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Week 11 - QuickHitters

June 5, 2008 - arenafootball2 (af2) News Release


af2TV & NiFTyTV PRESENT "CLICK, CONNECT & VIEW YOUR WAY TO ARENACUP9" SWEEPSTAKES: The arenafootball2 league (af2) and Network Foundation Technologies (NFT) are pleased to announce the "Click, Connect & View Your Way to ArenaCup9" Sweepstakes. All registered participants, 21 years and older, who download the af2TV player and complete the necessary information, are eligible to win one of the prize packages. The af2TV & NiFTyTV "Online Viewers of the Year" Grand Prize will be awarded to two (2) eligible participants, one from each af2 Conference. The package includes ArenaCup9 VIP game tickets, tickets to all events and travel accommodations! Registered viewers may also win 1 of 2 monthly prizes (Official af2 Schutt Replica Helmet of favorite team) or 1 of 8 weekly prizes (Official af2 Spalding Football autographed by favorite team). Furthermore, all registered users will receive special offers from af2 National Partners. There is no purchase necessary to enter or win. Only registered af2TV users are eligible to win, while all af2 Team staff, families and players are ineligible. To register, visit www.af2.com and follow the link to af2TV, download the FREE player and register your information. Entry can also be made by mailing a postcard with first and last name, complete address, telephone number and age to; 200 S. Michigan Avenue, Suite 1200, Chicago, IL 60604.

SHOCK NEW NO. 1 IN COACHES POLL: The Spokane Shock have taken over the top ranking of the Weekly Coaches Poll, the arenafootball2 (af2) league office announced on Wednesday. The Shock collected 447 of a possible 448 points and 27-of-29 first place votes in securing the top position. Spokane stayed perfect in 2008 at 9-0 after holding off Stockton this past Saturday at Spokane Arena, 52-42. The Shock are the only remaining unbeaten team in the af2. The defending ArenaCup Champion Tulsa Talons, who owned the pole position for the past 10 weeks, dropped into a tie at No. 2 after losing their first game of the season last Saturday at Bossier-Shreveport, 52-45. The loss also snapped the Talons' 16-game win streak, which included eight in a row from last season. Tulsa's run of 16 straight wins ranks as the third longest in league history. The Talons (8-1, 389 points, 1 first place vote) host No. 5 Lubbock this Saturday at the Tulsa Convention Center. The Florida Firecats (8-1, 389 points) improved two places from No. 4 to No. 2 (tie with Tulsa) on the strength of the squad's 41-15 home win against new in-state and South Division rival Daytona Beach. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (7-2, 369 points, 1 first place vote) dropped one spot to No. 4 after the Pioneers' 70-63 road loss at East Division foe Manchester. The Renegades (7-2, 331 points) round out the Top-5 this week after earning a 48-20 home win against Rio Grande Valley.

DOWN TO ONE: Entering Week 11 of the season, there is only one team that remains undefeated - the Spokane Shock (9-0). The Shock, off to their best start in team history (4th best start in af2 history), are currently ranked No. 1 in the Weekly Coaches Poll. Spokane remained undefeated in 2008 after a 52-42 Week 10 home win against Stockton. The Shock play at No. 10 Boise (5-4) this Saturday at Qwest Arena. Below is a chart detailing the best starts in af2 history.

TEAM START SEASON

Quad City 16-0 2000

Tennessee Valley 14-0 2003

W-B/Scranton 13-0 2007

Spokane* 9-0 2008

Tulsa 8-0 2008

* denotes active steaks

Of the top three starts in af2 history, however, only one team finished strong as well. The Quad City Steamwheelers ran the table in the league's inaugural 2000 season and won all 16 regular season games and three playoff games, culminating with an ArenaCup Championship. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton came close a year ago, losing in the title game to Tulsa, 73-66.

CHAVEZ, RATERINK, MYLES AND HOWARD EARN WEEK 10 HONORS: Manchester wide receiver/linebacker BRADLY CHAVEZ, Quad City quarterback J.J. RATERINK and Tennessee Valley fullback/linebacker RAJOHN MYLES have been named the JLS Ironman, Schutt Offensive Player and ADT Defensive Player of the Week, respectively, for Week 10 of the 2008 season. In addition to these three awards, the Cutters Catch of the Week Award for Week 10 goes to Oklahoma City wide receiver DANNY HOWARD.

Chavez (6-2, 205, UAB), had an impressive all-around effort for Manchester in the Wolves' 70-63 upset victory at home against East Division rival Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. The third-year veteran from Alabama-Birmingham was a factor on both sides of the ball and made two big plays in the final minute of the game to clinch Manchester's third win of the season. Chavez caught five passes for 86 yards on offense, including a 23-yard touchdown grab with 56 seconds to play to tie the game at 63-63. On the Pioneers' ensuing possession, Chavez intercepted a Ryan Vena pass and returned it 38 yards for the game-winning touchdown with 39 seconds left in the contest. He also added four solo tackles to his defensive totals. This is the first weekly league award of Chavez's career. He currently leads the team in scoring (118 points) and receptions (56) and ranks second in receiving yards (724) and receiving touchdowns (16). He is also tied for the team lead in interceptions with two. Raterink (6-2, 210, Wyoming), now in his third af2 season, had a stellar individual effort on Saturday night for Quad City to help the Steamwheelers to a 67-64 road win at Iowa. The Wyoming alum completed 27-of-39 passes (69.2 percent) for 383 yards and nine touchdowns without an interception. Raterink's nine touchdown passes tied the Steamwheelers' single-game record while his 383 yards passing was the league's third-highest single game total of 2008. He also rushed for a touchdown to finish with 10 total touchdowns (tied 2008 af2 season-high). This is Raterink's second Offensive Player of the Week honor of his career. In addition to this week's award, he was also honored once in 2006 (Week 9) as a member of the Bossier-Shreveport BattleWings. Raterink currently leads the af2 in touchdown passes (52) and passing yards (2,553). Myles (6-0, 255, UAB) was an impact player on defense for Tennessee Valley in the team's impressive, 77-37, Week 10 road victory at Oklahoma City. The rookie fullback/linebacker from Alabama-Birmingham was a force for the Vipers, registering 3.0 tackles (2 solo, 2 asst), including 2.0 sacks, one forced fumble and two fumble recoveries. Myles also returned one of his two fumble recoveries 30 yards for a touchdown in the fourth quarter. His play was a big reason why Tennessee Valley recorded its sixth straight win which improved their season record to 6-3. This is the first weekly af2 award of his career. Myles currently ranks second on the Vipers in tackles for loss (5.5) and sacks (5.0) and has 19.5 total tackles (16 solo, 7 asst). Howard (5-11, 205, SW Okla. State) is the Week 10 recipient of the Cutters Catch of the Week Award, a weekly honor that emerged in 2006 to highlight the player who makes the best catch of the week. Howard's catch was a 30-yard, fourth quarter touchdown stab in the Yard Dawgz' home loss to Tennessee Valley. The third-year player from Southwest Oklahoma State, on a full run, extended over the wall in the right corner of the end zone to corral the pass from QB Ryan Porter. Howard emerged with the ball in hand despite his momentum taking him up and over the end zone wall. He also caught a third quarter touchdown and finished with five catches for 88 yards. This is the second af2 weekly honor of Howard's career. He also earned the Schutt Offensive Player of the Week Award once last season (Week 5). Howard ranks second on the Yard Dawgz in touchdown receptions (7) and third in receiving yards (308).

FIRE WIN SECOND WAR ON I-64 AFFAIR: Louisville defeated Lexington, 61-31, this past Saturday in Lexington, Ky. as the Fire improved to 2-0 in 2008 against their I-64 rivals. Louisville, ahead by two points midway through the third quarter (33-31), closed out the game with four consecutive touchdowns to put the game out of reach. QB AARON MARSHALL had a strong game for the Fire by completing 26-of-33 passes for 264 yards with four touchdowns without an interception. WR RICARDO LENHART was Marshall's top target with 12 catches for 151 yards and two touchdowns. TYMERE ZIMMERMAN also stood out with 10 grabs for 74 yards with one score. Lexington QB Eddie Eviston finished the game 13-of-22 for 241 yards with three touchdowns. He was also intercepted twice by Louisville DB MATT FORBES. WR Tavon McGee led the Horsemen receiving effort for the third consecutive game with four grabs for 85 yards with two scores.

GILLIAM "PICKS" UP ARENA GAME QUICKLY: Spokane rookie DB SERGIO GILLIAM (6-2, 195, Clemson) broke the Shock team record for most interceptions in a season this past Saturday with his 11th of the year in a home win against Stockton. His record breaker came in the first quarter off of an Andy Collins pass attempt in Spokane's 52-42 triumph against the Lightning. Rob Keefe owned the previous team record for most interceptions in a season with 10 set in 2006. Gilliam also currently leads the af2 in interceptions. Former Tennessee Valley Viper standout KELLY SNELL set the current league standard for most interceptions in a season with 15 in 2003. Snell is the current defensive coordinator for the Arkansas Twisters.

af2's ALL-TIME INTERCEPTION LEADER SETS NEW RECORD: Veteran DB MATT FORBES, in his second year with the Louisville Fire and his sixth af2 campaign overall, set a new career high for interceptions in a season in the team's Week 10 road win at rival Lexington. Forbes had two picks against the Horsemen to up his season total to 10 overall. His previous season best for interceptions was nine which he set in back-to-back seasons (2004-05) as a member of the Quad City Steamwheelers. The former William Penn standout is the league's all-time leader in interceptions with 43.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATE: This season the af2 continues to maintain its strong international development program, which began in 2003. Currently the league has international athletes from 15 countries on team rosters. This past week (Week 10), 19 international players saw action around the league and seven players started for their respective teams (excluding kickers). Four players who stood out from the af2's international talent pool from Week 10 included Florida teammates WR/DB Arnold Thomas (Honduras) and WR JAMES PANUI (UK) and Spokane teammates WR/DB MATSUMI TAKAHASHI (Japan) and FB/LB LEE FOLIAKI (Tonga). Thomas recorded one tackle and his first interception of the season in the Firecats' 41-15 home win against Daytona Beach while Panui contributed to Florida's victory as well with seven catches for 56 yards and one touchdown. Takahashi and Foliaki also played key roles in the Shock's 52-42 home win against Stockton. Takahashi earned the JLS Ironman of the Game Award with four kick returns for 83 yards (Long: 32) and one tackle on defense. He also lined up at wide receiver in the second half. Foliaki registered 3.5 total tackles (1 solo, 5 asst) and a blocked field goal.

BOUIS APPROACHING 50; BENNETT HITS 60: KEVIN BOUIS, in his fourth season as head coach of the Florida Firecats, is currently two wins shy of becoming the eighth coach in af2 history to reach 50 career coaching victories. He currently ranks sixth on the league's all-time win list with 48 career victories. W-B/Scranton Head Coach RICH INGOLD is the league's all-time leader in career coaching wins with 67. Arkansas' CHRIS SIEGFRIED (62) earned his 60th career victory in Week 7 when the Twisters defeated Oklahoma City, 68-25. Austin's BEN BENNETT (60) became the third coach in league history to reach 60 wins on Sunday with the Wranglers' 66-56 home victory against Amarillo. Below is a breakdown of the leaders in career af2 coaching wins.



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