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June 7, 2007 - arenafootball2 (af2) News Release


GAMES ON - af2/B2 FEATURED GAMES IN WEEK 11: The arenafootball2 league (af2) has established a new, extensive online network to provide the league's passionate fan base an opportunity to view a vast number of games through the internet. Thanks to a new league partnership with industry leader B2 Networks, fans across the globe are now be able to bring all the action of af2 football right to their home computer or laptop. To tune into the action, fans can log on to www.af2.com and click on the special advertisement located at the top right-hand corner of the page. Viewers looking to enjoy the games via B2 will only need a high-speed internet connection and Windows Media Player 9 or higher. Games will be available for the normal B2 rate of just $6. This week there are six (6) af2 games available though B2. The Week 11 online broadcast schedule is detailed below. All times listed are Eastern.

Week 11

Friday, June 8, 2007

Albany at Manchester 7:05 p.m.

Bossier-Shreveport at Alabama 8:00 p.m.

Mahoning Valley at Green Bay 8:30 p.m.

Saturday, June 9, 2007

Amarillo at Oklahoma City 8:05 p.m.

Spokane at Bakersfield 10:00 p.m.

Boise at Everett 10:30 p.m.

OFF THE NET/week 11: The arenafootball2 league (af2) online radio show, "Off the Net," the only internet radio show devoted solely to af2, will air its eleventh show of the season today, Thursday, June 7, on www.af2.com. This week's show features special in-depth interviews with Stockton Head Coach DOUG MURRAY, Albany receivers ANTWUN WILLIAMS and BAKARI BROWN, and Lubbock Director of Communications/Radio broadcaster CHRIS DUE. The program will also include news and notes from around the af2 as the league enters the eleventh week of the 2007 season. Fans can easily access the program by clicking on a special "Off the Net" advertisement located at the lower right hand corner of af2.com. The show will be available online late this afternoon. "Off the Net," now in its second season, airs every Thursday throughout the regular season and continues all the way until an ArenaCup Champion is crowned in late August. The show is designed to bring af2 fans even closer to their favorite game with in-depth news, interesting interviews and fun feature stories. Veteran broadcaster Dean Jackson serves as host.

PIONEERS TOP COACHES POLL FOR SEVENTH STRAIGHT WEEK: The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Pioneers have maintained the No. 1 ranking of the Weekly Coaches Poll for the seventh straight week, the arenafootball2 (af2) league office announced on Wednesday. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton collected all 464 possible points and 29-of-30 first place votes in securing the top position. The Pioneers, who are the only undefeated team in the league at 8-0, are coming off a bye week in Week 10. The South Georgia Wildcats (7-2, 389 points) took over the No. 2 position this week after a 46-44 home win Saturday against Corpus Christi. This week the Wildcats host Wilkes-Barre/Scranton on Saturday night in Albany, Ga. in a battle of the top two ranked teams in the league. Tulsa (8-1, 388 points) improved two positions from No. 5 to No. 3 after the Talons won at Manchester, 75-50. Rio Grande Valley (7-1, 379 points, 1 first place vote) slipped two spots despite being idle in Week 10. Bossier-Shreveport rounds out the Top-5 this week. The Battle Wings (7-2, 328 points) moved up one spot from No. 6 after scoring a 64-21 win at Texas.

WALKER, SAVAGE, CHAVERS, MCKINNEY EARN WEEK 10 HONORS: Quad City wide receiver/linebacker JACK WALKER, JR., Spokane wide receiver ANTWONE SAVAGE and Oklahoma City fullback/linebacker AARON CHAVERS have been named the U.S. Army Ironman, Schutt Offensive Player and ADT Defensive Player of the Week, respectively, for Week 10 of the 2007 season. In addition to these three awards, the af2 is also highlighting the player who makes the best catch of the week. The Cutters Catch of the Week Award for Week 10 goes to Florida wide receiver CHRIS MCKINNEY.

Walker (6-4, 195, Kent State), in his fifth af2 season, had an impressive all-around effort for Quad City in the team's 45-22 home win against Tennessee Valley in Week 10. The veteran from Kent State made his presence felt on offense, catching four passes for 33 yards and two touchdowns. Walker was also an impact player on defense with 2.0 tackles, two interceptions, two pass breakups and one forced fumble. This is Walker's second Ironman of the Week Award in the last three weeks. He was also honored for his Week 8 performance. Walker is tied for the team lead in scoring (112 points) and total touchdowns (18) and also ranks second on the Steamwheelers in receiving touchdowns (15) and receiving yards (652). Walker, in his third year with Quad City, earned American Conference All-af2 Second Team honors in 2006. Savage (6-0, 195, Oklahoma) had an outstanding individual effort on Saturday night for Spokane in the team's 52-47 comeback win at home against West Division rival Everett. Savage, in his third af2 season, burned the Hawks defense with 14 catches for 179 yards and four touchdowns. His 14 receptions and 179 receiving yards are both team single-game, season-high marks. Three of Savage's four touchdowns came in the second half and two came in the final quarter as the Shock turned a 14-point deficit into a five-point victory. This is the first weekly league honor of Savage's career. The Oklahoma alum currently ranks second in the league in touchdown receptions with 25 and in scoring with 156 points. He also ranks among the league's elite in receptions (74), receiving yards (994) and all-purpose yards (1,713). Chavers (6-3, 270, North Texas), in his second af2 season, had a breakout game defensively in Week 10 for Oklahoma City in the team's 57-41 home win against Laredo. The North Texas alum recorded career-highs in tackles for loss (3.5) and sacks (3.0) in the victory. Chavers' impressive outing also included 4.5 total tackles and one forced fumble. This is the first weekly af2 award of Chavers' career. He is the third Oklahoma City player to be honored by the league in 2007, joining QB Stan Hill and WR Danny Howard. Hill (WK5) and Howard (WK3) each earned the Schutt Offensive Player of the Week Award. Chavers leads the Yard Dawgz in tackles for loss (7.0) and sacks (5.5). McKinney (6-2, 215, Guilford College), who is in his fourth season in the af2, earned the Cutters Catch of the Week Award for his leaping, 18-yard touchdown late in the third quarter of a 29-21 home win against South Division foe Alabama. The former Guilford standout went up high against the back boards in the end zone to snare the scoring pass. He managed to hang on despite the fact that his momentum took him hard over the wall and onto the concrete. McKinney finished the night with 10 catches for 105 yards and two touchdowns. He also recorded 83 combined kick return yards and 189 all-purpose yards. This is McKinney's third af2 weekly award of his career. He earned the league's Ironman of the Week honor for Week 3 and was also honored with the Cutters Catch of the Week for Week 10 of 2006. Last season he earned the special teams spot on the American Conference All-af2 Second Team.

SEBASTIEN AND FORBES TIED ATOP THE CAREER INTERCEPTION LEADERBOARD: Veteran DB MATT FORBES of the Louisville Fire began the year tied for first on the all-time regular season interceptions list with 27. He moved into first place outright on the all-time list in Week 1 when he recorded his 28th career interception. Entering Week 10, Forbes held the all-time lead over another veteran DB ALLISTAIR SEBASTIEN, 29-28. On Friday night, Sebastien recorded two interceptions against Tulsa to take over the top spot, 30-29. Forbes evened the score on Saturday night with an interception in a home win against Louisville. Florida WR/DB BRENT BURNSIDE ranks fifth overall with 24 career interceptions.

ALL-TIME REGULAR SEASON

INTERCEPTION LEADERS

NAME INTS

1. Matt Forbes* 30

1. Allistair Sebastien* 30

3. Arkee Thompson 27

4. Michael Brown 25

5. Brent Burnside* 24

* denotes active players

50-WIN CLUB: Manchester Head Coach BEN BENNETT became just the fifth coach in league history to hit the 50-win plateau in Week 9. Bennett earned career win No. 50 on May 25 at Mahoning Valley, 50-40. He joins all-time coaching wins leader CHRIS SIEGFRIED (57), KEVIN GUY (52), BOBBY HUMPHREY (51) and RICH INGOLD (51) as the only coaches in af2 history with 50 or more career wins. Ingold was the fourth coach in league history to win 50 games in Week 8 at Tennessee Valley. He is currently the winningest active coach in the league. Louisville's TOMMY JOHNSON hit a milestone in Week 6 by notching his 40th career af2 win. Johnson, currently with 43 victories, is just the tenth coach in league history to hit the 40-win plateau.

TOP ALL-TIME COACHING VICTORIES

NAME WINS

1. Chris Siegfried 57

2. Kevin Guy 52

3. Bobby Humphrey 51

3. Rich Ingold* 51

5. Ben Bennett* 50

6. Danton Barto 49

* denotes active coaches

YARD DAWGZ TO DON NEW LOOK FOR GREAT CAUSE: On June 9th, the Oklahoma City Yard Dawgz will be sporting a new look which will benefit the nation's largest wish granting organization, the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Yard Dawgz players will wear a jersey, designed by 4-year-old Caleb Johnson of Anadarko. The jerseys feature a picture of Deizel Dawg, the Yard Dawgz mascot, "ripping" the jersey with his claws. Fans will have the opportunity to bid on of these special jerseys during and following the game. Several jerseys will be placed on the concourse level for a silent auction and the remaining jerseys will be part of a live auction following the Yard Dawgz game versus Amarillo. Proceeds from the auction will be donated to the Oklahoma Make-A-Wish Foundation, along with a check from Luxaire, the official sponsor of Make-A-Wish Foundation night with the Yard Dawgz. The Make-A-Wish Foundation is based on the idea that children with life threatening medical conditions are granted wishes that will enrich the human experience with hope, strength, and joy. Revenue created by the Make-A-Wish Foundation makes up less than four percent of their total income. The rest of the funding is provided by internal and external special events, with the majority from contributions which make up 66 percent of the organizations total funding. By placing the winning bid on June 9th, Yard Dawgz fans can contribute to the Make-A-Wish foundation. Help make a child's wish come true and take home a limited edition Yard Dawgz jersey. To find out more about the Make-A-Wish foundation, please visit www.wish.org.

DOWN TO ONE: Entering Week 11 of the season, there is only one team that remains undefeated - the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Pioneers (8-0). The Pioneers, off to their best start in team history, are currently ranked No. 1 in the Weekly Coaches Poll. This is their seventh straight week atop the chart. The Pioneers, coming off a bye in Week 10, have a showdown in Week 11 at South Georgia to battle the Wildcats, who are currently 7-2 and ranked No. 2 in the Coaches Poll. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton now boasts the third-best start in league history. Below is a chart detailing the best starts in af2 history.

TEAM, START, SEASON

Quad City, 16-0, 2000

Tennessee Valley, 14-0, 2003

W-B/Scranton*, 8-0, 2007

Augusta, 7-0, 2002

Richmond, 7-0, 2002

Tulsa*, 7-0, 2007

* denotes active steaks

Of the top six starts in af2 history, however, only one team finished strong as well. The Quad City Steamwheelers ran the table in the league's inaugural 2000 season and won all 16 regular season games and three playoff games, culminating with an ArenaCup Championship. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton's and Tulsa's fates however, are yet to be determined.

WILLIAMS SET TO JOIN 900-CLUB: Florida WR MAGIC BENTON became the first player in af2 history to score 900 points in a Week 6 win at Albany. The veteran, who entered the contest with 898 points, scored three touchdowns against the Conquest to increase his career total to 916 points. Benton, in his seventh season, is currently the league's all-time scoring leader with 930 points. His next closest competitor is Arkansas veteran WR/LB KEVIN WILLIAMS. Williams is just two points away from the 900-point plateau (898). Manchester WR JARRAIL JACKSON hit the impressive 800-point plateau in Week 9 and is currently third on the list of the league's all-time top scorers with 816 points. Rio Grande Valley WR/DB GEORGE WILLIAMS (776), Quad City WR/LB Jack Walker, jr. (776) and Oklahoma City WR/DB AL HUNT (754) all ecllipsed the 700-point plateau this season as well. Below is a breakdown of the leading scorers in af2 history:

MOST POINTS SCORED, NON-KICKING, CAREER

PTS, PLAYER, YEARS PLAYED

930, Magic Benton*, 2001-present

898, Kevin Williams*, 2001-present

816, Jarrail Jackson*, 2000-01, 2005-present

780, Mitch Allner, 2000-04

776, George Williams*, 2001, 2003-present

762, Jack Walker, Jr.*, 2002-03, 2005-present

756, Cainon Lamb, 2002-05

754, Al Hunt*, 2003-present

738, Kevin Prentiss, 2003-2006

* denotes active players

af2 ALUM MARSHALL SIGNS WITH CHICAGO BEARS: The Grand Rapids Rampage's leading receiver and kickoff return man will be joining a new team in a new league this season, as Timon Marshall (Kingston, Jamaica) signed on with the NFL's Chicago Bears. The Arena Football League's 2007 leader in all-purpose yards, kickoff return yards and return touchdowns will take part in the Bears' minicamp beginning this week. Marshall played three years (2005-07) with the Rampage, setting several records while proving himself as one of the team's most electric players of all time. In just 38 games, Marshall set a team record for career kickoff return yards (3,506), tied for first in Rampage history with eight kickoff returns for touchdowns, and was second behind only former receiver and current offensive coordinator Michael Baker for all-purpose yards in a Grand Rapids uniform (6,457). In addition, Marshall's 2,741 career receiving yards rank fourth in team history, while his 224 receptions place him fifth in Grand Rapids' annals, just one shy of fourth-place holder Steve Smith. Through 14 weeks of the AFL season, Marshall has been a serious contender for the league's 2007 Ironman of the Year Award, logging impressive numbers both offensively and on special teams. His Rampage record 3,050 all-purpose yards are 728 more than second-place holder Will Pettis of the Dallas Desperados, while his 1,908 kickoff return yards set a team record as well. Meanwhile, Marshall recorded nine return touchdowns, including three kickoff return scores and three fumble recoveries for touchdowns, which ties a league record set by Anthony Derricks in 2000. The Ottawa (Kan.) University product was on pace to eclipse AFL records in all-purpose yards, kickoff return yards, and kickoff returns for touchdowns. Before joining the AFL ranks with the Rampage, Marshall spent two seasons (2003-04) in the af2 with the Tulsa Talons and Oklahoma City Yard Dawgz. In 2004, he led the Yard Dawgz in all-purpose yards (2,139), points scored (192), total touchdowns (31), receiving touchdowns (28), kickoff returns (50) and kickoff return yards (1,004). In 2003, Marshall caught 24 passes for 270 yards and three touchdowns to help the Talons win the ArenaCup title.

af2 ALUMNI EARN AFL AWARDS: This week Tampa Bay Storm QB BRETT DIETZ, Utah Blaze DB DAHNEL SINGFIELD, and Dallas Desperados WR/DB WILL PETTIS have been named Offensive Player, ADT Defensive Player, and Ironman of the Week, respectively, for Week 14 of the 2007 season. All three players began their Arena Football careers in the af2. Dietz (6-4, 220, Hanover) completed 23-of-30 passes for 315 yards and eight touchdowns as the Storm (6-7) defeated the New Orleans VooDoo (4-9), 61-55, on Saturday. Dietz threw touchdown passes on each of Tampa Bay's first seven possessions and led the Storm's offense to scores on all 10 of the teams drives while compiling the highest passer rating of Week 14 (149.3). Tampa Bay will host the Philadelphia Soul (6-7) on Saturday, June 9 at 7:30 p.m. ET (Catch 47 - Live, CSS - Live, CSN Philadelphia - NDD, 6/10, at 1 p.m. ET). Singfield (6-1, 190, Buffalo) registered eight tackles, one tackle for loss, one fumble recovery, one interception and three passes defensed as Utah (7-7) defeated the Colorado Crush (8-6), 51-14, and held the Crush to its lowest point total in team history. Singfield's fumble recovery came during Colorado's second series of the third quarter as he recovered the fumble and returned it 12 yards to the Crush 11-yard line which set up Utah's second score of the half. His interception in the end zone with 3:05 remaining in the game sealed the victory. Utah next hosts conference rival San Jose (10-3) on Saturday, June 9, at 9 p.m. ET (FSN Bay Area - Live, KJZZ Salt Lake - Live). Pettis (6-0, 200, Midwestern St.) recorded nine receptions for 191 yards with four touchdowns and one rush for a three-yard score on offense while registering three tackles, one interception and one pass defensed on defense as the Dallas Desperados (12-1) defeated the Philadelphia Soul (6-7), 59-56, at the Wachovia Spectrum on Friday. Pettis caught the game's first touchdown on a 46-yard reception on the Desperados fourth play from scrimmage and then notched a key interception during the second quarter that resulted in a Dallas touchdown putting them ahead by 11 points. His rushing touchdown in the third quarter put the Desperados up by nine and his 45-yard touchdown reception with 1:36 remaining in the game secured the victory. Dallas will next host the New Orleans VooDoo (4-9) on Saturday, June 9, at 8:30 p.m. ET (CST New Orleans - Live).

ROCK THE AFL VOTE: Hey fans, your vote counts in the AFL. This year the fan vote will count 25 percent of the entire vote for the 2007 AFL Player of the Year Awards. Only one vote per person will be counted towards the overall total. There are a number of former af2 standouts who should be seriously considered in AFL Player of the Year Awards conversation. Below is a quick look at some of the top AFL players in 2007 that have af2 roots:

Offensive Player of the Year

Chris Greisen - QB - Georgia Force (af2 Green Bay)

Leads AFL in completion percentage (73.9), passer rating (131.7), also has 3,958 passing yards, 94 TDs, 10 INTs

Bobby Sippio - WR - Chicago Rush (af2 Greensboro)

Second in AFL in scoring with 246 points, also ranks among the League leaders with 97 catches, 1,354 yards, 41 TDs

Troy Bergeron - WR - Georgia Force (af2 Columbus)

Fifth in AFL in receiving yards (1,348), tied for eighth in touchdowns (33)

Javarus Dudley - WR - Orlando Predators (af2 Florida)

Seventh in AFL in receiving yards (1,324) 13th in touchdowns (30)

ADT Defensive Player of the Year

Dennison Robinson - DB - Chicago Rush (af2 Quad City)

Tied for fourth in AFL in tackles (88) and tied for tenth in interceptions (5)

Eddie Moten - DB - Philadelphia Soul (af2 Rio Grande Valley)

Leads the AFL in passes defended (30), tied for third in interceptions (8), leads Soul in tackles (74.0)

Silas Demary - DL - Los Angeles Avengers (af2 Norfolk)

Tied for sixth in AFL in sacks (6), also has 19 tackles

E.J. Burt - DL - Chicago Rush (af2 Cape Fear)

Tied for tenth in AFL in sacks (5), also has 16.5 tackles

U.S. Army Ironman of the Year

Will Pettis - WR/DB - Dallas Desperados (af2 Pensacola)

Team-leading 105 receptions for 1,211 yards and 33 TDs on offense, 49.5 tackles, seven pass break ups and two INTs on defense, threat on special teams with 51 kick returns for 1,046 yards and three TDs

Timon Marshall - WR/KR/DB - Grand Rapids Rampage (af2 Oklahoma City, Tulsa)

Leads the Rampage in receiving with 102 catches for 1,134 yards and 27 TDs, force on special teams with 83 kick returns for 1,901 yards and six TDs, Leads the AFL in all-purpose yards, averaging 234.5 yards per game

Charles Frederick - WR/DB - Kansas City Brigade (af2 Spokane)

Leads Brigade with 97 catches for 1,215 yards and 24 TDs, sixth in AFL in total TDs (36), team-best 12 rush TDs (T5th-AFL), 601 combined kick return yards, 9.5 tackles on defense

Josh White - FB/LB - Dallas Desperados (af2 Hawaiian)

Second in AFL in rushing yards (262), tied for ninth in rushing TDs (10), 10 tackles on defense

Rookie of the Year

Charles Frederick - WR/DB - Kansas City Brigade (af2 Spokane)

* See above

Brett Dietz - QB - Tampa Bay Storm (af2 Louisville)

Wasn't even on the Storm roster to begin the season but has been the starter for the last five weeks (Storm is 4-1), has passed for 1,578 yards with 31 TDs against six INTs, has Tampa Bay positioned for a playoff berth despite an 0-5 start

A.J. Haglund - K - San Jose Sabercats (af2 Oklahoma City)

Tied with two other players for second in the AFL in scoring for kickers (125 points), made 101-of-109 PATs and 8-of-14 FGs

Rob Mager - WR - Chicago Rush (af2 Louisville)

Third on team in receiving yards (676), tied for third in receptions (60), tied for third in total TDs (12)

Kicker of the Year

A.J. Haglund - San Jose Sabercats (af2 Oklahoma City)

* See above

Mark Lewis - Austin Wranglers (af2 Tennessee Valley)

Leads the League in scoring for kickers with 131 points, among the top five kickers in PAT accuracy (.946; 89-of-94 PATs)

Jason Ball - Colorado Crush (af2 Bossier-Shreveport, Oklahoma City)

Leads the League in field goals made (15), fifth in AFL in points scored by kicker (122), 77-of-89 PATs, 15-of-26 FGs

Peter Martinez - Columbus Destroyers (af2 Oklahoma City, Roanoke)

Lineman of the Year

Silas Demary - DL - Los Angeles Avengers (af2 Norfolk)

* See above

E.J. Burt - DL - Chicago Rush (af2 Cape Fear)

* See above

Coach of the Year

Kevin Porter - Kansas City Brigade (af2 Macon)

Has engineered one of the League's best single-season turnarounds. At 8-5, team is poised to earn a playoff berth in just its second year of existence. Last season, Kansas City finished with a 3-13 record, but already has eight wins with three games left in the regular season.

Brett Munsey - Philadelphia Soul (af2 Tennessee Valley)

The Soul are currently 6-7 and firmly in playoff hunt. Has a chance to guide the franchise to back-to-back winning seasons and back-to-back playoff appearances. Prior to his arrival, Philadelphia failed to reach .500 and failed to reach the postseason in the franchise's first two seasons.



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