L.A. Avengers place Jackson and Hopkins on All-Arena first team
May 20, 2003 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Los Angeles Avengers News Release
LOS ANGELES -- Offensive specialist Chris Jackson and wide receiver/linebacker Greg Hopkins of the Los Angeles Avengers were both selected to the Arena Football League's "All-Arena" first team today.
Jackson (6-foot-2, 200 pounds) led the Avengers in receiving and scoring, finishing the regular season with 117 receptions for 1,737 yards and 46 touchdowns. All three of those marks, in addition to his 280 points scored and 1,774 all-purpose yards, are new Avenger single-season records. Jackson played in all 16 games for the Avengers in 2003, scoring at least one touchdown in all but one game on his way to tying the AFL's all-time single-season record for touchdown catches (46).
This is Jackson's first "All-Arena" honor, although he was selected as the AFL's "Rookie of the Year" following L.A.'s inaugural 2000 season.
Hopkins (6-2, 205), one of the premier two-way players in AFL history, had another outstanding campaign on both sides of the football. He caught 87 passes for 1,192 yards and 26 touchdowns, recording his fourth consecutive 1,000-yard season. On defense, Hopkins made 30 tackles (including 1.5 for losses), deflected six passes and made two interceptions. He returned one of his interceptions for a touchdown, the ninth in his eight-year AFL career, tying an all-time league record.
One of four players named to the first team for the second year in a row, Hopkins also took home the AFL "Ironman of the Year" award last season and was previously selected to the "All-Arena" second team as a member of the Albany Firebirds in 1998 and 2000.
While playing together in Los Angeles for the past two seasons, Jackson and Hopkins have clearly established themselves as the most dangerous receiving duo in the 17-year history of the AFL. Since the start of the 2002 season, they have combined to make 391 receptions for 5,419 yards and 129 touchdowns.
Jackson and Hopkins are only the third pair of teammates in league history to make the "All-Arena" first team at the receiver positions. The dynamic duo of Randy Gatewood and Calvin Schexnayder was the first and went on to lead the Arizona Rattlers to the ArenaBowl world championship in 1997. Three years later, Mike Horacek and Carlos James each made the first team while with the Iowa Barnstormers.
The Avengers, who recently concluded the regular season with an 11-5 record, have had a player on the "All-Arena" first team in each of their four seasons in the AFL, but this is the first time that a pair of Los Angeles players has been selected. The Avengers and the Orlando Predators are the only AFL teams to have had a player on the first team in each of the past four seasons.
Only the defending ArenaBowl champion San Jose SaberCats placed more players on the 2003 "All Arena" first team than the Avengers, as fullback/linebacker Keala Keanaaina, wide receiver/defensive back Barry Wagner and defensive specialist Clevan Thomas each earned the honor for leading the way to a 12-4 season and No. 1 seed in the upcoming playoffs. The entire "All-Arena" first and second teams follow below.
The 2003 AFL Playoffs begin this Saturday (May 24), but as the No. 4 seed, the Avengers earned a first-round bye and will host a quarterfinal playoff game at STAPLES Center on Sunday, June 1. Kickoff is set for noon (Pacific) and the contest will be televised on KNBC Channel 4. The AFL's four first-round games, which will be played this weekend, will determine L.A.'s opponent.
Tickets, starting at just $10, are on sale at all Ticketmaster outlets and the STAPLES Center box office. For more information, please call 1-888-AVENGERS.
• Discuss this story on the Arena Football League (1987-2008) message board...
Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from May 20, 2003
- 2003 AFL Season in Review - AFL I
- Wagner Named Ironman of the Week - San Jose SaberCats
- Rush and Hlavacek Earn All-Arena Honors - Albany/Indiana Firebirds
- Georgia Force Game Notes - Georgia Force
- Dallas Desperados Game Notes - Dallas Desperados
- Grand Rapids Rampage Game Notes - Grand Rapids Rampage
- AFL Attendance Up 15 Percent in 2003 - AFL I
- Rampage Announce 2003 Team Award Winners - Grand Rapids Rampage
- AFL Names All-Arena Teams - AFL I
- Desperados Host Force in First Round Playoff Game - Dallas Desperados
- Three SaberCats Earn First-Team All-League Honors - San Jose SaberCats
- L.A. Avengers place Jackson and Hopkins on All-Arena first team - Los Angeles Avengers
- Rattle the Rattlers Gladiator Fan Bus Set for Phoenix Departure on Sunday, May 25 - Las Vegas Gladiators
- Desperados Playoff Game Changes Date & Venue - Dallas Desperados
- Gladiators' Kicker Steve Videtich Named Second Team All Arena - Las Vegas Gladiators
- Desperados Trio Named to All-Arena Teams - Dallas Desperados
- AFL Names Week's Best - AFL I
- Desperados Briggs Named Defensive Player of the Week - Dallas Desperados
- Fury head to Grand Rapids for First Round of the ArenaBowl Playoffs - Detroit Fury
- Moyer, Chatman Garner AFL Awards - Chicago Rush
- Carpenter Garners All-Arena Honors - Buffalo Destroyers
- Rush Playoff Date Set - Chicago Rush
- AFL Playoff Schedule Announced - AFL I
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
