It's a Twister! It's a Twister!

June 25, 2002 - arenafootball2 (af2) News Release

The af2 league office honored Arkansas quarterback RICKY HEBERT, Arkansas defensive specialist DEADERICK CAIL and Arkansas wide receiver/defensive back LENNIE JOHNSON as its Offensive Player of the Week, ADT Defensive Player of the Week and Ironman of the Week, respectively.

In leading his team to the second-highest point total in professional football history, Hebert passed for an af2 season-high 387 yards, the fourth-highest total ever in an af2 game. He completed 18-of-28 passes with nine touchdowns, tying another af2 season high, and no interceptions. He averaged an astounding 13.8 yards per attempt and 21.5 yards per completion.

Cail added to Arkansas' scoring explosion with a 26-yard interception return for touchdown. He had two other pickoffs that led to Twisters' TDs, racking up 71 total yards on interception returns. He broke up two other passes while his five tackles tied for the second-most in the game behind Johnson's 7.5.

Johnson wins the Ironman award for the second time this season and the sixth time in his three-year af2 career (three times in 2000, once last year). The 2000 af2 first-teamer caught seven passes for 111 yards and four touchdowns against the Talons. On defense, in addition to his 7.5 tackles, Johnson nabbed an interception that led to an early TD. He also totaled 107 yards on five kickoff returns.

This marks the first time that one team has swept the Offensive, ADT Defensive and Ironman awards. Tennessee Valley and Augusta swept the awards in Week 1 of the 2000 and 2001 seasons, respectively, but those weeks featured one- or two-game schedules and came before the advent of the ADT Defensive Player of the Week honor. (The league recognized an overall "Player of the Week" and an "Ironman of the Week" in its first two years). Ironically, Arkansas was the only team to pull off the Player/Ironman of the Week "double" in a non-abbreviated week. The Twisters' JON NIELSEN (Player of the Week) and Johnson (Ironman) earned league honors together in Week 2 of the 2000 campaign.

This week's Built Ford Tough Man is Tallahassee FB/LB MESIAH PORTER. In a battle for sole possession of first place in the American Conference Southern Division, Porter scored four touchdowns (three rushing, one receiving), including the final two TDs as Tallahassee overcame a 28-20 deficit to defeat Florida 32-28. On the Firecats' last-chance drive, Porter batted down a 4th-and-goal pass at the goal line with 50 seconds left to wrap up the victory. This is Porter's second weekly award – he was the league's Ironman for the final week of the 2001 regular season.

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

"PROGRAMS LIKE THE ‘Y' GIVE YOUNG FOLKS PLACES TO GO AND THINGS TO DO THAT THEY MIGHT NOT OTHERWISE ENJOY. WE GET A KICK OUT OF WORKING IN THE COMMUNITY AND IT'S NICE TO SEE THE INTERACTION BETWEEN OUR PLAYERS AND THE KIDS. THERE'S REALLY NOT MUCH DIFFERENCE IN AGES, BUT THE YOUNGSTERS LIKE MEETING AND TALKING WITH PROFESSIONAL ATHLETES. IT WAS A FUN DAY." – Mobile Head Coach ALAN RISHER on his team spending time with children at the local YMCA during the Wizards' bye week.

"THIS IS JUST GREAT. I'M JUST TRYING TO SAVOR (THIS). NOT A LOT OF GUYS, ACTUALLY VERY FEW GUYS, GET THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO THIS. BUT COMING OUT HERE, I JUST THANK GOD. I JUST TAKE WHAT HE GIVES ME.'' – Albany OS COREY HILL after the Conquest topped Rochester 54-42 and won the Northeast Division title.

"I WASN'T GOING TO COME OUT. THIS GAME IS FUN AND I WANT TO PLAY ALL I CAN. I'M PLAYING FOR MY HOMETOWN." – Pensacola OL/DL KEVIN SLUDER on not coming out of the game during a crucial drive after injuring his ankle in the Barracudas' 50-27 loss at Jacksonville.

"I WOULDN'T MISS THIS FOR THE WORLD. I CAN'T MISS A GAME. IT'S JUST NOT IN ME. ALSO, WE WANT TO SEE HOW WE STACK UP AGAINST A TEAM THAT'S BEEN AROUND (AS A TOP INDOOR TEAM). IT'S A CHALLENGE." – San Diego WR/LB RICO CURTIS before kickoff against Peoria.

"THESE GUYS ARE A TOP TEAM, AND WE WANTED TO PLAY A GREAT GAME. WE WON'T BACK DOWN FOR ANYONE. AT HALFTIME, WE KNEW WE COULD PLAY WITH THEM." – San Diego QB KANE CLAUNCH after the Riptide upset Peoria 28-21.

"BIRMINGHAM IS OBVIOUSLY ONE OF THE TOP THREE OR FOUR TEAMS IN THE LEAGUE. BEATING THESE GUYS IN THEIR BUILDING IS A GREAT CONFIDENCE BUILDER. FOR THE MOST PART, I THOUGHT WE PLAYED WELL. I THOUGHT OUR GUYS PLAYED WITH PLAYOFF INTENSITY." – Macon Head Coach KEVIN PORTER after Macon defeated Birmingham 71-61.

"MESSAGE SENT AND, APPARENTLY, MESSAGE RECEIVED THIS WEEK IN PRACTICE. OUR GUYS RESPONDED, AND I DIDN'T HAVE ONE OUNCE OF DOUBT THAT THEY WOULD." – Richmond Head Coach RICHARD DAVIS after his team defeated Mohegan 62-20.

"IT'S ALWAYS THE SAME WAY WHEN WE PLAY THESE GUYS. IT'S ALWAYS A BATTLE BETWEEN THE OFFENSES. WE JUST GOT ‘EM THIS TIME." – Norfolk WR/LB TRAVIS BURNS on the Nighthawks' 42-41 win over Charleston.

"IT WAS LIKE DEJA VU ALL OVER AGAIN. EVEN WHEN WE WERE UP BY 14 POINTS, I WAS LIKE, ‘OH NO, HERE WE GO AGAIN." – Bakersfield DS J'SHARLON JONES after surviving another opponent's fourth-quarter comeback in the Blitz's 56-48 win over Hawaii. Bakersfield had lost fourth-quarter leads in two straight losses.

"THAT HURT US SO MUCH. I WAS DEAD TIRED IN THE FOURTH QUARTER. EVERY TIME ARCENEAUX WOULD RUN AROUND, THE RECEIVERS WOULD RUN. I DON'T KNOW IF YOU KNOW, BUT I HAVE TO COVER THOSE GUYS." – Bakersfield DS J'SHARLON JONES on having to worry about DARNELL ARCENEAUX' s scrambling ability.

"WE DIDN'T DO ALL THE THINGS WE NEEDED TO TOO WIN. WE GAVE OURSELVES THE CHANCES, AND MADE MISTAKES THAT ENDED UP COSTING US THE GAME." – Wichita Head Coach LAND JACOBSEN on the Stealth's 47-46 loss at Bossier City.

"I'M STILL PUZZLED. WE DID A GOOD JOB OF GETTING TO THE FIVE-YARD LINE. TOO BAD IT'S WHAT YOU DO INSIDE THE FIVE THAT COUNTS." – Florida Head Coach JOHN FOURCADE on his team's inability to score in the red zone.

"WE TOOK A STEP BACKWARDS LAST WEEK AND GOT KNOCKED DOWN A BIT, BUT WE'VE GOT TO REBOUND AND BE READY TO TRAVEL UP TO PEORIA TO FACE ONE OF THE LEAGUE 'S BEST TEAMS IN THE PIRATES ON SATURDAY NIGHT." – Tulsa Head Coach SKIP FOSTER on rebounding from the Talons' 102-63 loss at Arkansas.

"WE'RE NOT GOING TO HAVE A QUARTERBACK CONTROVERSY. WE'LL NAME A STARTER BY NEXT WEEK AND WE'RE GOING TO GO WITH THAT GUY." – Tennessee Valley Head Coach KEVIN GUY on the Vipers' quarterback position, occupied by JERMAINE ALFRED and TRACY KENDALL after a season-ending injury to WES COUNTS.

‘‘WE'VE MADE SOME CHANGES AND WE'RE A VERY DANGEROUS FOOTBALL TEAM RIGHT NOW. WE'RE COMING TOGETHER, OUR DEFENSE IS LOOKING GOOD AND GETTING BETTER EACH WEEK. THERE'S FIVE GAMES LEFT – I'M LOOKING TO GO 12-4.'' – Quad City Head Coach RICH INGOLD on the Steamwheelers' recent resurgence.

"IT'S A LITTLE PREMATURE TO START THINKING ABOUT HOMEFIELD ADVANTAGE. BUT THAT FIRST ROUND IS OUR MOTIVATOR. THAT'S THE THING THAT KEEPS US FOCUSED. THE WAY MACON IS PLAYING RIGHT NOW, THEY MAY WIN OUT. OF ANYBODY WE'LL PLAY AT ANY POINT THE REST OF THE SEASON, IT'D BE BIG FOR US TO HAVE A HOME GAME AGAINST MACON." – Augusta Head Coach MIKE HOLD on concentrating for the playoffs.

"GLEN GAUNTT IS A REAL GOOD QUARTERBACK. HE'S GOT A NICE TOUCH, READS DEFENSES WELL AND HE DOESN'T TRY TO FORCE THINGS. HE TAKES WHAT HE GETS, AND HE'S A VERY STEADY EDDIE FOR AUGUSTA." – Columbus Head Coach PETE COSTANZA speaking on the Stallions' signal caller.

"WE'RE STILL MAKING TOO MANY CRITICAL ERRORS DURING THE COURSE OF A GAME TO GET THE JOB DONE. WE'VE MADE SIGNIFICANT PROGRESS, BUT THERE ARE NO MORAL VICTORIES IN PRO FOOTBALL." – Mobile Head Coach ALAN RISHER on his expansion Wizards.

"IF WE COULD FIGURE OUT WHY WE PLAY SO WELL AT HOME, WE'D MAKE SURE IT HAPPENED ON THE ROAD, TOO." – Norfolk QB CHRIS WALLACE on his team's road game woes.

PLAYOFF QUALIFIERS/SCENARIOS FOR WEEK 14

ALBANY: Clinched playoff berth. Clinched Northeast Division championship and homefield advantage in first round of playoffs.

AUGUSTA: Clinched playoff berth.

BAKERSFIELD: Can clinch playoff berth with win at Hawaii AND loss by Fresno at San Diego.

BIRMINGHAM: Can clinch playoff berth with win vs. Arkansas AND loss by Pensacola vs. Jacksonville.

CAPE FEAR: Can clinch playoff berth with win at Mohegan OR loss by Norfolk vs. New Haven AND loss by Roanoke vs. Augusta.

MACON: Clinched playoff berth.

PEORIA: Clinched playoff berth and homefield advantage in first round of playoffs.

RICHMOND: Can clinch playoff berth with win at Albany OR loss by Norfolk vs. New Haven AND loss by Roanoke vs. Augusta.

TENNESSEE VALLEY: Can clinch playoff berth with win at Mobile AND loss by Pensacola vs. Jacksonville.

TULSA: Can clinch playoff berth with win at Peoria AND loss by Bossier City vs. Quad City.

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