Thunder Bye Week Updates
May 22, 2008 - arenafootball2 (af2)
Mahoning Valley Thunder News Release
KING HENRY- Thunder WR/KR Henry Tolbert currently ranks 10th in the af2 with 1,160 total yards. (The total yards are a combination of rushing, receiving, kick return and missed field goal return yards) Tolbert is averaging nearly 166 total yards per game. His 14 total touchdowns lead Mahoning Valley. Included in that total are two kick return touchdowns. Henry's 23.1 yards per kick return average is good enough for eighth in the league. Henry has compiled these statistics despite missing a Week seven contest at Lexington due to injury.
MIGHTY MURPHY- Thunder FB Tim Murphy (a 2007 all-af2 selection) has continued to be among the elite ground gainers in the entire league. Murphy is at or near the top of nearly every rushing category in af2. Murphy leads the league both in rushing yards per game (39.6) and average yards per rush (8.6). His 198 rushing yards currently rank second in af2. Murphy's success has come in bunches, despite playing in just five of Mahoning Valley's eight games (one of which he played strictly Wide Receiver because of injury).
"SLASH"- Thunder LB John Tackmann has been one of the most versatile players in all of af2. The rookie from Winona State leads the Black and Blue with 36 total tackles, and he's also been a key contributor on the offensive side of the ball. Tackmann has been used as a Quarterback in the Thunder's short yardage package. In just 21 rushing attempts Tackmann has found the end zone 10 times! Those 10 rushing scores are tops on the Thunder and rank second amongst all af2 players. Tackmann has also notched an interception and one and a half tackles for loss to go along with being named the af2's JLS Ironman of the Week in week one. He also serves as the team's holder on field goal and extra point attempts.
GETTING DEFENSIVE- Thunder DL Royce Morgan ranks fourth in the league with six and a half sacks on the season. Thunder "Mack" Linebacker Kellen Driscoll has been a mainstay in opponents' backfields. The former college safety has registered eight tackles for loss, fifth best in the af2. Driscoll has also forced four fumbles, tops amongst Thunder defenders.
SENSATIONAL SEVEN- Seven Thunder players have started all of the team's first eight games, including four defensive players and three members of the Mahoning Valley offense. Defensively- Nose Tackle Juan Underwood, Defensive Back Ray Williams and Linebackers John Tackmann and Kellen Driscoll have been the mainstays. Offensively- Tackle Andre Bennett, Center Wally Sonnie, and Tight End/Fullback Mike Lane have been the regulars.
NOT SO FAST!- Thunder opponents are averaging just 15.9 rushing yards per game. That gives the Thunder the league's fourth best rush defense. Mahoning Valley allows just 2.2 yards per carry and has given up only six touchdowns by way of the ground.
JUST DOWN THE âPIKE- The most well represented school on the Thunder roster is the University of Pittsburgh, which is roughly 70 miles from Cortland Banks Field inside of the Chevrolet Centre in Youngstown. Three members of the Thunder played their college football for the Panthers including: Tim Murphy, Tez Morris and Chris Curd.
The Mahoning Valley Thunder returns home Saturday, May 31st on Cortland Banks Field inside the Chevrolet Centre to host the division rival Albany Conquest! Be a part of all the action in 2008 as the Thunder continues their climb towards the ArenaCup9 Championship. Individual tickets are on sale now starting at just $12. Group Outings and Birthday Parties for individual games also available. Saturday, May 31st also celebrates Boomers Birthday and Dollar Hot Dog Night! For more information call the Thunder Offices at 330.758.4af2 (4232).
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