AFL I Arena Football League (1987-2008)

Las Vegas' Dolezel, Tampa Bay' Samuels and Arizona's Cooper earn week four honors

Published on March 2, 2004 under Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I) News Release


NEW YORK – Las Vegas Gladiators quarterback CLINT DOLEZEL, Tampa Bay Storm wide receiver/linebacker LAWRENCE SAMUELS and Arizona Rattlers wide receiver/linebacker HUNKIE COOPER have been named Baby Ruth Real Deal Offensive Player, ADT Defensive Player and U.S. Army Ironman of the Week, respectively, for Week 4 of the 2004 season.

Dolezel (6-5, 205, East Texas State), an eight-year veteran, guided the Gladiators (2-2) to their 50-30 victory over the previously-undefeated New Orleans VooDoo (3-1) on Sunday. Dolezel led the Gladiators (2-2) by completing 22-of-32 for 224 yards and four TD passes while adding two rushing scores. His first TD pass of the day was the 500th of his career. Dolezel is the fourth player the reach that milestone and the quickest to earn that achievement – 94 games – in professional football history. This marks the ninth time that the former Lion has earned an AFL weekly honor.

Samuels (6-2, 210, Livingston), a 10-year veteran, led the Tampa Bay Storm (2-2) to a 40-37 win over the Philadelphia Soul (1-3) on Sunday. Defensively, Samuels recorded the Storm's first INT of the season and recovered a fumble with 20 seconds left in the game as the Soul were driving for the go-ahead score. Offensively, Samuels recorded a career-high 149 receiving yards on nine receptions, including a 27-yard TD. The Storm recorded two defensive stops in the second half of the game – one coming on Samuels' INT and one coming on Samuels' fumble recovery on the Soul's final possession. This marks the sixth time that the ArenaBowl XVII MVP and Ironman has earned an AFL weekly honor.

Cooper (5-9, 190, UNLV), an 11-year veteran, led the Arizona Rattlers (2-2) to a 53-41 victory over the New York Dragons (1-3) on Sunday afternoon. The former two-time Ironman of the Year finished the game with four catches for 42 yards and a touchdown, carried the ball twice for another two scores and intercepted an AARON GARCIA pass to help seal the victory in the fourth quarter. He also added 2.5 tackles and a tackle for loss. This season, Cooper needs only 170 yards to reach 20,000 all-purpose yards for his career. Only GEORGE LAFRANCE (20,480) has reached that milestone. This marks the 11th time that the former Rebel has earned an AFL weekly honor.

Baby Ruth Real Deal Offensive Player of the Week candidates included: Arizona's Siaha Burley, Colorado's John Dutton, Columbus' Cornelius White, Dallas' Glenn Gauntt, Indiana's Adrian McPherson, Los Angeles' Joe Douglass, Orlando's Joe Hamilton, San Jose's Mark Grieb and Tampa Bay's Lawrence Samuels.

ADT Defensive Player of the Week candidates included: Arizona's Wendall Gaines, Colorado's Rashad Floyd, Columbus' Chris Angel, Dallas' Jermaine Jones, Indiana's Leroy Thompson, Las Vegas' Marvin Taylor, Los Angeles' Kevin Ingram, Orlando's Jermaine Smith, San Jose's Clevan Thomas and Tampa Bay's Nyle Wiren.

U.S. Army Ironman of the Week candidates included: Chicago's Kareem Larrimore, Colorado's Kevin McKenzie, Columbus' Wilky Bazile, Dallas' Bobby Sippio, Las Vegas' Cornelius Bonner, Los Angeles' Greg Hopkins, Orlando's James Bowden, San Jose's Barry Wagner and Tampa Bay's Lawrence Samuels.

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Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from March 2, 2004


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