Martinez, Purify Named to All-Arena Team
August 12, 2011 - Arena Football League (AFL)
Georgia Force News Release
Duluth, GA (August 11, 2011) - A pair of Force players added another piece of league hardware to their mantels on Thursday when the All-Arena Teams were released. Kicker Carlos Martinez was named to the first team, while wide receiver Maurice Purify landed a spot on the second team.
This is not the first time either player has been honored this week. Yesterday, Martinez was named the NAPA Kicker of the Year, and on Tuesday, Purify received two awards: Aaron's Rookie of the Year and The Big Game Breakout Player of the Year.
"They both came up big for us this year," said Force head coach Dean Cokinos. "Carlos is, hands down, the best arena kicker I've ever seen. Not only is he a great field goal kicker, but he can hit the net at will [on kickoffs]. Maurice can do it all - run, catch, block, play special teams. He's the ideal player."
Martinez led all AFL kickers with 146 points and a 91.1 percent success rate on extra points. He finished tied for second in total field goals (11) and second in field goal percentage (61.1). 2011 marked his fifth season with 100 or more extra points.
Meanwhile, Purify's nomination to the second team comes on the heels of a freshman season that saw him catch 130 passes for 1,653 yards and 46 touchdowns. The wideout had previously played with the NFL's Cincinnati Bengals after completing a successful college career at the University of Nebraska.
"These two are indicative of the kind of talent Coach Cokinos brings here," said Force president Cory Howerton. "He's committed to putting together a team that can compete for an ArenaBowl title every year, and our fans really appreciate that."
CJ Johnson, who was named to the All-Iron Team earlier this week, was the only other Force player to receive a postseason award from the league.
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- Martinez, Purify Named to All-Arena Team - Georgia Force
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