Marshall, Berry And Martin Earn Week 2 Honors
Published on April 13, 2010 under Arena Football League (AFL) News Release
TULSA - Bossier-Shreveport wide receiver WILLIS MARSHALL, Bossier-Shreveport wide receiver PJ BERRY and Chicago defensive back CHRIS MARTIN have been named the JLS Ironman, Russell Athletic Offensive Player and Riddell Defensive Player of the Week, respectively, for Week 2 of 2010, the AFL's first season back after taking a year hiatus. In addition to these three awards, the AFL is also highlighting the player who makes the best catch of the week, the playmaker of the week, and the highlight of the week. The Cutters Catch of the Week Award for Week 2 goes to Bossier-Shreveport wide receiver WILLIS MARSHALL, his second award of the week, while Orlando's wide receiver T.T. TOLIVER has been named the Playmaker of the Week. The highlight of the week award has gone to Alabama's defensive back AHMAD HAWKINS.
JLS IRONMAN OF THE WEEK
Marshall (5-10, 195, Youngstown State) put up serious numbers on both offense and defense - statistics impressive by themselves but made even more amazing coming from the same player. Marshall made four catches on the night for 56 yards and a touchdown in the second quarter. He also tallied 7.5 tackles, third most for the BattleWings in their 73-67 victory over the Orlando Predators. Marshall has 10 tackles on the season, and nine catches for 138 yards and three touchdowns. He is averaging nine points a game, second most on the team.
RUSSELL ATHLETIC OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Berry (6-0, 190, Virginia State) was in synch with Bossier-Shreveport QB Raymond Philyaw all night in the BattleWings nailbiter against the Orlando Predators. Berry made 14 catches, 10 more than the next leading receiver (Ironman Willis Marshall) for 201 yards and an unbelievable six of the BattleWings' nine total touchdowns. He averaged more than 14 yards a carry after averaging just 8.5 in the BattleWings first game of the season against Alabama. Berry put on a show for the BattleWings faithful, including running back a missed field goal 56 yards for a score. He has made 24 receptions on the season, a league high.
RIDDELL DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Martin (5-11, 190, Washington State) put fear in the hearts of the Cleveland Gladiators this past weekend and made sure their task at hand was as difficult as possible. Martin made six unassisted tackles and one assisted, third most for the victorious Chicago Rush. He also had a forced fumble, one of only two tallied for the Chicago defense. While the game was back and forth scoring all night, Martin intercepted a Cleveland pass in the third with the Rush and Gladiators tied at 42. The ensuing plays set up a score to put the Rush ahead, and they would not trail the rest of the night as they charged on to a 59-56 victory.
CUTTERS CATCH OF THE WEEK
Marshall earns his second award of the week after a game where the Bossier-Shreveport Battlewings exploded on offense. The catch came with the clock winding down to halftime. With 52 seconds remaining in the half and the BattleWings ahead, Marshall connected with QB Philyaw for a 29 yard pass into the endzone. What made the catch extraordinary was the pressure put on Marshall. Marshall made full contact with the wall as he crossed into the endzone with an Orlando defender on his back, but managed to hold onto the ball for the score.
NIFTY PLAYMAKER OF THE GAME
Toliver (6-0, 185, Bethune-Cookman) put forth serious effort in an arena battle where the opposition didn't seem like it could be stopped. In a game where the BattleWings seemed to find an open receiver on every play, Toliver led the Predators in a valiant attempt to stay in the game. He made a total of 16 receptions in the Predators' season opener, beating a previous league single-game reception record of 15 set by Iowa Barnstormers' Barry Wagner in 1996. He scored two touchdowns in the air and also recorded four kick returns for 89 yards. He only trails the league leader in receptions, PJ Berry, by 8 despite only playing one game so far this season.
SPALDING HIGHLIGHT OF THE GAME
Hawkins (5-10, 195, Virginia) added a dash of excitement to a game already chock full of it for Alabama Vipers fans. En route to their first victory of the season, the Vipers were ahead a touchdown in the fourth quarter. But a differential of only seven points wasn't enough for Hawkins. He snagged a rogue pass from Jacksonville QB Aaron Garcia and ran it 40 yards to put the Vipers up two touchdowns with 12:45 remaining in the game.
JLS Ironman of the Week candidates included:
Utah's Brandon Hampton, Alabama's CJ Johnson, Tulsa's Jeff Hughley and Chicago's Robert Boss.
Russell Athletic Offensive Player of the Week candidates included:
Spokane's Kyle Rowley, Alabama's Kevin Eakin, Dallas' Derek Lee and Chicago's Samie Parker.
Riddell Defensive Player of the Week candidates included:
Spokane's Aaron Robbins, Bossier-Shreveport's Nick Ward, Alabama's Vince Hill and Dallas' Eddie Moten.
Arena Football League Stories from April 13, 2010
- Rush DB Chris Martin Named Riddell Defensive Player Of The Week - Chicago Rush
- Marshall, Berry And Martin Earn Week 2 Honors - AFL
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