Townsley Honored as af2's Best

July 23, 2002 - arenafootball2 (af2) News Release

Townsley's one-handed TD grab with 25 seconds left lifted Richmond to a 36-35 win over the Wildcats and put the Speed in position to secure the Atlantic Division title this weekend. Townsley set up his game-winning catch with a 4th-and-12 fingertip reception on the previous play. Capped by his heroic last-minute catches, Townsley totaled 14 receptions for 191 yards and three TDs on the night. He also returned five kickoffs for 115 yards and racked up 301 all-purpose yards in the game. His receiving and all-purpose totals were the most in af2 for Week 17.

Townsley's former Richmond teammate, Hawaii WR/DB/KR NIAN TAYLOR, earns his second consecutive af2 Ironman award and his third league honor in four weeks. (He was af2's Built Ford Tough Man in Week 14). In Hawaii's 56-55 upset win over Quad City Saturday, Taylor's nine-yard touchdown catch with six seconds left led to the winning two-point conversion. Taylor caught eight passes for 120 yards and three touchdowns, adding another TD on a 54-yard kickoff return. He totaled 156 yards on six kick returns overall in addition to making four tackles on defense. Taylor, who is just the fourth back-to-back weekly winner in league history, joins Peoria's LINCOLN DUPREE as the only three-time selections so far this season.

Jacksonville DS MARCELLE HOUGH was named the af2 ADT Defensive Player of the Week for his efforts in the Tomcats' 39-35 win at Mobile Friday. Hough nabbed two interceptions for 49 yards, including a 28-yard return for touchdown in the third quarter that put Jacksonville up 31-21. His four passes defensed and 4.5 tackles led all defenders on the night.

Bakersfield FB/LB JULIAN YEARWOOD is the Week 17 Built Ford Tough Man. Yearwood, who was the Ironman selection following the Blitz's 45-7 win over Fresno Saturday, notched 4.5 tackles, two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries, including one for a touchdown. His two pass knockdowns came on third-down conversion opportunities when he jumped into the passing lane to break up the attempts. Yearwood's defensive efforts helped limit the Frenzy to the sixth-lowest point total in af2 history. He also rushed for eight yards and a touchdown on offense as Bakersfield clinched the Western Division championship.

Following each game, each team's coaching staff selects one to five players who display a "get it done" attitude as their "Built Ford Tough Men" for that week. At season's end, the league will honor the Built Ford Tough Man of the Year, a player who will win a Ford truck. Other candidates for the league's Offensive, Defensive and Ironman players of the week – chosen by the working media at each af2 game – follow in the Week 17 Results section.

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QUOTES FROM AROUND af2

"WHEN IT FIRST HAPPENED, I WAS SLEEP. I TOOK A BOTTLE OF WATER OUT THERE, BUT I THOUGHT I NEEDED TO GET MORE. I WENT BACK TO THE BUS AND DEMARCO JOHNSON HELPED ME CARRY A COOLER OUT THERE." – Columbus OL/DL DARIN DAMRON on the Wardogs' efforts to help after the team came across a recent Greyhound bus accident in Anderson, S.C.

"HE'S STARTING TO PICK IT UP NOW AND IS PLAYING FAIRLY WELL, SO WHATEVER HIS AGE IS, HIS AGE IS. I STILL BELIEVE THAT HE'S 39, AND HE'S PULLING ONE ON US." – Louisville Head Coach JEFF BROHM joking about QB DAN ENGLISH, who claimed he was 33 years old when he tried out for the team. English actually is 38.

"I COULDN'T BE HAPPIER FOR CABLE. THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT af2 IS DESIGNED TO DO, HELP YOUNG PLAYERS ADVANCE. I WAS HOPING TO HAVE HIM FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE YEAR, BUT WHEN YOU GET A SHOT TO MOVE UP, YOU'VE GOT TO TAKE IT. WE WISH HIM THE BEST." – Mohegan Head Coach GARY PORTER on CABLE DAVIS signing with the CFL's Edmonton Eskimos.

"BASICALLY, THIS LEAGUE GETS US FILM TO SHOW THE (NFL). I JUST LOVE THE GAME AND DON'T WANT TO STOP PLAYING YET. IT TOOK SOME TIME, BUT I CAME TO GRIPS THAT THIS MIGHT BE THE HIGHEST LEVEL I REACH. I WAS MAD AT THE SYSTEM AND THE POLITICS AND MYSELF AND EVERYTHING FOR A LONG TIME. MAN, IT'S HARD TO ACCEPT. BUT I'M A FOOTBALL PLAYER. AND THE FANS WHO CAME OUT AND GAVE US A CHANCE THIS YEAR WALKED AWAY FEELING GOOD ABOUT IT. I STILL HAVE THE DREAM. WE ALL DO." – San Diego WR/LB RICO CURTIS on his love for Arena Football.

"I WALKED IN THERE NOT KNOWING WHAT TO EXPECT, AND WALKED OUT KNOWING SAN DIEGO HAD TO HAVE A TEAM. THIS IS NOT A BASKETBALL TOWN. THIS IS A FOOTBALL TOWN, AND THERE IS NO BETTER SPORT THAN arenafootball2 FOR THE FAN'S VIEWING ENJOYMENT. I AM COMMITTED. WE USED ALL OUR BLOOD, SWEAT AND TEARS TO BUILD THIS. THIS WAS OUR YEAR TO PROVE IT COULD WORK." – San Diego operator GIL SAIDY on why he brought an af2 team to San Diego. Saidy saw his first Arena Football game in 1998, when Arizona beat Milwaukee 62-61.

"COMING OFF THAT SEASON WE HAD LAST YEAR, IF WE'D HAVE TOLD OUR FANS IN MARCH THAT WE'D SWEEP QUAD CITY AND WIN THE DIVISION TITLE THIS SEASON, EVERY ONE OF THEM WOULD HAVE SAID, ‘I'LL TAKE A PIECE OF THAT.' WE WANT TO BUILD MOMENTUM NOW TOWARD THE PLAYOFFS. OUR GOAL IS TO WIN THE WHOLE THING." – Peoria OL/DL KEN BOUIE after the Pirates won the Midwest Division title.

"I'M PROUD OF THESE GUYS. A 16-GAME SCHEDULE IS SUCH A MARATHON, AND TO WIN IT TAKES MORE THAN SKILL, IT TAKES PLAYERS WITH CHARACTER AND GUYS WHO STAY POISED WHEN THEY FACE ADVERSITY. I THINK THIS TOWN IS PRETTY HAPPY TODAY WITH A DIVISION CHAMPIONSHIP. BUT WE STILL HAVEN'T REACHED ALL OUR GOALS YET. THERE'S MORE TO DO." – Peoria Head Coach BRUCE COWDREY on the Pirates' division title and hopes for a playoff run.

"THIS WAS OUR RIVALRY GAME, BUT IT BRINGS US ONE STEP CLOSER TO WINNING THE TITLE. IN ARENA FOOTBALL, YOU HAVE TO MAKE THINGS HAPPEN. WE DID IT WITH EVERY PART OF OUR GAME." – Bakersfield FB/LB JULIAN YEARWOOD on defeating Fresno 45-7 and winning the Western Division.

‘‘WE DID WHAT WE WERE SUPPOSED TO DO. WE CAME IN AND BEAT A 5-9 TEAM AND I THINK WE SCORED IN ALL PHASES OF THE GAME – OFFENSE, DEFENSE AND SPECIAL TEAMS. I WAS REALLY HAPPY WITH THE GUYS AND WE'RE STARTING TO GET THAT PLAYOFF TEMPO GOING. NOW WE HAVE TO CARRY IT OVER TO MACON.'' – Tennessee Valley Head Coach KEVIN GUY on defeating Memphis 81-31.

"OUR MOTIVATION WAS FOR THE SIOFELE FAMILY. OUR HEART AND EVERYTHING WENT OUT TO THEM. THEY NEED ALL THE SUPPORT. I KNEW HE WAS OUT THERE LOOKING OVER US." – Hawaii QB DARNELL ARCENEAUX on the Islanders' 56-55 win over Quad City. Arceneaux dedicated the game to JOHN SIOFELE, a St. Louis School graduate who was killed in a car accident last week.

"WE TREATED OUR FANS TO A GREAT SEND-OFF AND NOW WE WANT TO FINISH THE SEASON ON A GREAT NOTE. WE KNOW THIS IS A BIG GAME BECAUSE BOTH TEAMS WANT TO SAY THEY FINISHED THIRD IN A REAL TOUGH DIVISION." – Hawaii Head Coach CHAD CARLSON on upsetting Quad City 56-55 and this week' s game at Fresno.

"THIS IS A GAME I HAVE BEEN LOOKING FORWARD TO. RICHMOND IS A TEAM AND RICHARD DAVIS IS A HEAD COACH EVERYONE LIKES TO PLAY. YOU SHOULD ALWAYS EXPECT BIG THINGS WHEN YOU SEE THEM. IT IS ALSO A CHANCE FOR US TO PLAY THE SPOILER AND FINISH ON A HIGH NOTE WITH A BIG TEST." – Carolina Head Coach ROD MILLER on this week's game against Richmond.

"WE'VE DONE IT ALL YEAR. YOU KNOW WHAT YOU HAVE WHEN YOU PLAY 50 MINUTES OF GOOD FOOTBALL? TEN MINUTES OF BAD FOOTBALL, AND THAT'S THE STORY FOR THE ENTIRE 2002 CAMPAIGN." – Mohegan Head Coach GARY PORTER on the Wolves' 28-18 loss to Rochester.

"WE MUST CONTINUE TO IMPROVE. WE HAVE TO FINISH OFF THE SEASON AT LEAST AT .500 IN ORDER TO START SUCCESSFUL NEXT YEAR." – Jacksonville Head Coach EARNEST J. WILSON, III on the need to finish the season strong.

"WILL HAS SHOWN HIS COVERAGE ABILITY ALL SEASON – HE LEADS THE LEAGUE IN DEFENDED PASSES, BUT LAST WEEK HE SHOWED HIS TREMENDOUS ATHLETICISM BY BREAKING THE TEAM RECORD IN CATCHES AND YARDS IN A GAME." – Pensacola assistant coach ED CUNNINGHAM on WILL PETTIS' performance at Bossier City.

"IT'S PRETTY OBVIOUS THEY HAVE BUILT A LEVEL OF TRUST. FOR RYAN, THROWING TO COREY HAS BECOME ALMOST SECOND NATURE." – Albany Head Coach RON SELESKY on the relationship between QB RYAN VENA and OS COREY HILL, one of the most productive quarterback-receiver tandems in af2.

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PLAYOFF QUALIFIERS/SCENARIOS FOR WEEK 18

ALBANY: Clinched playoff berth. Clinched Northeast Division championship and homefield advantage in first round of playoffs. Can clinch second-round home game (if victorious in first round) with win vs. Mohegan AND Cape Fear loss at Charleston AND Richmond loss at Carolina.

ARKANSAS: Can clinch playoff berth with win at Bossier City.

AUGUSTA: Clinched playoff berth. Clinched second-round home game (if victorious in first round). Can clinch Eastern Division championship and homefield advantage in first round of playoffs with win vs. Norfolk AND Macon loss at Tennessee Valley.

BAKERSFIELD: Clinched playoff berth. Clinched Western Division championship and homefield advantage in first round of playoffs.

BIRMINGHAM: Clinched playoff berth.

BOSSIER CITY: Can clinch playoff berth with win vs. Arkansas.

CAPE FEAR: Clinched playoff berth. Can clinch Atlantic Division championship and homefield advantage in first round of playoffs with win at Charleston AND Richmond loss at Carolina. Can clinch second-round home game (if victorious in first round) with win at Charleston OR Albany loss vs. Mohegan.

FLORIDA: Clinched playoff berth. Can clinch American Conference Southern Division championship and homefield advantage in first round of playoffs with win at Pensacola AND Tallahassee loss vs. Jacksonville.

MACON: Clinched playoff berth. Clinched second-round home game (if victorious in first round). Can clinch Eastern Division championship and homefield advantage in first round of playoffs with win at Tennessee Valley OR Augusta loss vs. Norfolk.

PEORIA: Clinched playoff berth. Clinched Midwest Division championship and homefield advantage in first round of playoffs. Clinched second-round home game (if victorious in first round).

RICHMOND: Clinched playoff berth. Can clinch Atlantic Division championship and homefield advantage in first round of playoffs with win at Carolina OR Cape Fear loss at Charleston. Can clinch second-round home game (if victorious in first round) with win at Carolina OR Albany loss vs. Mohegan.

ROCHESTER: Clinched playoff berth.

SAN DIEGO: Clinched playoff berth.

TALLAHASSEE: Clinched playoff berth. Can clinch American Conference Southern Division championship and homefield advantage in first round of playoffs with win vs. Jacksonville OR Florida loss at Pensacola.

TENNESSEE VALLEY: Clinched playoff berth. Clinched National Conference Southern Division championship and homefield advantage in first round of playoffs. Can clinch homefield advantage throughout National Conference playoffs (if victorious in first two rounds) with win vs. Macon OR Tulsa loss at Bakersfield. Can clinch homefield advantage throughout entire playoffs with win vs. Macon.

TULSA: Clinched playoff berth. Clinched Central Division championship and homefield advantage in first round of playoffs. Can clinch homefield advantage throughout entire playoffs with win at Bakersfield AND Tennessee Valley loss vs. Macon.

WICHITA: Clinched playoff berth.

arenafootball2 Stories from July 23, 2002

• Townsley Honored as af2's Best - af2
• Lafayette in for 2003 - af2
• Carolina Rhinos Announce 2002 Awards - Carolina Rhinos

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.