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April 23, 2009 - arenafootball2 (af2) News Release


GAMES ON - af2TV FREE ONLINE NETWORK CONTINUES IN 2009:

Thanks to a unique league partnership with Network Foundation Technologies (NFT), all the hard-hitting, fast paced action of arenafootball2 is once again available to fans worldwide. The FREE-for-View online network called "af2TV" showcases every game of the league's 10th anniversary season live over the Internet. The process to view games is easy. To obtain the free af2TV player, fans should first click on the af2TV advertisement located on the upper right corner of the league's web site, www.af2.com. Following the link will bring fans to a special landing page which includes simple directions on how to download and place the af2TV player icon on your desktop. The action continues this week (Week 5) with a 12-game slate that will be available to fans at no charge.

SHOCK TOP WEEK 5 COACHES POLL:

The Spokane Shock have maintained their hold on the No. 1 ranking in the Week 5 Coaches Poll, the arenafootball2 (af2) league office announced on Wednesday. Spokane collected 380 of a possible 384 points and 22-of-25 first place votes in securing the top spot for the sixth consecutive week. The Shock improved to 3-0 with a 63-45 road win on Saturday against West Division rival and previously unbeaten Boise (2-1). Oklahoma City (339 points, 2 first place votes) moved up one spot after their bye week to No. 2. The Yard Dawgz (3-0) and Shock are the only two remaining undefeated teams in the af2. The South Georgia Wildcats jumped to third (4-1, 280 points, 1 first place vote) after their 50-point road victory over Tri-Cities, 84-34. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (3-1, 275 points) moved up three places to No. 4 after the Pioneers' 80-43 home win against Mahoning Valley. Tulsa (3-1, 260 points) rounds out the Top-5 this week. The Talons jumped two spots to No. 5 following their 58-31 home victory against Iowa. The Barnstormers, Arkansas Twisters and Boise Burn dropped out of the Top-5 this week after each suffered their first loss of 2009.

DOWN TO TWO:

Through the first four full weeks of the 2009 season, only two of the league's 25 teams remain unbeaten - Oklahoma City and Spokane. The Yard Dawgz and Shock are both 3-0. The Iowa Barnstormers, Arkansas Twisters and Boise Burn, three teams who entered Week 4 undefeated, each suffered their first loss of 2009 last weekend. Spokane has started three of the team's first four seasons with at least a 3-0 record.

BURN LINEMAN DEVAN EARNS NFL CONTRACT:

The Boise Burn announced on Tuesday that center KYLE DEVAN has signed an NFL contract with the Indianapolis Colts. All it took was three starts with the Burn for DeVan to punch his second ticket to the NFL. DeVan spent the last nine weeks of the 2008 NFL season on the New York Jets practice squad. DeVan had a busy but beneficial start to his week. He left for Indianapolis on Monday morning, worked out for the Colts on Tuesday morning and signed a two-year contract with the team in the afternoon. He was placed on other league exempt by the af2 on Wednesday. A native of Vacaville, Ca, DeVan played collegiately at Oregon State from 2003-2007, was an All-Pac 10 selection from 2005-07, started 37 consecutive games and was a perfect 4-0 in bowl games.

TWO-TIME ALL-af2 PLAYER JOINS WILDCATS:

WR/DB IVORY MCCANN, an electrifying kick returner and adept defensive back, returned to the af2 this week after being assigned to the South Georgia Wildcats on Tuesday. The 5-9, 190-pound Texas Tech alum spent the last two seasons with the Corpus Christi Sharks. For his career, McCann has caught 29 passes for 416 yards and eight touchdowns along with rushing for two scores. On defense he has accumulated 124.5 tackles, six interceptions, 38 pass break ups, four fumble recoveries and three forced fumbles. While McCann has had great success on offense and defense in the af2, it is his explosiveness on special teams that has garnered him the most recognition. The two-time, All-af2 First Team special teams player (2007-08) currently ranks second all-time in kick return touchdowns with 13 (6 mfg, 7 ko). He had five total kick return scores in 2007, his rookie af2 season, and eight in 2008. He was also named to the af2's All-Ironman Team last season.

JONES, EAKIN, WILSON, PANUI, TURNER EARN WEEK 5 HONORS:

Central Valley wide receiver/defensive back LAMONTE JONES, Tennessee Valley quarterback KEVIN EAKIN and Green Bay defensive lineman CRAIG WILSON have been named the JLS Ironman, Russell Athletic Offensive Player and Aaron's Defensive Player of the Week, respectively, for Week 4 of 2009, the af2's 10th anniversary season. In addition to these three awards, the af2 is also highlighting the player who makes the best catch and the best hit of the week. The Big Game Catch of the Week Award for Week 4 goes to Florida wide receiver JAMES PANUI and the NiFTy Hit of the Week is awarded to Rio Grande Valley defensive back CRAIG TURNER.

Jones (5-10, 180, Fresno City College), in his sixth af2 season, had a impressive all-around effort for Central Valley (2-2) in the team's Week 4, come-from-behind road win at division rival Stockton, 65-58. The veteran playmaker was a factor on both sides of the ball against the Lightning. On offense, the Fresno City College alum caught 14 passes for 185 yards and four touchdowns, all game-highs. Jones' last catch of the night was a game-winning, 3-yard TD grab with 27 seconds left to play. The go-ahead score was also set up by a Jones' 38-yard reception on the previous play. He proved to be a factor on defense as well with one tackle and one interception (22-yard return). Jones also accumulated 131 kickoff return yards to finish with 338 all-purpose yards (Week 4 high). This is the second Ironman of the Week Award of Jones' career (Week 8 - 2006). He currently leads the Coyotes in receiving (44-486-11 TDs), scoring (68 points), kick return yards (362) and all-purpose yards (860 - 2nd in af2). Jones won the af2 Ironman of the Year Award in 2006. Eakin (6-1, 225, Fordham), in his second af2 season, led Tennessee Valley to a come-from-behind, 61-60, Week 4 road win against the previously unbeaten Arkansas Twisters. The Fordham alum had his best game as a Viper, completing 29-of-41 passes (70.7 percent) for 365 yards (career high) and nine touchdowns (career high - tied team record) without an interception. Trailing 54-60 with only 13 seconds to play, Eakin completed all three of his pass attempts on Tennessee Valley's final drive. On the game's final play, Eakin eluded the Arkansas rush, stepped up in the pocket and delivered the game-tying, 9-yard touchdown strike to WR Larry Shipp as time expired. K Nick Hayes converted the extra point to propel the Vipers (2-2) to the 1-point win. This is the first Offensive Player of the Week Award of Eakin's career. He currently ranks fifth in the league in touchdown passes (22) and sixth in passing yards (1,052). Wilson (6-1, 280, West Virginia) was a major player on defense in Green Bay's, 65-52, Week 4 road win against Midwest Division rival Quad City. The rookie defensive lineman from West Virginia recorded 3.5 total tackles and 2.5 of the team's four total sacks against Steamwheelers QB J.J. Raterink. One of Wilson's sacks of Raterink came in the end zone for a safety in the closing seconds of the third quarter. This is the first af2 weekly award of Wilson's career. Green Bay is currently 2-1 overall and 1-0 in the Midwest Division. Panui (5-9, 190, Central Florida), a second-year international player from Great Britain, is the Week 4 recipient of The Big Game Catch of the Week Award. Panui's catch was a game-winning, leaping 28-yard touchdown grab with just 16 seconds left to play as the Firecats earned a 68-62 home victory against new South Division rival Kentucky. The Central Florida alum, starting in his first game at receiver, scorched the Horsemen with 12 catches for 131 yards and five touchdowns, all game-high and career-high totals. Panui currently leads the Firecats in all-purpose yards (524) and kick return yards (366) and ranks second in scoring (36 points). Turner (5-9, 195, Southern Illinois), in his rookie af2 season, is the third recipient of the NiFTy Hit of the Week Award, a new weekly honor that highlights the player who makes the best hit or tackle of the week. Turner's hit came on a third quarter kickoff Saturday night in Rio Grande Valley's, 58-49, home-opening win against Southwest Division rival Bossier-Shreveport. Thanks to a deep kickoff by Tony Stevens that ricocheted high off the rebound net and bounced on the turf, Turner was able to spring downfield on coverage and torpedo himself into BattleWings' KR P.J. Berry just after Berry was able to secure the bouncing ball. The hit, which took Berry right off his feet, capped a strong night for Turner that included a team-high 4.0 tackles. He also recorded one tackle for loss and two pass breakups. Turner currently leads the Dorados with 18.0 total tackles on the season.

WALLACE FIRST TO 500:

Florida Firecats veteran CHRIS WALLACE became the first quarterback in league history to throw 500 career touchdown passes Saturday night in a 68-62 home win against Kentucky. Wallace hit the 500-mark with a 15-yard strike to WR James Panui early in the fourth quarter. He entered the contest with 495 career touchdown passes and added seven against the Horsemen to up his current career total to 502. Wallace also holds af2 career records for passing yards (23,028), completions (1,875) and attempts (3,141). He became the league's all-time passing yards leader in a 32-27 road win at Albany in Week 3. Wallace began his af2 career with the Carolina Rhinos in 2000. He played for the AFL's Orlando Predators in 2001 and 2003. Prior to joining the Firecats midway through the 2004 season, he played for the af2's Norfolk Nighthawks and Cape Fear Wildcats.

VENA PASSES LOFTY BENCHMARKS:

Wilkes-Barre/Scranton QB RYAN VENA passed two impressive career milestones in the Pioneers' Week 2 home win against Albany - 20,000 passing yards and 400 touchdown passes. The veteran signal caller from Colgate, currently in his sixth af2 season (third with the Pioneers), joins CHRIS WALLACE and CRAIG STRICKLAND as the only quarterbacks in league history to reach those lofty totals. The af2's top three career passer totals for yards and touchdowns are shown below:

Most passing yards, career

23028...Chris Wallace, CAR 2000, NOR 2002-03, CPF 2004, FLA 2004-present

22688...Craig Strickland, Tulsa 2000-01, 2003, Oklahoma City 2004-06

20749...Ryan Vena, Albany 2002-03, 2006, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton 2007-present

Most touchdown passes, career

502...Chris Wallace, CAR 2000, NOR 2002-03, CPF 2004, FLA 2004-present

481...Craig Strickland, Tulsa 2000-01, 2003, Oklahoma City 2004-06

417...Ryan Vena, Albany 2002-03, 2006, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton 2007-present

VENA PASSES 80 RUSHING TOUCHDOWNS:

Over his career, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton QB RYAN VENA has hurt many opponents with his arm (20,749 yards passing, 417 touchdowns), but he has also proven to be an adept runner as well. With his 1-yard touchdown run in a Week 3 road loss to Kentucky, Vena became just the second player in af2 history to record 80 career rushing touchdowns. He now has 81 and stands just six rushing scores shy of tying SHERARD POTEETE's league record of 87.

FORNEY AND VENA HAVE A GRAND IN THEIR SIGHTS: Kentucky FB/LB DEMETRIUS FORNEY and Wilkes-Barre/Scranton QB RYAN VENA are closing in on 1,000 career rushing yards. Forney, who has gained 26 rushing yards so far in 2009, has 957 for his career. Vena has 24 this year and 915 for his career. Below is a breakdown of the af2 leaders in career rushing yards:

Most Yards Gained, Career

1346.... Sherard Poteete, Bossier City 2001-03, CBS 2003, Bossier-Shreve. 2004

1086.... Darnell Small, Arkansas 2000-05, Oklahoma City 2007

957...... Demetrius Forney, Louisville, 2002-05, 2007-08, Manchester 2006, Kentucky 2009

915...... Ryan Vena, Albany 2002-03, 2006, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton 2007-present

865...... Julian Reese, AMA 2005, 2008, EVE/SGW 2006, SGW 2007

INTERNATIONAL UPDATE:

This season the af2 continues to maintain its strong international development program, which began in 2003. Currently the league has international athletes from 14 countries on team rosters. This past week (Week 4) 17 international players saw action around the league. Two players who stood out from the af2's international talent pool were Albany DL DAVID TASH (St. Vincent & Grenadines) and Florida LB Adebiyi Ojutiku (Nigeria). Tash tallied 5.0 tackles, one sack, one forced fumble and one pass breakup in the Firebirds' 74-53 road loss against Manchester. Ojutiku had 4.0 total tackles and one fumble recovery for the Firecats in the team's 68-62 home win against Kentucky.

SIEGFRIED TURNS 70:

With Arkansas' 45-24 Week 2 win at Amarillo, Twisters Head Coach CHRIS SIEGFRIED earned his 70th career coaching victory. The veteran coach, now in his seventh season, currently ranks 2nd overall in career wins with 71. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Head Coach RICH INGOLD is the league's current all-time leader in career coaching wins with 78 (78-31 overall; .716). Amarillo's BEN BENNETT (64) ranks third on the all-time win list. Below is a breakdown of the leaders in career af2 coaching victories:

TOP ALL-TIME COACHING VICTORIES

NAME WINS

1. Rich Ingold* 78

2. Chris Siegfried* 71

3. Ben Bennett* 64

4. Danton Barto* 62

5. Tommy Johnson 55

6. Kevin Guy 52

7. Bobby Humphrey 51

8. Kevin Bouis* 52

9. Fred Biletnikoff, Jr.* 46

Richard Davis* 46

* denotes active coaches

LEAGUE'S ALL-TIME SCORING RACE HEATING UP:

Central Valley WR GEORGE WILLIAMS is the league's current all-time leading scorer with 1,150 points. Williams entered the year ranked second to Florida WR MAGIC BENTON. Benton is currently No. 2 overall with 1,124 points. Oklahoma City WR AL HUNT is right behind Benton in third place with 1,120 career points. Former league standouts KEVIN WILLIAMS and JARRAIL JACKSON fill out the Top-5. Below is a breakdown of the leading scorers in af2 history:

MOST POINTS SCORED, NON-KICKING, CAREER

PTS PLAYER YEARS PLAYED

1,150 George Williams* 2001, 2003-present

1,124 Magic Benton* 2001-present

1,120 Al Hunt* 2003-present

958 Kevin Williams 2001-2008

932 Jarrail Jackson 2000-2001, 2005-2008

924 Chavis McCollister* 2005-present

906 J.R. Thomas 2004-2008

900 Jack Walker, Jr.* 2002-2003, 2005-present

816 Kris Peters* 2004-present

780 Mitch Allner 2000-2004

* Active in 2009

WILLIAMS ALSO LEADS TIGHT ALL-TIME TD RACE:

In addition to taking over the all-time scoring lead, Central Valley WR GEORGE WILLIAMS also moved past Florida WR MAGIC BENTON earlier this season for first place on the all-time touchdown list. Williams currently has 190 total touchdowns. Oklahoma City WR AL HUNT and Benton are currently tied for second with 184 career touchdowns. Despite his recent slip in the all-time scoring and all-time touchdown race, Benton still owns bragging rights for being the league's career leader in receiving touchdowns, receptions and receiving yards. Below is a breakdown of the leading touchdown makers in af2 history:

Most Touchdowns, Career

190 George Williams*

184 Al Hunt*

184 Magic Benton*

157 Kevin Williams

154 Chavis McCollister*

154 Jarrail Jackson

149 J.R. Thomas

146 Jack Walker, Jr.*

134 Kris Peters*

126 Mitch Allner

125 Robert Garth*

125 Antwone Savage*

* Active in 2009

MCCOMBS ABOUT TO SACK LEAGUE ALL-TIME MARK:

League veteran and current Spokane Shock DL BEN MCCOMBS is poised to become the af2's all-time leader in career sacks. McCombs, in his sixth af2 season, has 44 sacks and is just a half a sack shy of C.J. MCLAIN's current all-time, league-high total of 44.5. He entered the year with 41 and has recorded three sacks over the Shock's first three games. McCombs has an opportunity to set the new sack standard this Saturday in Stockton, Calif. when Spokane tackles the Lightning. Below is a breakdown of the leading sack artists in af2 history:

Most Sacks, Career

44.5 C.J. McLain, Arkansas 2000, 2005-06, Tulsa 2007-08

44.0 Ben McCombs, BAK 2004, 2006-07, RGV 2005, CVC 2008, Spokane 2009*

38.5 Jerry Turner, Birmingham 2001-02, 2004, Bakersfield 2006, Arkansas 2009*

37.5 Greg Taylor, Arkansas 2000-02, Tulsa 2003

27.5 E.J. Burt, Cape Fear 2002

26.5 Darnell Small, Arkansas 2000-2005

26.5 Ernest Certain, Tallahassee 2000-01

26.5 Lawrence Lewis, Richmond 2000, 2002-03, Cape Fear 2004

24.5 Ronnie Washburn, QUA 2000, CHA 2000, CAR 2000-02, CIN 03, GBB 04

23.5 Quinton Staton, Rio Grande Valley 2007-present*

* Active in 2009



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