The Deuce Scoop

June 5, 2002 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I) News Release

AND THE AWARDS GO TO: This week's af2 award winners are: Macon's JOHN RAYBORN (Offensive Player of the Week), Peoria's LINCOLN DUPREE (ADT Defensive Player of the Week), Peoria's JERMAINE SHEFFIELD (Ironman of the Week) and Tallahassee's TYRONN JOHNSON (Built Ford Tough Man of the Week).

LEAGUE OF OPPORTUNITY, PART I: The New Haven Ninjas' ANDRE DIXON signed with the Edmonton Eskimos of the Canadian Football League on Friday. He is the second player on the Ninjas' roster to move to a higher league, following PHIL STAMBAUGH'S move to the NFL's New York Giants. Dixon had spent the last two weeks on injured reserve after hurting his ankle in the Ninjas' 51-38 win over Mohegan on April 28. At the time of his injury, he was second on the team with 16.0 tackles. He posted a game-high 6.5 tackles, including five solos in a 61-34 season-opening loss at Rochester. The Northeastern University product was signed as a free agent by the Green Bay Packers in April 1999. He lasted until the final round of cuts with the Packers, but then was signed by the Lions. The 6-1, 200-pounder saw action in four games with the Lions after being promoted from the practice squad. He spent time on the Patriots' practice squad in 2000 before the Packers signed and released him again in 2001. The Philadelphia native was a two-time all-conference selection at Northeastern, finishing his four-year career with 171 total tackles and six interceptions.

LEAGUE OF OPPORTUNITY, PART II: Former af2 players continue to make an impact in the AFL, led by Chicago's BILLY DICKEN, who led the Rush to a convincing 44-14 win over New Jersey. Dicken was 19-of-32 passing for 224 yards and four touchdowns as he guided the Rush to victory. Dicken hooked up with former af2 standout LINDSEY FLESHMAN (Roanoke '01) for scores of three yards and 14 yards. Fleshman finished the day with 25 yards receiving, two tackles and a forced fumble, earning him the Ironman of the Game honor. The Chicago defense held JAY MCDONAGH (Quad City '01) in check, holding him to just 164 yards and one touchdown. FRANK CLARK (Quad City '01) added another score for New Jersey. DONVETIS FRANKLIN (Carolina '01) had another fine game in the New York secondary, recording five tackles, one interception and one sack as New York lost to Toronto 63-38. DWAINE CARPENTER (Rochester '01) led Buffalo's defense in the Destroyers' 63-35 loss to the undefeated San Jose SaberCats. Carpenter totaled seven tackles and one fumble recovery. Former Norfolk standout JASON WATERS helped lead defending ArenaBowl champion Grand Rapids to a 71-53 win over Arizona. Waters led the Rampage with 8.5 tackles - one for a two-yard loss - and also had a pass breakup. JUSTIN CLEVELAND (Tennessee Valley '01) sacked Orlando's JAY GRUDEN as the Carolina defense held Orlando to just 170 yards of total offense in a 33-30 loss. 2001 af2 Defensive Player of the Year ERNEST CERTAIN (Tallahassee '01) started at defensive end for Tampa Bay in the Storm's 53-52 victory over Indiana.

FRESHMAN FOLLIES: With all 10 first-year clubs in action, the 2002 expansion class went 6-4 in Week 10. Three of those games pitted freshman vs. freshman as New Haven downed Mohegan 32-29, Bakersfield dominated Fresno 70-16 and San Diego defeated Hawaii 44-34. The other three expansion teams went 3-1 against veteran teams. Albany ended Richmond's 16-game home winning streak with a 33-30 win over the previously-undefeated Speed, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton triumphed over Rochester 52-35, Cape Fear defeated Roanoke 44-26, while Mobile fell to Tallahassee 68-50.

HOME SWEET HOME?: The first few weeks of the season had folks wondering, "What homefield advantage?" Home teams went a combined 12-19 over the first three weekends, including a 4-10 mark in Week 3. But the home teams have taken care of business more often than not since that lost weekend, going 74-38 in Weeks 4-10. With the turnaround, the home teams are 86-57 overall for a .663 winning percentage. Oddly enough, hosts are just 1-5 in overtime games this season:

DATE ... OVERTIME GAME ... WINNER/SCORE
4/6/02 ... Bakersfield at San Diego ... Bakersfield 49-43
4/12/02 ... Memphis at Peoria ... Memphis 49-48
4/21/02 ... Roanoke at Greensboro ... Roanoke 59-56
5/4/02 ... Mohegan at Norfolk ... Norfolk 58-51
5/18/02 ... Peoria at Bakersfield ... Peoria 60-54
5/24/02 ... Mohegan at New Haven ... Mohegan 36-30

NO PLACE LIKE HOME: Thanks to home losses by Quad City and Richmond last week, Tulsa now owns the af2's longest active streak of regular season home victories with 15. Quad City had won an af2-record 25 consecutive home games (19 straight in the regular season) before its Week 10 loss to Peoria. A win over 4-5 Memphis this week would tie the Talons with Richmond (which lost 33-30 to Albany in Week 10) for the second-longest regular-season home winning streak in af2 history at 16. Tulsa also owns the second-best overall record in regular-season home games in af2 history. The Talons are 18-3, thanks in large part to their current streak. Only two-time defending af2 champion Quad City, at 19-1, has a better overall regular-season home winning percentage among current af2 teams. Birmingham, which is tied for fifth on the list, won its 10th straight home game last week against Bossier City and tries for No. 11 in a row this week against 1-7 Louisville.

Regular Season At Home ... Record ... Pct.
Quad City ... 19-1 ... .900
Tulsa ... 18-3 ... .857
Tennessee Valley ... 18-4 ... .850
Augusta ... 16-3 ... .842
Birmingham ... 16-4 ... .800
Norfolk ... 16-4 ... .800
Carolina ... 15-4 ... .789
Macon ... 10-3 ... .769
Albany ... 3-1 ... .750
Bakersfield ... 3-1 ... .750

CLOSE CALLS: Eight games in each of the last four weeks have been decided by 10 points or less, including five of Friday's six games in Week 10. Five of last week's 17 total games produced a margin of three points or less, including losses by the league's last remaining unbeatens, Augusta and Richmond. The most "heart-stopping" week came back in Week 4, when nine of the 16 contests were decided by 10 points or less. Overall this season, 55 of the 143 total games (39 percent) fit that bill.

HIGH SCORIN': Four games in Week 10 topped the 100-point mark for combined points, with another totaling 99. The highest-scoring game was Jacksonville-Columbus (the Tomcats won 64-58). The top-scoring team in Week 10 was Bakersfield, which scored 70 in its win over Fresno. The points-per-game average in the week's 17 contests was 87.4, the fifth-highest scoring week of the year (94.6 ppg in Week 8 is the season high). The season scoring average stands at 87.2 points per game.

THE BIG '5-0': In the high-scoring sport of Arena Football, reaching the 50-point mark typically serves as a good indicator of team success. League-wide this season, teams are 79-20 (80 percent) when they score 50 or more points in a game, including a 9-3 mark in Week 10. When teams score less than 50, they are 64-123 (34 percent) . 8-14 in Week 10. Here's a win-loss breakdown of the league by points scored:

2002 ... W-L ... Pct. ... All-time ... W-L ... Pct.
0-19 ... 1-18 ... .053 ... 0-19 ... 2-61 ... .032
20-29 ... 4-32 ... .111 ... 20-29 ... 10-117 ... .079
30-39 ... 21-42 ... .333 ... 30-39 ... 63-131 ... .325
40-49 ... 38-31 ... .551 ... 40-49 ... 130-120 ... .520
50-59 ... 32-16 ... .667 ... 50-59 ... 121-54 ... .691
60-69 ... 31-4 ... .886 ... 60-69 ... 107-16 ... .870
70-79 ... 11-0 ... 1.000 ... 70-79 ... 48-1 ... .980 80+ ... 5-0 ... 1.000 ... 80+ ... 19-0 ... 1.000

NOTE: The lone loss by an af2 team scoring more than 70 points came on June 2, 2000, when the Birmingham Steeldogs defeated the Tallahassee Thunder 86-74 in Birmingham. That contest remains the highest-scoring game in league history (160 combined points).

HALF-CENTURY CLUB: Richmond and Tulsa have exhibited powerful offenses this season and have each scored 50 or more points in a game six times this season. Augusta, Macon and Peoria each have achieved the 50-point plateau in five games this season. These five teams rank among the six highest scoring teams in af2. Peoria leads the way with 494 points in the 2002 campaign.

60 EQUALS SUCCESS: Tulsa is 13-0 in regular season and playoff games all-time when scoring 60 or more points in a game, as the Talons have done over their last four contests. On the flip said, Tulsa is 16-13 all-time when it fails to reach 60.

IF IT AIN'T BROKE, DON'T FIX IT: The Albany Conquest has scored 277 points this season, the lowest total for a first-place team. In fact, every team behind Albany in the Northeast Division except New Haven has scored more points than the Conquest, including the 2-7 Pioneers, who have 329. So how can a team that is 29th in scoring be 7-1 and in first place? Well, one reason is Albany's defense, which has held opponents to 30.2 points per game (third-best in af2). The other is timing. Of the Conquest's 277 total points, 106 have come in the fourth quarter. Albany has outscored its foes by a combined 53 points in the final period, including a 20-0 fourth frame in Richmond last weekend.

POWER SURGE: The Columbus Wardogs and Jacksonville Tomcats met for the second time this season last Friday night. The first game between these teams almost made history. The Wardogs won 19-14 in af2's second-lowest scoring game ever. The teams totaled 248 yards of offense, combined for 19 first downs and tossed only 22 completions on the night. But on Friday, the teams did a 180 as they combined for 122 points, the highest total of the week and eighth-largest of the season. The teams tallied 658 yards of total offense, 41 first downs and 17 touchdowns.

FOUR FROM PERFECTION: Macon has jumped out to a 7-2 mark this season, but is just four points shy of being 9-0. Three weeks ago, the Knights lost to Augusta 48-47 and in Week 5 lost to Tennessee Valley 50-47. Six of Macon's games this season have been decided by six or fewer points, including the Week 10 60-57 win over Augusta in which JOHN RAYBORN hit MARTEZ WESLEY with the game-winning TD pass with just seven seconds left. Macon has led at halftime in each of its six victories, but has been down at intermission in its two losses. This week, the Knights host 2-6 Columbus.

GLUSKI JUST WINS: MIKE GLUSKI did it again. Gluski, who was 11-3 as a starter in Macon (3-0 this season), completed 20-of-32 passes for five touchdowns, leading the Wildcats past Roanoke 44-26. The league's answer to the NFL's Mr. Perfecto, TRENT DILFER, Gluski now is a perfect 7-0 as a starter this season and has helped Cape Fear to a four-game winning streak.

REVOLVING DOOR? Of the 34 opening-day starting quarterbacks, only 12 still start for their respective teams. Of those 12, nine play for winning teams and six of those are leading their respective divisions. Albany and Tallahassee are the only two division-leading teams to have changed their starting quarterback for reasons other than injury this season.

OPPORTUNITY KNOCKS: Eight teams have had more than two quarterbacks start for them this season. Mobile leads the way with six starters, and one, BILLY LUCKIE, now starts for Columbus. Norfolk, Roanoke and Wichita each have started four different players at the field general position. However, Roanoke lost CHRIS SANDERS to the NFL's Tennessee Titans.

Q.C. QB QUANDRY: Quad City QB TONY ZIMMERMAN, who led the league with 35 touchdown passes prior to suffering a hairline fracture in his left leg, likely will miss the rest of the season with a broken left fibula. Zimmerman, af2's Week 5 Offensive Player of the Week, re-aggravated the injury (originally suffered May 18 in a win over Wichita) in this past week' s loss to Peoria. Zimmerman tried to come back after missing just one game, but lasted only a quarter, throwing only five passes - one for a 40-yard touchdown - with two interceptions. In seven games, Zimmerman completed 105-of-183 passes for 1,455 yards and 36 TDs. In relief of Zimmerman, backup DAN McMULLEN completed 20-of-31 passes for 283 yards and four touchdowns against Peoria, but also threw three interceptions. In his only start of the year, a 57-38 loss at Wichita, McMullen also tossed four touchdown passes (30, 18, 21 and 30 yards) but fumbled once and threw four interceptions.

GOING, GOING, GOOCH: With 216 all-purpose yards and three TDs against Peoria, Quad City OS/KR IRA GOOCH took over the af2 scoring lead (140 points overall) and maintained his league lead in all-purpose yards per game (237.4). In a win over Wichita earlier this year, Gooch set a new af2 record for combined return yards (288) with four runbacks of more than 50 yards. Including his 342 all-purpose yards in that game, Gooch has reached the 300-yard mark in all-purpose yards three times this year (356 at Peoria, 300 at Fresno).

THE MARTINO THEUS WATCH: Brigade OS MARTINO THEUS is currently ranked first in the league with 96 receptions, 1,026 receiving yards and 114.0 yards per game. He also has 11 touchdowns to his credit and averages 10.7 yards per catch. Two weeks ago, Theus set a Brigade record for most receptions in a season with 88, surpassing DEREK BAKER's mark of 80. Last week he caught eight passes for 64 yards. Averaging 10.6 receptions per game, Theus is on a pace to catch 170 balls this year. That mark would obliterate the af2 record for receptions in a season . 148 set by Wichita's PASCAL VOLZ in 2001.

ALLNER DOES IT ALL: Tulsa OS/KR MITCH ALLNER has become one of the best all-around players in af2, as demonstrated by being named Most Valuable Player of the Game in the last five Talons' victories. Against Wichita last week, Allner had two kickoff returns for touchdowns for the second time this season, also catching a pair of TD passes and finishing with 220 all-purpose yards. He leads the af2 in kickoff return average (29.3 yds) and kickoff return TDs (five). Allner also is third in the league in scoring (128 points), fourth in total TDs (20), fifth in all-purpose yardage (177.0 yds/gm) and ninth in missed field goal return average (13.6). He earned league Offensive Player of the Week honors in Week 6 after scoring two return touchdowns and three receiving TDs at Hawaii.

TWICE IS NICE: For the second consecutive week, two Columbus receivers totaled more than 100 yards in the same game. In the Wardogs' 64-58 loss to Jacksonville, PHIL TAYLOR and CLIFTON ROBINSON amassed 188 and 131 yards, respectively, and combined for eight touchdowns. Against the Tomcats, Columbus' offense broke three team offense records - points in a game (58), passing yards in a game (338) and total offense yards (364). Taylor's five touchdown receptions established a new team high and BILLY LUCKIE set new team passing records of 332 yards and eight touchdowns.

WHAT A RUSH: Thanks in large part to QB SHERARD POTEETE, Bossier City continues to own the title of the best rushing team in af2 with an amazing 27 touchdowns scored on the ground. This season, Bossier City has averaged 3.3 yards per rushing attempt and has ran the ball an amazing 112 times, compared to 62 attempts by the opposition. The Battle Wings' rushing defense also has been among the league's best, with only five rushing touchdowns scored against.

IN THE ZONE: In Week 10, Mohegan's BRANDON BURNSIDE failed to catch a touchdown pass in a game for first time this season. Five players have caught at least one TD pass in each game this year. In order of total TDs, they are: Augusta's CHRIS JOHNSON (17), Bakersfield's STEVE WOFFORD (17), Bossier City's KEVIN STEVENSON (16) and Quad City's CHRIS ANTHONY (16). Anthony, Stevenson and Wofford rank in the league's top 10 in both receptions and receiving yards.

DOUBLE DÉJÀ VU: In what might be considered an audition for the sequel to "Groundhog Day," Peoria's LINCOLN DUPREE and JERMAINE SHEFFIELD both earned league-wide honors this week for their exploits in the Pirates' victory over Quad City. The dynamic duo accomplished the same feat back in Week 7, also after a win against the Steamwheelers. Dupree, this week's ADT Defensive Player of the Week, nabbed a single-game league record four interceptions, returning one of them 52 yards for a touchdown. (He totaled 105 yards in interception returns overall). Dupree also made 3.5 tackles defensively. For good measure, Dupree also ran back two kickoffs for TDs, totaling 136 yards in the return game. Following Peoria's earlier win against Quad City, Dupree - a two-way player at the time - was named af2's Ironman of the Week. Sheffield was the league's ADT Defensive selection that same week after returning three fumbles for TDs against the Steamwheelers. He earned the Ironman honor this time around, leading the Pirates in receiving with 103 yards on nine catches and hauling in a pair of touchdown passes. He also intercepted a pass and forced a fumble in the Week 10 win.

AN 'IRONMAN' AT OS: Tennessee Valley OS KELLY FIELDS has never missed an offensive play in three years with the Vipers. Including Tennessee Valley's five playoff games, he has played in 2,051 consecutive offensive plays. However, the streak is in jeopardy since he is questionable for this week's game at Quad City with an injured left shoulder. Fields reached the 300-career reception mark at Memphis May 11. He now has a league-record 314 receptions and 2,302 receiving yards in his career, as well as 60 touchdown catches.

KILLER B's GETTING IT DONE: Another team looking to make a second-half run is the Norfolk Nighthawks. Having won two straight games and owning a 3-1 mark at home, the 3-5 Nighthawks are poised to pressure the division frontrunners. Part of the resurgence of the Nighthawks can be attributed to the play of the Killer B's trio of WR/LB TRAVIS BURNS, OS GARY BRIGGS and WR/DB DOMINIC BANKS. Here's how they fared last week against Greensboro: Burns - four receptions, 88 yards, two TDs, five rushes, 34 yards, one TD, one interception, 0.5 tackles; Briggs - seven receptions, 124 yards, three TDs, one return for 27 yards; Banks - four receptions, 84 yards, two TDs, 1.5 tackles, one interception, three pass breakups.

LEADING LAWYER: In just his second year in af2, Carolina's MAL LAWYER has developed into an offensive and defensive threat. Lawyer leads the Rhinos in six offensive and defensive categories. On offense, the Clemson product has recorded team highs in receptions (37), receiving yards (514), all-purpose yards (893), kick return yardage (359) and scoring (72 points). Lawyer leads Carolina's defense with three interceptions, but also is fourth on the team with 13 tackles.

SNAKES IN THE GRASS: With 19 interceptions through eight games, Tennessee Valley is on pace to record 38 pickoffs this season. All but one of the Vipers' 20 takeaways (Tennessee Valley is third in af2 in turnover margin at +13) have come via interceptions. The Viper record for picks is 29 (set in 2000) and the league record is 36 set by the Quad City Steamwheelers in 2001.

RICO SUAVE: Another defensive record that could fall this season is CORNELIUS COE's individual mark for tackles in a season. The former Quad City standout made an af2-record 117 tackles in 2000, then set the Arena Football League single-season record with the Indiana Firebirds last year. Who knows if the AFL is in RICO CURTIS' future, but Coe's af2 record seems to be. The San Diego WR/LB has 73.0 tackles on the year, ranking first in af2 and putting him on pace for 130 stops this season.

THE NEW SACK KING: Cape Fear's E.J. BURT registered two more sacks in last weekend's win over Roanoke. For the season, the league's leading sacker has 14.5, including five against Norfolk May 18. Averaging 1.81 sacks per game, Burt is on a pace to shatter the af2 record for most sacks in a season. ERNEST CERTAIN (2001 Defensive Player of the Year) set the af2 mark, totaling 20.0 sacks with Tallahassee last season. TYRONN JOHNSON (Tallahassee), ERIC JOHNSON (Peoria) and BRYAN HENDERSON (Wichita) are right on Burt's heels with 10.5, 10.5 and 10.0 sacks, respectively, and also are on pace to challenge the league standard. Here is a look at the pace of this year's leaders compared to Certain's 2001 totals:

Sack totals ... Certain (2001) ... Burt (2002) ... T. Johnson (2002) ... E. Johnson (2002) ... Henderson (2002)
Week 10 ... 0.5 (10th game) ... 2.0 (eight games) ... 2.0 (eight games) ... 0.0 (nine games) ... 0.0 (nine games) Through Week 10 ... 12.0 (10 games) ... 14.5 ... 10.5 ... 10.5 ... 10.0
Week 11 ... 2.0 (11th game) ... at Greensboro 6/8 ... at Pensacola 6/8 ... at Hawaii 6/8 ... vs. Fresno 6/8 Season ... 20.0 (af2 record) ... 29.0 (projected) ... 21.0 (projected) ... 18.7 (projected) ... 17.8 (projected)

ALL ON THE LINE: Five teams rank in the af2 top 10 in both sacks by and sacks against, paced by Tallahassee, which has a league-leading 27 sacks while giving up just six (tied for second behind Birmingham's five allowed). The other lines that get the job done on both sides of the ball belong to Arkansas, Richmond, Tulsa and Bossier City.

Team ... Sacks By Rank ... Total ... Sacks Against Rank ... Total
Tallahassee ... 1 ... 27 ... T-2 ... 6
Arkansas ... 3 ... 25 ... T-2 ... 6
Richmond ... T-4 ... 24 ... T-4 ... 7
Tulsa ... 8 ... 18 ... T-6 ... 9
Bossier City ... T-9 ... 17 ... T-6 ... 9

ROLLING THUNDER: The Tallahassee Thunder quietly has become one of the hottest teams in af2, winning five straight contests and increasing its lead to two games in the American Conference Southern Division. The Thunder's win streak can be attributed to limiting mistakes and improved play from the defense. In the last five games, the defense has recorded at least three sacks, including four by TYRONN JOHNSON against Columbus on May 11. Johnson had two more sacks last week against Mobile on his way to league-wide Built Ford Tough honors. In three of the last five games, the Thunder "D" has held opponents under 150 yards of total offense. Tallahassee has intercepted five balls in the last four games and the team has lost only one fumble in the previous five contests, while forcing 10.

HOW THE WEST IS WON?: Bakersfield enters Saturday's game against San Diego with a perfect 5-0 record within the Western Division, including a 4-0 mark against its fellow California teams, Fresno and San Diego. The Blitz could complete a clean sweep of the Golden State with a win this week against the Riptide and a victory at Fresno July 20. To run the table in the West, Bakersfield would have to win those two games plus back-to-back games against Hawaii in Weeks 13 and 14. Just two other teams (Peoria - 5-0 in the Midwest, Richmond - 5-0 in the Atlantic) have spotless division records.

ANY GIVEN FRIDAY: Friday nights have been favorable to Jacksonville. The Tomcats are 4-0 on Fridays, outscoring opponents by 11 points. But on Saturdays, Jacksonville is 0-4 and has been outscored by five points. Florida has experienced reverse fortunes, going 1-3 on Fridays and 3-1 on Saturdays. Ironically, two the Firecats' Friday losses were to Jacksonville.

GIVE NO QUARTER: The Arkansas Twisters have an interesting trend working as they try to maintain their playoff position over the second half of the season. Arkansas hasn't lost a game in which it has led at the end of ANY quarter, nor has it won a game it's trailed at the end of a period. The Twisters are: 5-0 when leading after the first quarter, 0-3 when behind; 5-0 when leading at halftime, 0-3 when behind; 5-0 when leading after the third quarter, 0-3 when behind. They are 5-3 overall.

SECOND-HALF TURNAROUND?: Since losing its first six games, the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Pioneers have won two of their last three games. The only loss was a 37-35 setback at Albany, who just dealt Richmond its first loss this past week. The playoffs are not out of the question for the Pioneers, as all seven of their remaining games are within the division. A solid win streak could catapult them into contention quickly.

HOLD THAT TIGER: It's appropriate that both Florida and Mobile sport purple as their primary color, because the Louisiana State University roots run deep in the two teams, which battle this week in Mobile. Both quarterbacks - Wizards' new starter MELVIN HILL and Florida's BRIAN SPARACINO - hail from LSU. Wizards Head Coach ALAN RISHER and new defensive coordinator CHRIS CARRIER also played for the Tigers. The Baton Rouge connections run into the professional ranks, as Firecats defensive specialists QUINCY SORRELL and ROY STABLER both played with af2's Baton Rouge Blaze in 2001, as did Mobile's Hill. Risher and Carrier each were coaches for the Blaze.

AT YOUR SERVICE: Tennessee Valley WR/LB ED HOWARD played his last game for the Vipers last week. He is returning to his hometown of Houston to serve as a firefighter. Through eight games, the former Atlanta Falcon was third on the team in receptions, tackles and interceptions. He had caught 16 passes for 173 yards and one touchdown, recorded 24.5 tackles and intercepted two passes. He returned an interception for a touchdown against Arkansas. Other one of America's real heroes played against Howard the past two weeks. Pensacola kicker DAVE ADAMS is an officer in the U.S. Air Force and is stationed at Florida State University in Tallahassee.

MIDSEASON AWARD CANDIDATES: As of Week 10, every team now has played at least eight of their 16 games, with some having played nine. Below is a glance at the leading midseason candidates (in alphabetical order) for three of the league's postseason awards. In addition to the award categories to follow, af2 will honor a Built Ford Tough Man of the Year, Lineman of the Year, Rookie of the Year, Coach of the Year, Executive of the Year and Expansion Team of the Year.

OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
MITCH ALLNER (Tulsa) - 3rd in af2 in scoring (128), 1st in kickoff return avg (29.3), 5th in all-purpose yds (177.0), 20 TD
BOB BEES (Richmond) - 4th in passer rating (113.3), 9th in passing ypg (220.2), 38 TD, 7 INT
BRANDON BURNSIDE (Mohegan) - 6th in scoring (116), 10th in receptions (56), 3rd in receiving yds (886), 18 TD
KANE CLAUNCH (San Diego) - 5th in passer rating (112.7), 7th in total off. yds (224.6), 39 TD, 7 INT
CORNELL CRAIG (Peoria) - 8th in scoring (112), 5th in receptions (66), 2nd in yds (936), 17 TD
CABLE DAVIS (Mohegan) - 6th in passing ypg (236.6), 4th in total off. yds (233.6), 31 TD, 12 INT
MATT D'ORAZIO (Rochester) - 4th in rush ypg (18.3), 3rd in total off. yds (240.4), 30 TD passing, 8 TD rushing
GLEN GAUNTT (Augusta) - 6th in passer rating (111.2), 4th in passing ypg (259.4), 46 TD, 7 INT
CHAD ELLIOTT (Bakersfield) - 8th in passer rating (105.1), 1st in passing ypg (269.6), 37 TD, 8 INT
IRA GOOCH (Quad City) - 1st in scoring (140), 19 TD receptions, 1st all-purpose yds/game (237.4), 3 return TD
RICKY HEBERT (Arkansas) - 5th in passing ypg (238.0), 8th in total off. ypg (239.5), 37 TD, 13 INT
COREY HILL (Albany) - 3rd in receptions (72), 9th in receiving yds (797), 14 TD
TIM LESTER (Memphis) - 3rd in passing ypg (264.8), 1st in total off. yds (2399), 44 TD, 13 INT
SHERARD POTEETE (Bossier City) - 1st in rushing ypg (23.6), 6th in total off. ypg (229.0) 13 TD rushing, 29 TD passing
JOHN RAYBORN (Macon) - 3rd in passer rating (114.0), 2nd passing ypg (265.3, 30TD, 5 INT
PHIL TAYLOR (Columbus) - 6th in receiving yds (833), 16.0 yds per catch, 104.1 ypg, 18 TD
MARTINO THEUS (Rochester) - 1st in receptions (96), 1st in receiving yds (1026), 11 TD
WAYNE THOMAS (Birmingham) - 5th in scoring (120), 20 TDs
LAMONT WEBB (Fresno) - 2nd in scoring (136), 9th in receptions (59), 15 receiving TD, 4 return TD
STEVE WOFFORD (Bakersfield) - 2nd in receptions (73), 7th in receiving yds (818), 17 TD

ADT DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
KENNY BAILEY (Tennessee Valley) - T-3rd in INT with 6, 69 yds, 7th in tkls (46.0)
MICHAEL BROWN (Charleston) - T-3rd in INT with 6, 7 yds, 30.5 tkls
E.J. BURT (Cape Fear) - 1st in FF (7), 1st in tkls for loss (8.5), 1st in sacks (14.5)
RICO CURTIS (San Diego) - 1st in FR (4), 1st in tkls (71.0)
LINCOLN DUPREE (Peoria) - 1st in INT with 9, 153 yds and TD, af2 single-game record 4 INT in a game, 42.5 tkls
BRYAN HENDERSON (Wichita) - 4th in sacks (10.0), 2nd FF (4)
LARRY HOLLINQUEST (Tulsa) - tied 4th in INT (5), 2nd in passes defended (23), 4th in tkls (54.0)
ERIC JOHNSON (Peoria) - tied 2nd in sacks (10.5), 4th tkls for loss (5.5)
TYRONN JOHNSON (Tallahassee) - tied 2nd in sacks (10.5)
J'SHARLON JONES (Bakersfield) - T-2nd in INT (6), T-2nd in FR (3), T-2nd in passes defended (23), 40.5 tkls
CARLOS McLAURIN (Mohegan) - 6th in tkls for loss (5.5), 5th in tkls (50.0)
WILL PETTIS (Pensacola) - 1st in passes defended (27), T-3rd in INT (5), 21.5 tkls, 1 FR
LAVAR RAINEY (Augusta) - T-2nd in INT (6), 43.0 tkls, T-3rd in FF (3) and FR (3), 18 passes defended.
VONKEITH SPENCER (Rochester) - T-2nd INT (6), 6th in passes defended (20), 29.0 tkls
KELLY SNELL (Tennessee Valley) - 2nd in INT (8), 18 passes defended, 27.0 tkls

IRONMAN OF THE YEAR
CHRIS ANTHONY (Quad City) - T-7th receiving yds (818), T-7th in receptions (60), 16 TD, 15.5 tkls, 1 INT
DOMINIC BANKS (Norfolk) - 25 receptions, 320 yds, 4 TD, 3 INT, 22.5 tkls, 2 FF, 12 passes defensed
MICHAEL BROWN (Charleston) - 25 receptions, 417 yds, 8 TD, 6 INT, 30.5 tkls
CEDRIC BUCHANNON (Birmingham) -26 receptions, 348 yds, 2 TD, 3 rush TD, 10 kick returns, 166 yds, 2 INT, 20.5 tkls
E.J. BURT (Cape Fear) - 1st in FF (7), 1st in tkls for loss (8.5), 1st in sacks (14.5)
ANTHONY COMER (New Haven) - 35 receptions, 451 yds, 8 TD, 28 rush yds, 3 TD, 4 INT, 34.5 tkls
TIM DUMAS (Augusta) - T-7th in receptions (60), 729 yds, 16 TD, 23.5 tkls
KEVIN HARVEY (Richmond) - 47 receptions, 537 yds, 14 TD, 68 rush yds, 3 TD, 30.5 tkls (3 for loss), 2 INT
BRYAN HENDERSON (Wichita) - 4th in sacks (10.0), 2nd FF (4), 46 yds, 2 rushing TD, 2 receptions, 29 yds, 2 TD
ERIC JOHNSON (Peoria) - T-2nd in sacks (10.5), 4th tkls for loss (5.5), 12 rush, 56 yds, 7 TD,
LENNIE JOHNSON (Arkansas) - 32 receptions, 573 yds, 12 TD, 20 combined returns, 413 yds, 2 TD, 4 INT, 15.5 tkls
TYRONN JOHNSON (Tallahassee) - tied 2nd in sacks (10.5), 3 receptions, 71 yds, 1 TD, 1 FF
EDDIE KLANESKI (Fresno) - 50 rush yds, 2 TD, 186 receiving yds, 5 TD, 1 INT, 1 FF, 2 FR, 18.0 tkls
NORMAN MASON (Macon) - 41 receptions, 440 yds, 9 TD, 507 kick return yds, 7th in kick return yds avg (24.1)
CARLOS McNEARY (Memphis) - 2 rush TD, 49 receptions, 587 yds, 14 TD, 5 kick returns, 100 yds, 3 INT, 1 FF, 1 FR, 14.5 tkls
JERMAINE SHEFFIELD (Peoria) - 15.0 tkls, 4 INT, 76 yds, 1 TD, 3 FR, 2 FF, 37 receptions, 549 yds 11 TD
RYAN SLOTH (Bakersfield) - 50 receptions, 628 yds, 7 TD, 1 rush TD, 3 INT, 38 yds, 17.5 tkls, 4 breakups, 1 FF
GREG TAYLOR (Arkansas) - 8 receptions, 122 yds, 5 TD, 14 tkls, 7.0 sacks, 3 FF, 2 FR
FRANK TRENTADUE (Quad City) - 5th in sacks (8.5), 3 blocked kicks, 2 recoveries, 38 rush yds, 1 TD, 3 safeties
MATT VITTENGL (Albany) - 24 rush, 46 yds, 7 TD, 27.5 tkls, 3.0 sacks, 3 FF, 1 FR, 1 blocked kick

POST POSITION: Since we're roughly halfway through the season, here's a look at this year's playoff matchups were the season to end today: American Conference - Cape Fear at Richmond, Rochester at Albany, Macon at Augusta, Jacksonville at Tallahassee; National Conference - Birmingham at Tennessee Valley, Arkansas at Tulsa, San Diego at Bakersfield, Wichita at Peoria. Jacksonville and Arkansas moved into playoff position this week, supplanting Charleston and Bossier City, respectively, in two hotly-contested division races. The first- and second-place teams from each of the eight divisions will make the playoffs, with the first-place team hosting the second-place team in each respective division in the first round. (Quad City is ineligible). In the American Conference second round, Atlantic plays Northeast and Eastern plays Southern. In the National Conference second round, Midwest plays Western and Central plays Southern. (The teams with the better records in each pairing host the second-round games). The second-round winners meet in the two conference championship games. The final two teams will play for the af2 title in ArenaCup 2002 on Aug. 15 (televised by The New TNN). According to tiebreakers, the top two seeds in each conference currently are 7-1 Augusta (American) and 7-1 Tennessee Valley (National).

INTERCONFERENCE CLASH: For the first time this season, the ArenaCup is designed to pit the champions of the American Conference and National Conference. In the league's first two years, teams were seeded in the playoffs by record, regardless of conference affiliation. Week 11 features two interconference games: Florida (4-4) at Mobile (0-9) on Friday and Tallahassee (6-2) at Pensacola (3-5) on Saturday. Last week, the conferences split a pair of games, with Tallahassee of the American Conference defeating Mobile 68-50 and Louisville of the National Conference picking up its first win of the year by dispatching Carolina, 31-28. Overall this season, the American Conference leads the National 8-4.

TOUGH SLATE: Pensacola (3-5) owns the league's toughest schedule to date (according to opponents' combined records). Pensacola's seven foes are 44-23 (.657) so far this season. The hardest schedule faced by a team with a winning record belongs to Macon (40-32, .556 - sixth in af2). A look at the five toughest slates to date:

Team ... Team Record ... Opp. Record ... Pct.
Pensacola ... 3-5 ... 44-23 ... .657
Mobile ... 0-9 ... 46-29 ... .613
Charleston ... 3-5 ... 39-26 ... .600
Columbus ... 2-6 ... 39-26 ... .600
Wichita ... 2-7 ... 45-31 ... .592

BYE, BYE, BYE: This is the second of three straight weeks to feature all 34 teams in action, with no teams on a bye. There are six such weeks this year. In addition to Weeks 8, 10, 11, 12, the other full slates come in Weeks 14 and 17.

WEEK 10 BY THE NUMBERS:
5,483 ... Average attendance (39 percent jump from Week 9)
122 ... Points scored in Jacksonville/Columbus game (they combined for 33 points in first meeting)
13 ... Home teams that won (Most this season for a single week)
5 ... Teams that scored more than 40 points and lost
4 ... Interceptions by Peoria's LINCOLN DUPREE (af2 record)
3 ... Teams that scored less than 35 points and won
2 ... QBs that passed for eight TDs (second time this season two QBs have passed for eight scores in the same week)
1 ... The margin of victory for Tennessee Valley (7-1) over Pensacola (3-5)
0 ... Teams that scored more than 70 points (first time in five weeks no team has scored more than 70)

Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from June 5, 2002

• This week in the AFL - OSC Original by Mark Sargent
• The Deuce Scoop - AFL I
• Week Eight Game Previews - AFL I
• Welcome Back, Bobby - Buffalo Destroyers
• Rampage and Max & Erma's Introduce the Michael Baker Bobbleheads - Grand Rapids Rampage
• Fury Field Trips Kick Off New Detroit Science Center - Detroit Fury

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.