Holland Honored for 'Sweet 16' Defense

April 23, 2002 - arenafootball2 (af2) News Release

As if the Richmond Speed offense isn't potent enough already, the ArenaCup 2001 finalists got some significant scoring punch from the defensive side of the ball this week.

Defensive specialist RICHARD HOLLAND scored two touchdowns and a safety in the Speed's 62-20 win over New Haven Saturday. For his 14-point performance (16 counting GEOFF GROSHELLE's extra points), arenafootball2 honored Holland as Week 4's ADT Defensive Player of the Week. The Virginia Military Institute product returned an interception 38 yards and a fumble 11 yards for a pair of TDs, also scoring a safety. Holland tallied three tackles and two passes defensed in the game.

Arkansas WR/DB LENNIE JOHNSON, af2's Week 4 Ironman, provided a defensive spark in the Twisters' 60-13 win against Wichita on Saturday. The former Arkansas State University star nabbed three interceptions and also had two receptions (both touchdowns) for 72 yards on offense. This is the fifth time for the 2000 af2 first-teamer to win the league-wide Ironman weekly award (three times in 2000, once last year). Johnson's teammate, FB/LB DARNELL SMALL, earned the league's Ironman honor last week, making this the fifth time in league history the same team has captured the honor in back-to-back weeks.

Roanoke QB CHRIS SANDERS came off the bench in place of AL CLARK to lead the Steam to its first victory of the year, a 59-56 overtime win at Greensboro. His ability to engineer the come-from-behind win earned Sanders af2 Offensive Player of the Week distinction. Playing in his first af2 game, the Tennessee-Chattanooga alum finished 16-of-34 for 211 yards and five touchdowns, including the game-tying score on the last play of regulation.

This week's Built Ford Tough winner, Charleston kicker CHRIS SEGAAR, used more than just his feet to help the Swamp Foxes beat Tallahassee 53-44 Saturday. Pressed into defensive service due to an injury, the former Virginia Tech Hokie made 3.5 tackles and returned an interception 14 yards for a touchdown. He also made 5-of-8 PATs in his more traditional role with the 2-0 Foxes.

Every team's coaching staff selects up to five players who display a "get it done" attitude after each game. At season's end, the league will honor the "Built Ford Tough" Man of the Year, a player who will win a Ford truck.

QUOTES FROM AROUND af2

"WE'RE PROFESSIONALS, BUT YOU GOTTA PLAY THIS GAME JUST LIKE YOU'RE A LITTLE KID OUT IN THE STREET WITH YOUR FRIENDS." – Wichita DS ROBERT HALL.

"MAN, I'M SO HAPPY. WE FINALLY DID IT." – Columbus WR/DB ELDRICK HILL after the Wardogs' win over Jacksonville that snapped the team's 0-17 skid.

"OUR SEASON DOES NOT REST ON A WIN OR A LOSS AGAINST NORFOLK. THEIRS OBVIOUSLY RESTS IMMENSELY ON BEATING RICHMOND. WELL, GOOD LUCK TO THEM." – Richmond Head Coach RICHARD DAVIS on the Richmond/Norfolk rivalry

"I'M NOT ARROGANT. I'M CONFIDENT. WE'RE GOING TO PUT IT ON THEM. WE WILL BEAT BOSSIER CITY. YOU CAN MARK IT DOWN. YOU CAN PUT IT IN BIG BOLD HEADLINES." – Memphis Head Coach DANTON BARTO before the Xplorers' 61-51 win over the Battle Wings last week.

"WE'RE GOING TO BREAK THAT STREAK THIS WEEK. THE ROAD STREAK IS OVER." – Birmingham FB/LB DEJUAN WASHINGTON before the Steeldogs' 70-40 win at Pensacola. Birmingham had lost four straight road games prior to Saturday's win.

"I THINK WE FINALLY PLAYED TO OUR CAPABILITIES. IT TAKES A TOTAL TEAM EFFORT TO WIN ON THE ROAD AND WE GOT THAT." – Birmingham Head Coach BOBBY HUMPHREY on the Steeldogs' win at Pensacola.

"I THINK WE LEARNED HOW TO FINISH A GAME LAST WEEKEND. ROCHESTER GAVE US A GOOD TEST AT THE END OF THE GAME AND WE WERE ABLE TO COME THROUGH WITH A VICTORY. IT WAS A VERY IMPORTANT WIN AS FAR AS OUR SEASON GOES." – Mohegan Head Coach GARY PORTER on last week's win over Rochester.

"I LOST MY KICKER, MY QUARTERBACK HAD A HURT KNEE, AND WE COULDN'T DO ANYTHING WITH OUR THREE-STEP PASSING GAME TONIGHT. WE SHOULD HAVE SCORED A LOT MORE, BUT TO WIN UGLY IS GOOD." – Columbus Head Coach PETE COSTANZA on team's first victory.

"THIS GAME WAS A LOT CLOSER THAN IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN. WE PLAYED SLOPPY AND WE WERE FORTUNATE TO WIN THIS GAME." – Charleston Head Coach JIMMY DUNN on win over Tallahassee.

"THEY GAVE US A LOT OF OPPORTUNITIES DURING THAT GAME THAT WE DIDN'T CAPITALIZE ON. THEY'RE A GOOD TEAM, BUT THE SCORE DOESN'T SHOW WHAT HAPPENED IN THAT GAME." – New Haven Head Coach RICK BUFFINGTON on the team's play in Richmond.

"WE HAVEN'T EVEN COME CLOSE TO PLAYING TOP-NOTCH YET. THIS WAS AN UGLY GAME FOR US." – Richmond DS RICHARD HOLLAND on his team's Week 4 performance vs. New Haven.

"MAN, I'M 350 POUNDS. I CAN'T RUN WITH THE BALL. I WAS JUST HAPPY TO BE IN THE RIGHT SPOT AT THE RIGHT TIME." – Richmond OL/DL PATRICK HEARD on his interception return vs. New Haven.

"I WAS JUST READING THEIR DEFENSE ALL NIGHT LONG. I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW WHO I WAS THROWING TO MOST OF THE TIME. I WAS JUST TRYING TO FIND THE WIDE-OPEN RECEIVER." – Memphis QB TIM LESTER on his 7-touchdown performance against Bossier City last week.

"WE'RE AT A CROSSROADS. ARE WE GOING TO BUILD UPON OUR EXPERIENCES FOR THE NEXT GAME, OR DO WE SAY WE'RE NOT VERY GOOD AND JUST TRY OUR BEST? OUR GUYS HAVE TO GRAB THE OARS AND COME ON BOARD TO RIGHT THIS SHIP." – Fresno Head Coach RICK WORMAN on his team's winless start.

"THIS WEEK IS GOING TO TELL US A LOT ABOUT WHERE WE ARE AND WHERE WE'RE HEADED." – Wichita Head Coach LAND JACOBSEN, whose 0-3 Stealth team has totaled just 47 points this season.

"WE PLAY OUR THIRD STRAIGHT DIVISION OPPONENT ON THE ROAD. PENSACOLA IS A VETERAN OPERATION, IN ITS THIRD YEAR OF LEAGUE PLAY. THEY KNOW WHAT IT TAKES TO WIN. BOTH OF US ARE HUNGRY FOR OUR INITIAL VICTORY OF 2002. THIS IS A NATURAL GEOGRAPHICAL RIVALRY AND WE NEED TO PLAY AT OUR PEAK IF WE WANT TO BE COMPETITIVE." – Mobile Head Coach CHAD LINDSEY on this week's game at Pensacola.

"I TOLD THE PLAYERS, ‘WE JUST HAVE TO EXECUTE BETTER AND LEARN FROM OUR MISTAKES.' I KNOW WITH THE TALENT ON THIS TEAM, WE'RE GOING TO TURN THINGS AROUND." – Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Head Coach TERRY KARG on what the Pioneers need to do to get their first win.

"THOSE GUYS ARE GOING THROUGH SOME OF THE HARD KNOCKS THAT BEING AN EXPANSION TEAM BRINGS, BUT MAKE NO MISTAKE, THEY ARE A VERY GOOD TEAM. THE MORE THEY GO TO BATTLE TOGETHER, THE MORE DANGEROUS THEY GET. WE HAD TO COME FROM BEHIND TO BEAT THEM THE FIRST TIME. WE NEED TO BE POISED, GET AHEAD AND STAY AHEAD." – Greensboro Head Coach GARY TUFFORD on playing Wilkes-Barre/Scranton this week.

"THEY'RE THE BEST TEAM WE'VE FACED TO THIS POINT. IT WILL BE A GOOD TEST TO SEE WHERE WE STAND AGAINST A PREMIER TEAM." – Macon Head Coach KEVIN PORTER on this week's game against Tennessee Valley.

"I THINK IT COULD BE A FACTOR, BUT I DON'T THINK IT AFFECTS US. WE HOPE WHEN TEAMS COME HERE, IT AFFECTS THEM MORE." – Hawaii Head Coach GUY BENJAMIN on his team's long road trips from the islands.

"EVERY TEAM IN THE LEAGUE ALREADY KNOWS ABOUT MARTY GRAHAM, AND I EXPECT THEM TO KEY ON HIM EVERY WEEK." – San Diego Head Coach CREE MORRIS on his all-purpose threat.

"EVERY TEAM WE PLAY I FEEL BAD FOR THEIR QUARTERBACKS. I'M NOT KIDDING. IF GREG TAYLOR'S NOT COMING ON ONE SIDE, IT'S (ARTHUR) ABSTON FROM THE OTHER OR THE LINEBACKERS UP THE MIDDLE." – Arkansas QB RICKY HEBERT on the Twisters' defensive prowess. Arkansas leads af2 with 14 sacks.

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