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Three Earn Kickoff Week Honors

March 25, 2009 - arenafootball2 (af2) News Release


CHICAGO - Florida wide receiver/linebacker CHRIS MCKINNEY, Central Valley quarterback JASON MURRIETTA and South Georgia linebacker KINNY SPOTWOOD have been named the JLS Ironman, Russell Athletic Offensive Player and Aaron's Defensive Player of the Week, respectively, for Kickoff Week 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 of the week. The Cutters Catch of the Week Award for Kickoff Week goes to South Georgia wide receiver KELVIN DICKENS.

JLS IRONMAN OF THE WEEK

McKinney (6-2, 215, Guilford College), in his sixth af2 season, showcased his all-around talents for the Firecats in the team's Kickoff Week contest against South Division foe South Georgia. Despite the result (54-53 loss), the veteran playmaker's notable two-way play included two total touchdowns on offense, one receiving and one rushing. McKinney finished with nine catches for 101 yards and 49 yards rushing (all game-highs). On defense, the Guilford College alum was also impressive with three total tackles. This is the third Ironman of the Week award of McKinney's career (Week 2 - 2008, Week 3 - 2007) and the fourth weekly league honor of his career. He earned the Cutters Catch of the Week for Week 10 of 2006.

RUSSELL ATHLETIC OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK

Murrietta (6-1, 215, Northern Arizona) led the Coyotes to a 48-37 Kickoff Week victory at home against West Division rival Tri-Cities. Murrietta, in his second af2 season, showed well in his first start with Central Valley, completing 23-of-28 passes (82.1 percent) for 225 yards and six touchdowns without an interception. The former Northern Arizona standout also proved his toughness in the game as well. During Central Valley's final drive of the third quarter, Murrietta was knocked out of the game for a brief period after taking a late hit by a Fever defender below the knees. He limped back in three plays later, however, and threw an 11-yard TD pass to WR George Williams. This is the first af2 weekly award of Murrietta's career.

AARON'S DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK

Spotwood (5-11, 245, Tulsa) was a major player on defense in South Georgia's Kickoff Week win on the road at South Division rival Florida, 54-53. The second-year linebacker from Tulsa recorded 2.5 total tackles and a key fumble recovery touchdown late in the fourth quarter. The turning-point play came with South Georgia trailing 40-47 with just under four minutes to play. After Wildcats DL Tito Hannah came around the edge to strip the football from Firecats QB Chris Wallace near his own goal line, Spotwood was Johnny on the spot and scooped the ball up at the 1-yard line and dove into the end zone for the score. This is the first af2 weekly award of Spotwood's career.

CUTTERS CATCH OF THE WEEK

South Georgia wide receiver Kelvin Dickens (6-3, 212, Morgan St.), who is entering his third season in the af2, is the Kickoff Week recipient of the Cutters Catch of the Week Award, a weekly honor that emerged in 2007 to highlight the player who makes the best catch of the week. Dickens' catch was an outstanding 11-yard touchdown grab late in the second quarter of the Wildcats' 54-53 road win at South Division rival Florida. The former Morgan St. standout reached out to snatch the scoring pass away from a Firecats defender and was able to hang on to the ball despite crashing hard into the side end zone wall and toppling over onto the concrete floor. Dickens finished with five catches for 46 yards and three touchdowns.

JLS Ironman of the Week candidates included:

Central Valley's LaMonte Jones.

Offensive Player of the Week candidates included:

Florida's Chris Wallace.

Defensive Player of the Week candidates included:

Central Valley's Charles Ealy.



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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.


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