Pitts Named Defensive Player Of The Week
April 15, 2010 - Indoor Football League (IFL)
Tri-Cities Fever News Release
Tri-Cities Fever coach Adam Shackleford can't really describe Montavis Pitts any other way.
"He's a playmaker," Shackleford said. "When he's on the field he's going to make plays."
And it seems the timing of Pitts' big plays is impeccable.
Pitts had two key interceptions for the Fever, one he returned for a third-quarter touchdown to help Tri-Cities to a 44-39 victory over the Fairbanks Grizzlies last Saturday night at the Toyota Center.
He finished the night with a team-leading 9.5 tackles, to go with his two interceptions and aided a great defensive effort in the second half, helping the Fever to its first Indoor Football League victory.
On Wednesday, Pitts was rewarded for his outstanding play and was named the Indoor Football League Defensive Player of the Week.
"He's a guy that goes out there and gets things done," Shackleford said. "He is the guy that is covering their best receiver."
Pitts, who played at Auburn University, appears to be settling in like the rest of his defensive backfield mates. After allowing 33 first-half points, the Fever held first-place Fairbanks (4-2) to just six points in the second half. But even with that great defensive effort, Tri-Cities (1-3) needed a goal line stand to preserve the victory. Pitts was in on that play too.
"We knew what they were going to do," Pitts said after the game. "I just came up to the line and tried to push him back."
Pitts, who has Arena Football League and arenafootball2 league experience, helped jump start the Fever with his first interception of the game in the first half.
With the Fever trailing 33-17, Fairbanks was looking for the knockout blow at the end of the first half. But on the first play of the drive, Pitts jumped up and intercepted Justin Rummel and returned the ball to the Grizzlies' 3-yard line. Three plays later, the Fever was in the end zone and trailed 33-24 at halftime.
Pitts' second-half interception turned out to be the game-changer. After Kwame Agyeman put a crushing hit on Rummel, Pitts grabbed the errand throw and returned it 47 yards for a touchdown, giving the Fever its first lead at 38-33.
"I saw the ball up there, grabbed it and just started running," Pitts said.
NOTES: The Fever activated receiver Joey Hew Len for Sunday's game against Kent. The Fever also signed defensive end/linebacker Ameer Ismail. Ismail is a former standout at Western Michigan where he led the nation in sacks in 2006. To make room on the roster, the Fever released wide receivers Tim Simmons and LaReylle Cunningham. The Fever also signed kick returner/receiver Craig Turner, who was an all af2 player last season at Rio Grande Valley. He ranked fourth in the af2 with at more than 25 yards per return. . The Fever is on the road Sunday at Kent in the second of four meetings between the two teams. The first time the two teams met, Kent pulled out a 55-49 win behind the play of quarterback James McCullum. McCullum rushed the ball 30 times for 124 yards and three touchdowns. He also completed 10 of 13 passes for 164 yards and four more TDs.
• Discuss this story on the Indoor Football League message board...
Indoor Football League Stories from April 15, 2010
- Bevis, Extreme To Host Maryland - Bloomington Extreme
- First 1,000 Fans To Receive Free BBQ At Roughnecks April 17 Home Game - West Texas Roughnecks
- Venom Add NFL Talent - Amarillo Venom
- Pitts Named Defensive Player Of The Week - Tri-Cities Fever
- Predators Hardin Named Special Teams Player Of The Week - Seattle Timberwolves
- McKenna Nelson to Receive Touchdown Donations - Billings Outlaws
- Spartans Guarantee Win This Sunday - La Crosse Spartans
- Over a Cup of Coffee - OSC Original by Jerry Hewitt
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.
