Two Massachusetts Pirates Named Players of the Week
June 15, 2018 - National Arena League (NAL)
Massachusetts Pirates News Release
Massachusetts Pirates kicker Ali Mourtada
(Massachusetts Pirates)
WORCESTER, MA ..Two Massachusetts Pirates, (6-3) Southern New England's professional indoor football team, earned recognition as players of the week by the National Arena League.
Foxboro native Ali Mourtada, kicker for the Massachusetts Pirates, has been named Special Teams Player of the Week by the National Arena League. Mourtada had 2/3 field goals long of 48 yards and four kickoffs inside the 10 yard line in the win over the Maine Mammoths.
Bill Vavau was named Defensive Player of the Week by the National Arena League. A defensive lineman, Vavau forced two fumbles 1.5 sacks and one blocked extra point in the June 2nd game. At 6'4'' 315 lbs he played for Utah State
Mourtada played football for the Warriors of Foxboro High School before competing collegiately at Pace University, where he set the school record with a 52-yard field goal his freshman year. Following Pace University, Mourtada played at Assumption College as a graduate transfer where he finished the season with 21 touchbacks, including 5 in one game against St. Anselm as their kickoff specialist. Following college Mourtada has spent time in the AFL and IFL with the Las Vegas Outlaws and Wichita Falls Knighthawks. Most recently Mourtada worked out for the Cleveland Browns and was selected to participate in the 2017 Spring League, which included players such as Greg Hardy and Ahmad Bradshaw, along with fellow Pirate Kaelin Burnett.
"Ali made some crucial kicks for us throughout the games in some difficult situations. The two field goals he made were from a distance and he, as well as the rest of the kick coverage team, has been doing a great job all year forcing teams to really drive the ball on us. We felt Ali deserved POW and we are happy he got it," said Massachusetts Pirates President Jawad Yatim. He continued, "Bill was disruptive all throughout the game and his persistence paid off as he was able to get to the quarterback a couple of times. Its ice to see the hard work pay off with Bill and it showed during our previous game."
The Pirates will return to play at home at the DCU Center in Worcester on Saturday, June 16th vs the Columbus Lions and the following Saturday, June 23rd vs. the Lehigh Valley Steelhawks.
Fans can also enjoy the games on NESN (New England Sports Network) which is televising all eight (8) Pirates home games during the 2018 season on tape-delay on NESNplus. Each of these games will also air on NESN National and on NESN primary during the week.
NESN is also airing an all access show on the team with behind the scenes footage.
NESN will also be airing multiple thirty minute documentary specials beginning in May, following the Pirates as they navigate through their first season of action. The audience will get an in depth look at the lives of the players, coaches and front office members who are at the forefront of Massachusetts' newest professional sports franchise.
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 Massachusetts Pirates kicker Ali Mourtada |
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National Arena League Stories from June 15, 2018
- Massachusetts Pirates Return to Play on Saturday, June 16th vs. the Columbus Lions - Massachusetts Pirates
- Two Massachusetts Pirates Named Players of the Week - Massachusetts Pirates
- Mammoths vs. Steelhawks - What You Need To Know - Maine Mammoths
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