Week 11: Quick Hitters

Published on June 4, 2009 under arenafootball2 (af2) News Release

GAMES ON - af2TV FREE ONLINE NETWORK CONTINUES IN 2009: Thanks to a unique league partnership with Network Foundation Technologies (NFT), all the hard-hitting, fast paced action of arenafootball2 is once again available to fans worldwide. The FREE-for-View online network called "af2TV" showcases every game of the league's 10th anniversary season live over the Internet. The process to view games is easy. To obtain the free af2TV player, fans should first click on the af2TV advertisement located on the upper right corner of the league's web site, www.af2.com. Following the link will bring fans to a special landing page which includes simple directions on how to download and place the af2TV player icon on your desktop. The action continues this week (Week 11) with a 11-game slate that will be available to fans at no charge.

AARON'S af2 DREAM TEAM ONLINE FAN VOTING CONTINUES: The af2 and one of its new partners, Aaron's, recently announced that the online fan voting process for the Aaron's af2 Dream Team has officially begun. For the next eight weeks fans can log onto af2.com and vote for their favorite af2 dance team member. The top 12 dancers with the most fan votes will represent the 2009 Aaron's af2 Dream Team at ArenaCup10 in August. The Aaron's af2 Dream Team, an exciting new addition to this year's ArenaCup festivities, will be involved in a number of ArenaCup10 activities including performing during halftime of the championship game and appearances throughout the weekend of events.

SHOCK TOP WEEK 11 COACHES POLL: The Spokane Shock have maintained the No. 1 ranking of the Weekly Coaches Poll for the 12th straight week, the arenafootball2 (af2) league office announced today. Spokane collected the maximum 384 points possible and 24-of-25 first place votes. This is the second time this season the Shock have been the unanimous No. 1. Spokane remained undefeated in 2009 (9-0) after last weekend's 61-20 road win against West Division and in-state rival Tri-Cities. The Shock's current 12-week stay at the top is the second longest run at No. 1 by a team since Wilkes-Barre/Scranton's 14-week run in 2007. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (8-1, 333 points, 1 first place vote) maintained their spot at No. 2 for the fifth straight week after a 48-34 home victory against Tennessee Valley. The Pioneers have won six straight contests in 2009 and 23 consecutive regular season home games at Wachovia Arena. Tulsa (8-1, 323 points) remained at No. 3 after its 73-46 road win against Central Division and in-state rival Oklahoma City. The Talons have won seven straight games. South Georgia (8-2, 297 points) jumped one spot to No. 4 on the heels of a 63-56 home victory against Bossier-Shreveport. Arkansas (7-2, 286 points) rounds out the Top-5 this week. The Southwest Division leading Twisters scored a convincing 82-59 road triumph over Corpus Christi last Saturday.

HAMMEL SHOWS NO RUST IN ARENA FOOTBALL RETURN: Three years after playing in his last Arena Football League (AFL) game and just one day after joining the af2's Milwaukee Iron, 42-year-old QB TODD HAMMEL not only started for the Iron but guided the club to a dramatic 66-63 road win at Albany in Week 10. Hammel showed no signs of rust in his return to the game as the 15-year AFL veteran completed 23-of-32 passes (72 percent) for 273 yards with seven touchdowns and no interceptions. He is the oldest quarterback and third oldest player overall to see action in an af2 game. Milwaukee football fans are more than a little familiar with Hammel, who played with the AFL's Milwaukee Mustangs for five seasons (1995-99) and had his Mustangs jersey retired on opening night of the 2009 af2 season at the Bradley Center. In 15 AFL seasons, Hammel accumulated 27,093 passing yards and 425 touchdowns and 64 rushing touchdowns.

HOT RODS: The league's top two receivers have been a pair of rookies named Rod - Arkansas' Rod Harper and Rio Grande Valley's ROD WINDSOR. Harper, a 6-foot-1, 205-pound Murray State alum, continued his stellar play for Arkansas in the team's Week 10 road win against Corpus Christi. Harper finished with 14 receptions for 275 yards and seven touchdowns against the Sharks. His 275 yards receiving and seven receiving TDs both set team single-game records. His receiving yard total also tied the third highest single-game effort in league history. Harper currently leads the af2 in a number of categories, including scoring (228 points), total touchdowns (38) and receiving touchdowns (38). He is also tied for the league lead in receptions (107) and ranks second in receiving yards (1,375). The Twisters lead the Southwest Division at 7-2. Windsor has been a big reason behind the Rio Grande Valley's solid start. The Dorados currently sit a game and a half behind Arkansas in the Southwest Division at 5-3. Windsor, a 6-foot-2, 208-pound Western New Mexico alum, had a game-high 15 receptions and set team single-game records for receiving yards (224) and receiving touchdowns (7) in Rio Grande Valley's Week 9 road loss at Bossier-Shreveport. Windsor is tied for the league lead in receptions with 107 and is also second in scoring with 204 points. He is also tied for second in the af2 in total touchdowns (33) and receiving touchdowns (33) and is third in receiving yards (1,328). Both players are on pace to set league single-season records for scoring and receiving. Another player who can't be overlooked in this chase towards the af2 record books in Quad City WR JESSE SCHMIDT. Schmidt has 105 catches for 1,444 yards and 33 touchdowns through his first nine games. The following is a breakdown of where the three players stand to date.

PROJECTED SCORING

PLAYER, TEAM CURRENT PROJ RECORD PLAYER, TEAM YEAR

Rod Harper, ARK 228 428 346 Donovan Morgan, TUL 2005

Rod Windsor, RGV 204 408

Jesse Schmidt, QCS 200 356

PROJECTED TOTAL TDs

PLAYER, TEAM CURRENT PROJ RECORD PLAYER, TEAM YEAR

Rod Harper, ARK 38 71 57 Donovan Morgan, TUL 2005

Rod Windsor, RGV 33 66

Jesse Schmidt, QCS 33 59

PROJECTED RECEIVING TDs

PLAYER, TEAM CURRENT PROJ RECORD PLAYER, TEAM YEAR

Rod Harper, ARK 38 71 54 Donovan Morgan, TUL 2005

Rod Windsor, RGV 33 66

Jesse Schmidt, QCS 33 59

PROJECTED TOTAL RECEPTIONS

PLAYER, TEAM CURRENT PROJ RECORD PLAYER, TEAM YEAR

Rod Windsor, RGV 107 214 161 Corey Hill, ALB 2002, 03

Rod Harper, ARK 107 201

Jesse Schmidt, QCS 105 187

PROJECTED RECEIVING YARDS

PLAYER, TEAM CURRENT PROJ RECORD PLAYER, TEAM YEAR

Rod Windsor, RGV 1328 2656 2086 Carl Bond, TAL 2000

Rod Harper, ARK 1375 2578

Jesse Schmidt, QCS 1444 2567

ALLGOOD, HILL AND ROWLEY HAVE SIGHTS ON PASSING RECORDS: Veteran quarterbacks JUSTIN ALLGOOD (Tulsa) and KYLE ROWLEY (Arkansas) and rookie signal caller NICK HILL (Rio Grande Valley) are on pace to break the league record for most touchdown passes in one season. The current record is 106 set by former Central Valley QB SCOTT RISLOV in 2006. Allgood has 64 TD passes through nine games, Rowley has 60 through nine games and Hill has 55 through eight games. Hill (2,505) and Rowley (2,808) also have the single season passing yards record in their sights. D. Bryant set the current af2 standard with 4,680 passing yards in 2007 with South Georgia. The following is a breakdown of where Allgood, Hill and Rowley stand.

PROJECTED PASSING TDs

PLAYER, TEAM CURRENT PROJ RECORD PLAYER, TEAM YEAR

Justin Allgood, TUL 64 114 106 Scott Rislov, CVC 2006

Nick Hill, RGV 55 110

Kyle Rowley, ARK 60 107

PROJECTED PASSING YARDS

PLAYER, TEAM CURRENT PROJ RECORD PLAYER, TEAM YEAR

Nick Hill, RGV 2,505 5,010 4,680 D. Bryant, SGW 2007

Kyle Rowley, ARK 2,808 4,992

WILKES-BARRE/SCRANTON'S HOME FIELD ADVANTAGE: Wachovia Arena, the home of the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Pioneers, has become a visiting team's worst nightmare in recent years. The Pioneers have won 23 straight regular season home games, a streak that dates back to 2006. Counting the playoffs, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton has won 27 of its last 28 home games. The last time the Pioneers lost a regular season home game was on July 8, 2006 when the Florida Firecats edged Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, 56-51. The next opportunity for the Pioneers to extend their current home win streak is in Week 13 (June 20) when Wilkes-Barre/Scranton hosts Central Valley. While Wilkes-Barre/Scranton's current streak has been impressive, it hasn't yet approached the all-time best home win streak set by the Tulsa Talons at their previous home, the Tulsa Convention Center. The Talons won 26 consecutive regular-season home games from 2000-03. Tulsa won its final two home games of the 2000 season and 24 straight over the next three years.

REESE RETURNS TO DUSTERS: The Amarillo Dusters announced on Monday that former standout QB JULIAN REESE rejoined the club. Reese was a fixture in the Dusters af2 organization in 2005 and 2008. He is Amarillo's all-time leader in passing yards, passing touchdowns, rushing yards, and rushing touchdowns. Last season Reese threw for 2,712 yards and 55 touchdowns (4 INTs) and rushed for 233 yards with four scores in 14 regular season games. He also guided the Dusters to an appearance in the National Conference Championship. He also spent time at linebacker when the team was in need and recorded two interceptions. He earned a spot on the 2008 All-Ironman Team for his efforts. Reese earned First Team All-af2 honors in 2005 after throwing for 3,525 yards with 65 touchdowns and only 11 interceptions for the season. He also rushed for 223 yards and a league-record tying 28 touchdowns. Before rejoining the team this week, Reese was working as a middle school teacher at Austin Middle School in Amarillo.

SANDERS, ROWLEY, HARPER, MCCLINTON, GOODMAN, HODGES EARN WEEK 10 HONORS: Boise defensive back TERRANCE SANDERS, Arkansas players KYLE ROWLEY (QB) and ROD HARPER (WR) and Tulsa defensive lineman JAMES MCCLINTON have been named the JLS Ironman, Russell Athletic Offensive Players and Aaron's Defensive Player of the Week, respectively, for Week 10 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 and the best hit of the week. The Big Game Catch of the Week Award for Week 10 goes to Central Valley wide receiver PHIL GOODMAN and the NiFTy Hit of the Week is awarded to Florida defensive back DEMETRIUS HODGES.

Sanders (5-10, 175, Eastern Illinois), in his second af2 season, had a stellar all-around effort for Boise (7-2) in the team's Week 10, 51-40, home win against Amarillo. The Eastern Illinois alum was a factor on defense and on special teams against the Dusters. On defense, Sanders had four tackles, two pass breakups and one interception. He also had two kickoff returns on the night, both of which went for touchdowns (54, 56). This is the second Ironman of the Week Award for Sanders this season (Week 5). He currently leads the af2 in kickoff return touchdowns (5). Sanders is also tied for third in the league in interceptions (6), tied for fourth in passes defended (16) and is eighth overall in tackles (54.5). Rowley (6-0, 205, Brown), in his sixth af2 campaign and Harper (6-1, 205, Murray State), in his first af2 season, both had impressive outings in Arkansas' 82-59 road win in Week 10 at Corpus Christi. Rowley threw a career-high 10 touchdown passes against the Sharks. The Brown alum also completed 24-of-30 passes (80 percent) for 407 yards with just one interception. Rowley is the only af2 quarterback to throw for 400 or more yards on two separate occasions this season. The veteran signal caller also had one touchdown run. The majority of Rowley's scoring passes on Saturday went to Harper as the Murray State alum set a Twisters single-game record with seven touchdown catches. He finished the night with 14 receptions for 275 yards, another team record. His 275 yards receiving also tied the third highest single-game total in league history. Rowley leads the league in passing yards (2,808), ranks second in touchdown passes (60) and is fifth overall in passer rating (121.1). Harper currently leads the af2 in a number of categories, including scoring (228 points), total touchdowns (38) and receiving touchdowns (38). He is also tied for the league lead in receptions (107) and ranks second in receiving yards (1,375). The Twisters lead the Southwest Division at 7-2. McClinton (6-0, 280, Kansas), in his first af2 season, was a major player on defense in Tulsa's 73-46 Week 10 road win against Central Division foe and in-state rival Oklahoma City. The rookie from Kansas was a force for the Talons with four sacks, including one in the third quarter that resulted in a safety. McClinton's sack total also tied a Tulsa single-game record. This is the first af2 weekly award of McClinton's career. He is currently tied for fourth in the league in total sacks with seven. The Talons have won seven straight games and lead the Central Division standings at 8-1 overall. Goodman (6-3, 220, Temple), in his fourth af2 season, is the Week 10 recipient of The Big Game Catch of the Week Award. Goodman's catch was a leaping, one-handed 13-yard touchdown grab with just over 12 minutes to play in the fourth quarter that gave Central Valley a two-score lead (56-43) against West Division rival Stockton on Saturday night. Despite the Coyotes eventual 57-56 loss, the Temple alum's grab was one of the best of the season. Goodman finished with five catches for 43 yards. In three games played with Central Valley since being acquired in a trade with Tri-Cities, the veteran receiver has 11 catches for 101 yards and two touchdowns. Hodges (5-9, 195, East Carolina), in his first af2 season, is the ninth recipient of the NiFTy Hit of the Week Award, a new weekly honor that highlights the player who makes the best hit or tackle of the week. Hodges' hit came in the third quarter on Saturday night in Florida's 69-53 home win against Manchester. On a first-and-10 play from midfield, Wolves QB James Pinkney threw a pass downfield to Patrick Rouzard along the left sideline. Hodges got to Rouzard just as the ball arrived and drilled a shoulder right into Rouzard's chest. The lick popped the ball loose and left Rouzard lying on the turf for over a minute before he could make his way to the sideline. Rouzard finished with just one reception in the game. Hodges had five solo tackles and the aforementioned pass breakup. The East Carolina alum leads the club in tackles and ranks fourth in the af2 (59.0). Hodges also leads the club in pass breakups with seven. This is his second Hit of the Week honor of the season (Week 6).

MCCOMBS SACKS LEAGUE ALL-TIME MARK: League veteran and current Spokane Shock DL BEN MCCOMBS became the af2's all-time leader in career sacks in the team's Week 5 road win at Stockton. McCombs, in his sixth af2 season, currently has a league-high 10.5 sacks in 2009 and 51.5 for his career. C.J. MCLAIN owned the previous all-time, league-high sack total with 44.5. McCombs entered the year with 41 career sacks. Below is a breakdown of the leading sack artists in af2 history:

Most Sacks, Career

51.5 Ben McCombs, BAK 2004, 2006-07, RGV 2005, CVC 2008, Spokane 2009*

44.5 C.J. McLain, Arkansas 2000, 2005-06, Tulsa 2007-08

40.5 Jerry Turner, Birmingham 2001-02, 2004, Bakersfield 2006, Arkansas 2009*

37.5 Greg Taylor, Arkansas 2000-02, Tulsa 2003

28.0 Eric Scott, Alabama 2007, Tennessee Valley 2008-present*

27.5 E.J. Burt, Cape Fear 2002

26.5 Donyell Booker, Central Valley 2006-present*

* Active in 2009

WALLACE FIRST TO 500: Florida Firecats veteran CHRIS WALLACE became the first quarterback in league history to throw 500 career touchdown passes in a 68-62 home win against Kentucky in Week 4. Wallace hit the 500-mark with a 15-yard strike to WR James Panui early in the fourth quarter. He entered the contest with 495 career touchdown passes and added seven against the Horsemen to up his total to 502. He currently has 543. Wallace also holds af2 career records for passing yards (24,690), completions (2,013) and attempts (3,371). He became the league's all-time passing yards leader in a

32-27 road win at Albany in Week 3. Wallace began his af2 career with the Carolina Rhinos in 2000. He played for the AFL's Orlando Predators in 2001 and 2003. Prior to joining the Firecats midway through the 2004 season, he played for the af2's Norfolk Nighthawks and Cape Fear Wildcats.

VENA PASSES LOFTY BENCHMARKS: Wilkes-Barre/Scranton QB RYAN VENA passed two impressive career milestones in the Pioneers' Week 2 home win against Albany - 20,000 passing yards and 400 touchdown passes. The veteran signal caller from Colgate, currently in his sixth af2 season (third with the Pioneers), joins CHRIS WALLACE and CRAIG STRICKLAND as the only quarterbacks in league history to reach those lofty totals. The af2's top three career passer totals for yards and touchdowns are shown below:

Most passing yards, career

24690...Chris Wallace, CAR 2000, NOR 2002-03, CPF 2004, FLA 2004-present

22688...Craig Strickland, Tulsa 2000-01, 2003, Oklahoma City 2004-06

21975...Ryan Vena, Albany 2002-03, 2006, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton 2007-present

Most touchdown passes, career

543...Chris Wallace, CAR 2000, NOR 2002-03, CPF 2004, FLA 2004-present

481...Craig Strickland, Tulsa 2000-01, 2003, Oklahoma City 2004-06

441...Ryan Vena, Albany 2002-03, 2006, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton 2007-present

VENA PASSES 80 RUSHING TOUCHDOWNS: Over his career, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton QB RYAN VENA has hurt many opponents with his arm (21,975 yards passing, 441 touchdowns), but he has also proven to be an adept runner as well. With his 1-yard touchdown run in a Week 3 road loss to Kentucky, Vena became just the second player in af2 history to record 80 career rushing touchdowns. He now has 85 and stands just two rushing scores shy of tying SHERARD POTEETE's league record of 87.

SCHULE HITS GRAND RUSHING MARK: Bossier-Shreveport FB/LB JASON SCHULE became just the fourth player in league history, and second this season, to reach 1,000 rushing yards in a career. Schule eclipsed the mark with 79 rushing yards in the BattleWings' Week 10 road loss to South Georgia. His current total now stands at 1,036. Schule also leads the league in rushing yards this season with 304. Last week Kentucky FB/LB DEMETRIUS FORNEY became the third player in league history to reach 1,000 rushing yards in a career. Forney hit the century mark in a Week 9 home win against Florida. His current career total is now 1,009 yards. Below is a breakdown of the af2 leaders in career rushing yards:

Most Yards Gained, Career

1346.... Sherard Poteete, Bossier City 2001-03, CBS 2003, Bossier-Shreve. 2004

1086.... Darnell Small, Arkansas 2000-05, Oklahoma City 2007

1036.... Jason Schule, Bossier-Shreveport 2006-present

1009.... Demetrius Forney, Louisville, 2002-05, 2007-08, Manchester 2006, Kentucky 2009

928...... Ryan Vena, Albany 2002-03, 2006, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton 2007-present

SIEGFRIED HITS 75: With Wilkes-Barre/Scranton's Week 6 home win against Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, RICH INGOLD improved his league-leading, all-time coaching win total to 80. His overall record currently stands at 83-31 (.728). Ingold is in his seventh season overall and fourth with the Pioneers. Twisters Head Coach CHRIS SIEGFRIED currently ranks second overall in career wins with 75. Amarillo's BEN BENNETT (65) ranks third on the all-time win list. Below is a breakdown of the leaders in career af2 coaching victories:

TOP ALL-TIME COACHING VICTORIES

NAME WINS

1. Rich Ingold* 83

2. Chris Siegfried* 75

3. Ben Bennett* 65

4. Danton Barto* 64

5. Tommy Johnson 55

6. Kevin Bouis* 54

7. Kevin Guy 52

8. Bobby Humphrey 51

9. Fred Biletnikoff, Jr.* 47

10. Richard Davis 46

* denotes active coaches

HUNT MAINTAINS LEAGUE'S ALL-TIME SCORING LEAD: With one touchdown in a Week 8 loss at Tennessee Valley, Oklahoma City WR AL HUNT moved into the No. 1 spot on the all-time scoring list, surpassing Central Valley WR GEORGE WILLIAMS. Hunt's current all-time total is 1,208 points. Williams now ranks third with 1,168 career points. Florida WR MAGIC BENTON moved into the No. 2 position with 1,174 points after a 14-point effort in a Week 10 home win against Manchester. Current Bossier-Shreveport WR CHAVIS MCCOLLISTER and former league standout KEVIN WILLIAMS fill out the Top-5. Below is a breakdown of the leading scorers in af2 history:

MOST POINTS SCORED, NON-KICKING, CAREER

PTS PLAYER YEARS PLAYED

1,208 Al Hunt* 2003-present

1,174 Magic Benton* 2001-present

1,168 George Williams* 2001, 2003-present

978 Chavis McCollister* 2005-present

958 Kevin Williams 2001-2008

932 Jarrail Jackson 2000-2001, 2005-2008

906 J.R. Thomas 2004-2008

900 Jack Walker, Jr.* 2002-2003, 2005-present

834 Kris Peters* 2004-present

830 Antwone Savage* 2005-present

824 Chris McKinney* 2004-present

824 Tim Dodge* 2003-06, 2008-present

812 Robert Garth* 2002-present

808 LaMonte Jones 2004-present

* Active in 2009

HUNT LEADS TIGHT ALL-TIME TD RACE: Oklahoma City WR AL HUNT also overtook Central Valley WR GEORGE WILLIAMS for first place on the all-time touchdown list in Week 9. Hunt entered Week 9 tied with Williams (193) but scored two touchdowns at Corpus Christi to reach the top spot. He currently has 198 career touchdowns. Florida WR MAGIC BENTON ranks third with 192 career touchdowns. Despite his slip in the all-time scoring and all-time touchdown race, Benton still owns bragging rights for being the league's career leader in receiving touchdowns, receptions and receiving yards. Below is a breakdown of the leading touchdown makers in af2 history:

Most Touchdowns, Career

198 Al Hunt*

193 George Williams*

192 Magic Benton*

163 Chavis McCollister*

157 Kevin Williams

154 Jarrail Jackson

149 J.R. Thomas

146 Jack Walker, Jr.*

137 Kris Peters*

137 Antwone Savage*

136 Tim Dodge*

134 Chris McKinney*

133 Robert Garth*

* Active in 2009

arenafootball2 Stories from June 4, 2009

• Sharks Assigned Son of Former NBA Journeyman - Corpus Christi Sharks
• Deshon Stovall returns to Wolves; New starters for Friday night's game - Manchester Wolves
• Week 11: Friday Night Matchups - af2
• Ark Twister Rod Harper Signed by New Orleans Saints - Arkansas Diamonds
• Week 11: Quick Hitters - af2
• Yard Dawgz Drop a Spot in Latest Poll - Oklahoma City Yard Dawgz
• Dusters game preview: Rio Grande Valley at Amarillo - Amarillo Venom

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