Hippeard, Fontenette, and Thompkins Earn Weekly Honors
July 14, 2015 - Arena Football League (AFL)
Orlando Predators News Release
LAS VEGAS - Orlando Predators quarterback Randy Hippeard has been awarded Russell Athletic Offensive Player of the Week, while San Jose SaberCats defensive back Ken Fontenette has been awarded Riddell Defensive Player of the Week, and Orlando Predators wide receiver Brandon Thompkins has been awarded J. Lewis Small Playmaker of the Week for Week 16 of the 2015 Arena Football League season. In addition to these awards, the AFL is also awarding the Cutters Catch of the Week and AFL Highlight of the Week. The Cutters Catch of the Week has been awarded to LA KISS wide receiver Tyrone Goard, while the AFL Highlight of the Week has been awarded to Jacksonville Sharks defensive end Joe Sykes.
RUSSELL ATHLETIC OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Hippeard (6-3, 205, Virginia-Wise) completed 72.7 percent of his passes for 346 yards and seven touchdowns in Orlando's 69-62 "War on I-4" victory over the Tampa Bay Storm in Week 16. He has completed at least 72 percent of his throws in each of his last five games played and leads the AFL in passing efficiency with a mark of 139.7 this season.
RIDDELL DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Fontenette (5-11, 190, Houston) tied the single-game AFL record for tackles with 17.5 in the SaberCats' 56-35 victory over the New Orleans VooDoo in Week 16. The League's leading tackler also broke Arena Football Hall of Fame selection Omarr Smith's single-season franchise record for tackles by bringing his 2015 total to 121.5, the 10th-highest single-season total in League history.
J LEWIS SMALL PLAYMAKER OF THE WEEK
Thompkins (5-10, 190, Arkansas State) caught five passes for 97 yards and two touchdowns to go along with a rushing score in Orlando's 69-62 win over the Tampa Bay Storm in Week 16. The League's all-purpose yardage leader has hauled in a touchdown reception in 12 consecutive games and logged triple-digit all-purpose yards in all but one contest this season.
CUTTERS CATCH OF THE WEEK
Goard (6-4, 205, Eastern Kentucky) went over the wall for a spectacular 18-yard touchdown in the second quarter of LA's 34-28 victory over the Spokane Shock in Week 16. The catch landed on ESPN SportsCenter's Top 10 Plays and earned Goard a Cutters hat and shirt in recognition of the reception.
AFL HIGHLIGHT OF THE WEEK
Sykes (6-5, 290, Southern) recorded a historic strip-sack in the second quarter of Jacksonville's 48-72 loss to the Portland Thunder in Week 16. The play enabled the two-time Defensive Lineman of the Year to tie his own single-season AFL record for sacks (16) and set a new League mark for forced fumbles (10) in a season.
Russell Athletic Offensive Player of the Week candidates included: Arizona's Rod Windsor, LA's Danny Southwick, Philadelphia's Dan Raudabaugh, Portland's Kyle Rowley, and San Jose's Erik Meyer.
Riddell Defensive Player of the Week candidates included: Arizona's Marquis Floyd, LA's Rayshaun Kizer, Orlando's Terence Moore, Philadelphia's James Romain, and Portland's Varmah Sonie.
J Lewis Small Playmaker of the Week candidates included: Arizona's AJ Cruz, Philadelphia's Harvey Binford, Portland's V'Keon Lacey, San Jose's Reggie Gray, and Spokane's Arvell Nelson.
The Arena Football League is also awarding the MVP of the Week, where fans are given the opportunity to select the winner. Candidates include Arizona Rattlers wide receiver Rod Windsor, Philadelphia Soul wide receiver Harvey Binford, and San Jose SaberCats wide receiver Reggie Gray. Fans will have 24 hours to vote on ArenaFootball.com beginning at 1 p.m. ET on Wednesday, July 15. The winner will be announced on Thursday, July 16.
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Arena Football League Stories from July 14, 2015
- Thunder Face Tough Test on Heels of Big Win - Portland Thunder
- SaberCatsTV to Launch for 2015 Home Games - San Jose SaberCats
- Shock Week 17 Game Preview - Spokane Shock
- Storm at New Orleans VooDoo Game Preview - Tampa Bay Storm
- Ken Fontenette Earns AFL Defensive Player of the Week - San Jose SaberCats
- AFL Issues Statement on Outlaws, VooDoo - AFL
- Hippeard, Fontenette, and Thompkins Earn Weekly Honors - Orlando Predators
- Joe Sykes Wins AFL Highlight of the Week - Jacksonville Sharks
- Hippeard, Fontenette, and Thompkins Earn Weekly Honors - AFL
- SaberCats Hold off Soul, Rattlers for No. 1 in AFL Power Rankings - AFL
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