Sports stats



af2 arenafootball2

Garth, Baker And Jackson Earn Week Nine Honors

May 29, 2007 - arenafootball2 (af2) News Release


CHICAGO - Tri-Cities wide receiver/linebacker ROBERT GARTH, Tri-Cities quarterback BRIAN BAKER and Everett defensive lineman JOHNNY JACKSON have been named the U.S. Army Ironman, Schutt Offensive Player and ADT Defensive Player of the Week, respectively, for Week 9 of the 2007 season. In addition to these three awards, the af2 is also highlighting the player who makes the best catch of the week. The Cutters Catch of the Week Award for Week 9 goes to Lubbock wide receiver CHRIS HIGHSHAW.

U.S. ARMY IRONMAN OF THE WEEK

Garth (6-4, 235, New Mexico State), in his fifth af2 season, had an impressive all-around effort for Tri-Cities in the team's 77-60 home win against Texas in Week 9. The veteran from New Mexico State was an impact player on offense, catching eight passes for 73 yards and three touchdowns. Garth also made his presence felt on defense with one sack and on special teams with 23 kick return yards. This is the second af2 weekly honor of Garth's career. He was named Defensive Player of the Week for Week 10 in 2004 as a member of the Green Bay Blizzard. Garth ranks second on the Fever in receptions (46), receiving yards (611) and touchdowns (16). He also leads the team in tackles for loss with 3.0.

SCHUTT OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK

Baker (6-5, 250, Austin Peay) had an outstanding individual effort on Saturday night for Tri-Cities in the team's 77-60 home win against Texas. Baker, in his second af2 season, burned the Copperheads defense with an af2 season-high 11 touchdown passes. The Fever signal caller's touchdown passing performance also tied him with former Arkansas QB Jon Nielsen for the second-highest single game total in af2 history. Baker finished with a Week 9 high 369 passing yards on 27-of-37 attempts with just one interception. He currently leads the af2 in touchdown passes with 51 and in passing yards with 2,222. This is the first weekly league honor of Baker's career.

ADT DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK

Jackson (6-3, 270, Arizona), in his rookie af2 season, had a breakout game defensively in Week 9 for Everett as the Hawks scored a 66-61 upset win at home against West Division rival Bakersfield. The former Wildcat harassed Blitz QB Chad Elliott all night, posting a team-record four sacks. Jackson entered Sunday's game with just one sack on the season. His impressive outing also included 6.5 total tackles (6 UA, 1 A), 5.0 tackles for loss, two forced two fumbles and one fumble recovery. This is the first weekly af2 award of Jackson's career. He is the second Everett player to be honored by the league in as many weeks, joining WR Josh Richey, who earned the Schutt Offensive Player of the Week award for Week 8. Jackson is currently tied for the team lead in tackles for loss (6.0) and sacks (5.0).

CUTTERS CATCH OF THE WEEK

Highshaw (6-5, 200, Grambling State), who is in his third season in the af2, is the Week 9 recipient of the Cutters Catch of the Week Award, a weekly honor that emerged last year to highlight the player who makes the best catch of the week. Highshaw's catch was a leaping, 21-yard touchdown in the third quarter of a 71-44 home win against Laredo. The former Grambling State alum went up high up against the boards at the goal line to snare the football with a defender draped all over him. Highshaw finished the night with two catches for 50 yards and one touchdown. He also recorded one tackle. He is currently tied for the team lead with seven touchdown receptions and also ranks second on the squad in receptions (24) and receiving yards (318).

U.S. Army Ironman of the Week candidates included:

Bakersfield's DeRonn Finley, Boise's Lee Marks, Rio Grande Valley's CoCo Blaylock, Amarillo's Timothy Wilkins, Lubbock's Preston Hartfield, Arkansas' Jon Schoonover, Fort Wayne's Cesare Manning, Central Valley's Damian Walker, Bossier-Shreveport's P.J. Winston, Alabama's Bradly Chavez, Manchester's David Bailey, W-B/Scranton's Larry Kendrick and Quad City's Jack Walker, Jr..

Schutt Offensive Player of the Week candidates included:

Everett's Josh Richey, Stockton's Sale' Key, Amarillo's Steve Bergeski, Rio Grande Valley's Josh Kellett, Lubbock's Jason Tezeno, Arkansas' Davon Vinson, Fort Wayne's Cody Hodges, Spokane's Justin Rummell, South Georgia's Chavis McCollister, Alabama's Mitch Tanney, Manchester's Ari Confesor, W-B/Scranton's Ryan Vena and Quad City's Thomas Anthony.

ADT Defensive Player of the Week candidates included:

Stockton's James Newson, Tri-Cities' Jamie Hattley, Rio Grande Valley's Andre Goines, Lubbock's Charles Ealy, Arkansas' Tanner Varner, Fort Wayne's Derek Brown, Spokane's Rob Keefe, South Georgia's Matt Jackson, Alabama's Adrian Ghent, Mahoning Valley's Maurice Taylor, W-B/Scranton's Chris Royal and Quad City's Jeff Macrea.

Previous 2007 Winners:

Week 8: Everett's Josh Richey (Offensive), Central Valley's Aaron Miller (Defensive), Quad City's Jack Walker, Jr., (Ironman), Bossier-Shreveport's P.J. Winston (Catch)

Week 7: Central Valley's Clay Groefsema (Offensive), W-B/Scranton's William Ferguson (Defensive), Stockton's Kenyatte Morgan (Ironman), Albany's Antwun Williams (Catch)

Week 6: Albany's Bakari Brown (Offensive), Tennessee Valley's Farouk Adelekan (Defensive), Texas' Jarrod Fuller (Ironman), W-B/Scranton's Jim Jones (Catch)

Week 5: Oklahoma City's Danny Howard (Offensive), W-B/Scranton's Chris Royal (Defensive), W-B/Scranton's Larry Kendrick (Ironman), Arkansas' Kevin Williams (Catch)

Week 4: W-B/Scranton's Ryan Vena (Offensive), Tri-Cities' Jamie Hattley (Defensive), Boise's Emmett White (Ironman), Manchester's David Bailey (Catch)

Week 3: Oklahoma City's Stan Hill (Offensive), Bossier-Shreveport's Elex Reed (Defensive), Florida's Chris McKinney (Ironman), Lubbock's Alvance Robinson (Catch)

Week 2: South Georgia's D. Bryant (Offensive), Bossier-Shreveport's Kendrick Walker (Defensive), Central Valley's Wes Borba (Ironman), Amarillo's Steve Bergeski (Catch)

Week 1: Florida's Chris Wallace (Offensive), Tennessee Valley's Quentin Burrell (Defensive), Quad City's Jermaine Petty (Ironman), Mahoning Valley's Chris Archie (Catch)



arenafootball2 Stories from May 29, 2007


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