Hamilton Named Offensive Player of Week
April 13, 2004 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Orlando Predators News Release
ORLANDO, Fla. (April 13) -- In a weekend where outstanding performances led to major upsets, Orlando rookie quarterback Joe Hamilton turned in a top performance which led to his selection as Arena Football's "Baby Ruth Real Deal Offensive Player of the Week."
Hamilton, coming off a knee injury that caused him to miss two and a half games, completed 16 of 23 passes (69.6%) for 171 yards and four touchdowns. He also scored on a 15-yard run to account for five touchdowns as the Orlando Predators upset the 7-1 New Orleans VooDoo, 57-24, before 13,203 fans at the TD Waterhouse Centre on Friday night.
Three of Hamilton's touchdown passes, as well as the touchdown run, came in the first half when he was 10 of 13 for 109 yards. He guided the Predators to a 27-3 lead at halftime. The Predators were able to put points on the board during all nine of Hamilton's offensive possessions (six touchdowns and three field goals). Back-up Craig Whelihan was in the game for Orlando's other possession at the end of the fourth quarter. The Predators also scored a touchdown on a fumble recovery during a kickoff.
Hamilton's performance edged numerous other outstanding efforts during Week 10 of the Arena Football League season. Those efforts included Dallas QB Glenn Gaunt, who threw for six touchdowns and ran for another in the Desperados 58-54 upset of San Jose and Damian Harrell's seven-catch, 134-yard, four touchdown performance in Colorado's win over Los Angeles. Other outstanding offensive efforts included quarterback Aaron Garcia's 330-yard, eight-touchdown performance in a loss to Columbus; and Arizona's Sherdrick Bonner and Las Vegas Clint Dolezel each passing for nine touchdowns as the Rattlers won an 80-63 shootout over the Gladiators.
It was the third time this season that a Predators player was singled out for a league award. Hamilton captured "Rookie of the Month" honors for February and OL/DL Jermaine Smith was named "US Army Ironman of the Week" for his play against Indiana in Week 5.
The Predators (4-5) return to action this Sunday against the Georgia Force (4-6), a team that defeated Orlando earlier this season. Game time is 3 p.m. and the contest can be heard on WQTM 540 AM.
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