment on the team honors, as he is attending a family emergency in Florida, but Spencer Conley is available to be reached for interview. Arrangements can be made by contacting Chris Due at the Dorados offices.
The Dorados now head into "off season" mode and prepare for the 2005 season. To inquire about tickets and advertising packages for the 2005 season, please contact the Dorados offices at 956-843-7825 or visit the Dorados online at www.doradosfootball.com.
• Discuss this story on the arenafootball2 message board...
arenafootball2 Stories from August 17, 2004
- Morgan earns First Team All-af2 honors - Central Valley Coyotes
- Rachal Selected af2 First Team National Conference - Laredo Law
- Arceneaux, Naehu Earn All-af2 Honors - Hawaiian Islanders
- Talons Players Win af2 League Awards for 2004 - Tulsa Talons
- Blitz Land Three On All-af2 Teams - Bakersfield Blitz
- Garman Grabs League-Wide Honor - Macon Knights
- League's best fill out All-af2 teams - af2
- Five Firecats Named to All-Arena Team - Florida Firecats
- Reed, Kelly and Hattley take semifinals honors - af2
- Four Dawgz Selected to First Team All-af2 - Oklahoma City Yard Dawgz
- Three Steamwheelers Earn All-af2 Honors - Quad City Steamwheelers
- arenafootball2 Announces All-af2 Selections - San Diego Riptide
- Five Pioneers selected to All-af2 teams - Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Pioneers
- Blizzard have two named All-af2 - Green Bay Blizzard
- Urlacher and West Earn All-af2 Honors - Peoria Rough Riders
- Dorados Honored by af2 - Rio Grande Valley Dorados
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.
