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Hope, Vena And McCray Earn Week 5 Honors

April 29, 2008 - arenafootball2 (af2) News Release


CHICAGO - Tulsa defensive back JERMAINE HOPE, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton quarterback RYAN VENA and Austin defensive back DEMETRIE MCCRAY have been named the JLS Ironman, Schutt Offensive Player and ADT Defensive Player of the Week, respectively, for Week 5 of the 2008 season. In addition to these three awards, the Cutters Catch of the Week Award for Week 5 goes to Iowa wide receiver BRYAN PRAY.

JLS IRONMAN OF THE WEEK

Hope (5-9, 175, Tulsa), in his third season, had an impressive all-around effort for Tulsa in the team's 69-53 road win against Lubbock in Week 5. The veteran from the University of Tulsa was an impact player on defense with 4.5 tackles (4 solo, 1 assist) and one interception, his first of the 2008 season. Hope was also a big factor on special teams as well with an onside kick recovery in the first quarter and a 13-yard kickoff return touchdown on an attempted onside kick by Lubbock in the fourth quarter. Primarily utilized as a defensive back, Hope also made an impact on the offensive side of the ball with two catches for 28 yards. This is the first weekly league award of his career. He currently ranks second on the team in tackles with 23.5 and is tied for second in pass breakups with six.

SCHUTT OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK

Vena (6-0, 220, Colgate), now in his fifth af2 season, had an outstanding individual effort on Saturday night for Wilkes-Barre/Scranton in the team's 68-50 home win against East Division rival Manchester. The former Colgate standout, in his second start since returning to the Pioneers, completed 21-of-34 passes for 297 yards and an af2-season high nine touchdowns with just one interception. He also had 13 yards rushing and one rushing score. Vena is certainly no stranger to this honor. The 2007 Offensive Player of the Year has earned Offensive Player of the Week honors nine times overall in his career. In addition to his week's award, he was honored five times in 2007 (Weeks 4, 12, 13, 20 - Second Round, 22 - ArenaCup), once in 2006 (Week 5) and twice in 2003 (Week 10, Week 15). The East Division-leading Pioneers are 2-0 with Vena under center and 4-1 overall.

ADT DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK

McCray (6-0, 190, Albany State), in his second af2 season, was an impact player on defense for Austin as the Wranglers scored their second win in as many weeks, a 57-27 road victory on Sunday at Oklahoma City. The Albany State alum made quite an impression by intercepting Yard Dawgz QB Evan Gray three times in the win. McCray's interception total tied a 2008 af2 single-game high. He also finished with 3.0 total tackles and a half a tackle for loss to key Austin's defense, which limited Oklahoma City to its lowest point total of the season. This is the first weekly af2 award of McCray's career. He is currently tied for the team lead in interceptions (3) and ranks third on the squad in tackles (14.5).

CUTTERS CATCH OF THE WEEK

Iowa wide receiver Bryan Pray (5-8, 166, Pittsburg State) is the Week 5 recipient of the Cutters Catch of the Week Award, a weekly honor that emerged in 2006 to highlight the player who makes the best catch of the week. Pray's catch was a leaping, 5-yard touchdown grab with less than four minutes to play in the fourth quarter to help propel the Barnstormers to a 47-24 home victory against the Stockton Lightning. The rookie from Pittsburg State out jumped a Lightning defender to snare QB Joe Brannen's pass after it ricocheted off the rebound net. Pray's grab capped off a solid overall showing that included four catches for 40 yards and one touchdown. This is the first Catch of the Week Award of Pray's career. He currently ranks second on the Barnstormers in touchdown receptions (3) and third in receptions (16) and receiving yards (158).

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

Albany's Matt Millard, Austin's Ricky Williams, Boise's DeRonn Finley, Arkansas' Jamaal Perry, South Georgia's P.J. Berry, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton's Larry Kendrick, Iowa's Tim Dodge, Louisville's Demetrius Forney, Peoria's Robert Garth, Green Bay's Anthony Crissinger-Hill, Tennessee Valley's Travis Blanchard, Rio Grande Valley's Pierre Thomas and Spokane's Raul Vijil.

Schutt Offensive Player of the Week candidates included:

Albany's Dan Cole, Austin's Andy Hall, Boise's George Williams, Arkansas' Kyle Rowley, Florida's Matt Burstein, Iowa's Robert Kilow, Louisville Ricardo Lenhart, Peoria's Phillip Brock, Green Bay's Coco Blalock, Tennessee Valley's Brent Dearmon, Bossier-Shreveport's Manwell Talbert, Spokane's Raul Vijil and Tulsa's Justin Allgood.

ADT Defensive Player of the Week candidates included:

Mahoning Valley's Melvin Matlock, Boise's Terrence Sanders, Arkansas' Tracy Belton, Florida's Antonio Dingle, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton's Justin Parrish, Iowa's Jason Berryman, Louisville's Jerome Jones, Peoria's William Freeman, Green Bay's Joe Sykes, Daytona Beach's Quavel Thompson, Bossier-Shreveport's Charles Davis, Spokane's Lee Foliaki and Tulsa's Jamar Ransom.

Previous 2008 Winners:

Week 4: Amarillo's Donte Newsome (Offensive), South Georgia's Joe Woolridge (Defensive), Wilkes-Barre/Scranton's Larry Kendrick (Ironman), Lexington's Chad Spencer (Catch)

Week 3: Albany's Jared Jones (Offensive), Boise's Chris Bruhn (Defensive), Corpus Christi's Ivory McCann (Ironman), Tulsa's Jeff Hughley (Catch)

Week 2: Oklahoma City's Al Hunt (Offensive), Spokane's Sergio Gilliam (Defensive), Florida's Chris McKinney (Ironman), Amarillo's Wallace House (Catch)

Week 1: South Georgia's Cecil Lester (Offensive), Spokane's Sergio Gilliam (Defensive), Mahoning Valley's John Tackmann (Ironman), Corpus Christi's Jonathan Graham (Catch)

About J. Lewis Small Company

J. Lewis Small Company (JLS) manufactures high school class rings, college and university class rings, championship rings, and recognition awards to serve the independent salesforce and jewelry industries. Founded in 1915, JLS's highly qualified staff produces a product regarded as one of the best in the industry. Log on to www.jlewissmall.com for more information.

About Schutt® Sports, Inc.

Schutt Sports is synonymous with innovation in sports equipment, from the pros to youth leagues. Schutt Sports is the largest provider of football helmets and faceguards in the world and has introduced many of the game's most important advances in protective equipment, from its first football faceguard in 1935 to breakthrough helmet technology in 2003 via the Schutt® DNA™ helmet with SKYDEX™ material. Schutt Sports also markets innovative, quality, protective and field/court equipment for baseball, basketball, and softball, and is the Official Base Supplier of Major League Baseball®. The Litchfield, Ill. based company also markets collectible football helmets and bases to promote fan enjoyment. Schutt Sports is The Gear That Makes The Game™.

About ADT

Celebrating its 133rd anniversary, ADT Security Services is the largest single provider of electronic security services to more than six million commercial, federal and residential customers throughout the United States. ADT's total security solutions include intrusion, fire protection, closed circuit television, access control, critical condition monitoring, electronic article surveillance and integrated systems. ADT's Web site address is www.adt.com.

About Cutters

Cutters is the innovator of performance grip material. Other gloves have attempted to meet their standards and may look similar, but they don't match their grip, durability, or overall performance. No other glove performs like this. IT'S IN YOUR HANDS.



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