Force's Hammond Named ADT Defensive Player of the Week
March 25, 2003 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Georgia Force News Release
ATLANTA, GA. - The Arena Football League and the Georgia Force announced today that wide receiver/ linebacker Darryl Hammond was named the ADT Defensive Player of the Week. This marks the third time in Hammond's career that he has won the award and his fifth career AFL weekly honor, twice garnering the AFL's Ironman of the Week Award.
Last Sunday at Orlando, Hammond helped lead the league's top rated Georgia defense to a 38-36 last second victory over the Predators. Hammond hauled in two interceptions and returned both for touchdowns of three yards and ten yards respectively. He also forced a fumble from Orlando quarterback Connell Maynor with 17 seconds remaining in the game, which was recovered by fullback/ linebacker Tommy Dorsey. The turnover led to kicker Steve McLaughlin kicking a game winning field goal with 1.7 seconds left as time expired. Hammond added one solo tackle, one tackle for loss, two pass breakups and caught five passes for 46 yards on offensive. For his efforts, he was named the contest's Ironman of the Game.
Hammond seems to defy time as he plays in his 13th season in the AFL breaking the league record for career years of service. (Previous mark 12 years- Sylvester Bembery 1988-2000 and George LaFrance 1988-2000). He currently ranks second in the AFL with 544 career tackles, ranks in the top 15 in AFL in career scoring with 826 points and is in the top 10 in AFL in career pass receptions with 632. Hammond has had 7 seasons of 50 or more pass receptions. He has 43 receptions this season.
The Georgia Force is 6-2 on the year and currently in a three-way tie for the Southern Division lead with Orlando and Tampa Bay. The Force's 6-2 mark is also tops in the AFL. Georgia hits the road again this week when they travel to Las Vegas on March 29th to face the Las Vegas Gladiators in the Thomas & Mack Center at 10:00 p.m. ET.
The Force's next home game will be Saturday, April 12th when it hosts the New York Dragons in the Arena at Gwinnett Center at 7:30 p.m. The Force-Dragons contest will also be Family Fun Pack Night. Fans can get four tickets and four team spirit hats for only $52. Additional family members can be added, up to eight, at $13 per individual. Flex packages and group tickets are on sale and can be purchased with a credit card by calling (770) 813-7610 or visit www.georgiaforce.com. Force Individual game tickets are available by calling TicketMaster at (404) 249-6400 or visit www.ticketmaster.com or by purchase at the Gwinnett Civic Center Box Office.
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