PIFL Names Week 1 Players of the Week

March 24, 2015 - Professional Indoor Football League (PIFL) News Release

PIFL Week 1 Players of the Week
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In an opening contest that featured barely 500 yards of combined offense, the Freedom won on Sunday much like they did in 2014 with strong defense and key offensive drives down the stretch. After his 2014 season was cut short with a leg injury, WR Antoine Rivera returned with a vengeance on Sunday snagging a team-high 97 receiving yards on six catches. None more crucial came with less than a minute left in the first half when Rivera hauled in a 45-yard TD pass helping knock the Freedom's halftime deficit to just five. His second TD, an 11-yard pass from QB Hunter Wanket, ultimately gave Trenton the lead for good guiding him to the Week 1 Offensive Player of the Week.

Helping set-up a dominate defensive second-half by the Freedom, LB Jerome Hayes earned the Week 1 PIFL Defensive Player of the Week award for notching three sacks in their 41-33 victory over the Raiders. Down by five at the half, Trenton held Richmond scoreless on four of their final five drives including two-turnover on downs in the game's final quarter. Hayes was crucial down the stretch with all three of his sacks coming in Sunday's final five minutes including two of them coming in the game's deciding drive.

Already the PIFL's all-time scoring leader, Richmond Raiders K T.C. Stevens earned the Special Teams Player of the Week for a record ninth time. Stevens kicked for a game-high nine points including three Uno's going 3 of 4 in PAT attempts and connecting on an 18-yard field goal. Week 2 action begins this Friday when the reigning champion Venom begin their title defense when they host the Alabama Hammers. The week concludes on Sunday with a double-header featuring the first-ever meeting between the PIFL's Keystone Clubs in the Lehigh Valley Steelhawks and Erie Explosion. Then an hour later the Lions make their season debut when they host the Raiders looking to avoid a 0-2 start for the second consecutive season.

PIFL Week 1 Players of the Week

Professional Indoor Football League Stories from March 24, 2015

• Steelhawks Head to Erie to Open the 2015 PIFL Season - Lehigh Valley Steelhawks
• Erie Explosion to Host Lehigh Valley in PIFL Home Opener Sunday, March 29th - Erie Explosion
• PIFL Names Week 1 Players of the Week - PIFL

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