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Week 15 Honors

July 7, 2009 - arenafootball2 (af2) News Release


CHICAGO - Quad City wide receiver JESSE SCHMIDT, Bossier-Shreveport wide receiver/kick returner P.J. BERRY and Peoria defensive lineman MICHAEL LEWIS have been named the JLS Ironman, Russell Athletic Offensive Player and Aaron's Defensive Player of the Week, respectively, for Week 15 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 15 goes to Iowa wide receiver/defensive back DUSTY KAIN and the NiFTy Hit of the Week is awarded to Oklahoma City defensive back ANDRE BURNS.

JLS IRONMAN OF THE WEEK

Schmidt (6-3, 225, Buena Vista), in his third af2 season, surpassed the af2 league record for yards receiving in a season last Friday during Quad City's 49-36 road loss to division rival Peoria. Schmidt, who entered the game with 2,035 yards on the year, finished with 78 against the Pirates on eight catches to bring his season total to 2,113. The previous record of 2,086 yards was set in 2000 by Carl Bond of Tallahassee. The Buena Vista alum also caught a team-high three TDs. Schmidt, however, wasn't content with just his record-setting offensive performance. The veteran receiver also saw significant action at jack linebacker. Schmidt responded with 3.5 tackles and the first interception of his career to earn his first ever weekly af2 honor. The talented wide receiver has played in all 14 games for Quad City this season and boasts a league-best 51 receiving TDs. His defensive totals include 17.5 tackles on the season.

RUSSELL ATHLETIC OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK

Berry (6-0, 195, Virginia St.), in his second season in the af2, snagged his second player of the week nod of the year for his performance in Bossier-Shreveport's 62-27 home win in Week 15 against Amarillo. Berry earned Ironman of the Week honors earlier in the season (Week 9). The Virginia St. alum was a force for the BattleWings with four total touchdowns, three on offense and one on special teams. His offensive scores came via two touchdown receptions (14, 21) and a 4-yard rushing TD early in the third quarter. Berry finished with team-highs in receptions (7) and receiving yards (83). He was also special on special teams, returning three kickoffs for 102 yards, including a 57-yard return TD late in the first half to give the BattleWings a 27-13 halftime advantage. Berry leads Bossier-Shreveport (8-5) in receiving with 73 catches for 1,047 yards and 18 TDs. He also ranks third in the league in all-purpose yards (2,423) and all-purpose yards per game (186.4).

AARON'S DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK

Lewis (6-2, 260, Adrian College), in his third af2 season, caused some serious headaches for the Quad City Steamwheelers' offense on Friday night to help propel the Pirates to their fourth win of the season. The 6-foot-2, 260-pound Adrian College alum recorded three solo tackles and a game-high two sacks. He also forced two fumbles and recovered one as Peoria's defense forced three total turnovers on the night. Lewis leads the af2 in forced fumbles with six and ranks first on the Pirates with 5.0 sacks and two fumble recoveries. In eight games played, Lewis also has 16.5 total tackles.

THE BIG GAME CATCH OF THE WEEK

Kain (5-10, 175, Simpson College), in the midst of his first full af2 season, is the Week 15 recipient of The Big Game Catch of the Week Award. The Iowa receiver had an eye-opening, one-handed 10-yard touchdown grab early in the first quarter of the Barnstormers' 54-48 upset victory over the No. 1-ranked and previously undefeated Spokane Shock. Kain's stellar snare came on Iowa's first offensive series of the game. The Simpson College alum reached out under tight coverage to pull Brian Villanueva's pass with his left hand. The catch would set the tone for the evening as the Barnstormers never trailed the Shock. Kain was far from finished as he shocked Spokane with four touchdowns on five catches for 50 yards. On the season, Kain ranks third on the Barnstormers with 44 receptions for 509 yards and 14 TDs. Iowa (9-4) currently leads the Midwest Division by one game over Green Bay (8-5).

NIFTY HIT OF THE WEEK

Burns (6-0, 195, Missouri Western St.), in his third af2 season, has been awarded the NiFTy Hit of the Week, a new weekly honor that highlights the player who makes the best hit or tackle of the week. The hard-hitting defensive back saved a touchdown for the Yard Dawgz as he put a jarring hit on Rio Grande Valley WR/DB Craig Turner midway through the third quarter of their Week 15 affair. Burns' blow knocked the ball free from Turner on what would've been a fourth-down TD grab. Instead of the score, Oklahoma City got the ball back on downs. Despite the big play by Burns, the Yard Dawgz eventually lost a tough one on the road to the Dorados, 46-43. Burns leads Oklahoma City in tackles (74.0) and pass breakups (12).

JLS Ironman of the Week candidates included:

Rio Grande Valley's Craig Turner, Iowa's Dusty Kain and Bossier-Shreveport's P.J. Berry.

Russell Athletic Offensive Player of the Week candidates included:

Peoria's Dante Ridgeway, Oklahoma City's Al Hunt and Iowa's Dusty Kain.

Aaron's Defensive Player of the Week candidates included:

Rio Grande Valley's Dahnel Singfield, Iowa's Donva Louder, Bossier-Shreveport's Pierre Lee.

The Big Game Catch of the Week candidates included:

Peoria's Dante Ridgeway, Rio Grande Valley's Rod Windsor and Bossier-Shreveport's Manwell Talbert.

NiFTy Hit of the Week candidates included:

Bossier-Shreveport's James Harris and Iowa's Brent Curvey.

2009 WEEK-BY-WEEK AWARD WINNERS

WK OFFENSE IRONMAN DEFENSE CATCH HIT

KO Jason Murrietta (CVC) Chris McKinney (FLA) Kinny Spotwood (SGW) Kelvin Dickens (SGW) None

1 Andy Collins (STK) Jamar Ransom (TUL) Levi Madarieta (BOI) Rod Windsor (RGV) None

2 Brian Villanueva (IAB) Jeff Hughley (TUL) Lavar Stepter (MIL) Buchie Ibeh (BSB) Cory Lacek (WBS)

3 Errick McCown (IAB) Bradly Chavez (TVV) Takashi Walker (SGW) Nick Codutti (QCS) Jared Lorenzen (KEN)

4 Kevin Eakin (TVV) LaMonte Jones (CVC) Craig Wilson (GBB) James Panui (FLA) Craig Turner (RGV)

5 Darnell Kennedy (SGW) Terrance Sanders (BOI) Rob Green (MAN) Lonell Dewalt (KEN) Fred Shaw (OKC)

6 Rod Harper (ARK) Craig Turner (RGV) Dustin Johnson (BSB) Rich Musinski (WBS) Demetrius Hodges (FLA)

7 Darnell Kennedy (SGW) Christian Wise (ALB) Ben Alexander (TRI) Brandon Hussey (CCS) Jason Simpson (IAB)

8 Chad Cavender (STK) Bradly Chavez (TVV) Pierre Thomas (TUL) Jerard Rabb (BOI) Kamau Jackson (TUL)

Justin Taplin (STK)

9 Rod Windsor (RGV) P.J. Berry (BSB) William Mulder (KEN) C.J. Brewer (MVT) Kirby Griffin (WBS)

10 Kyle Rowley (ARK) Terrance Sanders (BOI) James McClinton (TUL) Phil Goodman (CVC) Demetrius Hodges (FLA)

Rod Harper (ARK)

11 Jason Schule (BOS) Alvin Ray Jackson (ALB) Gerard Lewis (AMR) Finas Rabb (TRI) Levi Madarieta (BOI)

12 Gino Guidugli (GBB) Alvin Ray Jackson (ALB) Stanley Franks (SPK) Duvaughn Flagler (AMA) Henry Hall (CCS)

13 Aaron Fairooz (ARK) Freddie Rollins (OKC) Brandon Taylor (MVT) Jeremy Grier (TVV) Derrick Harris (RGV)

14 Gino Guidugli (GBB) Larry Kendrick (WBS) Quinton Griffin (KEN) Kevin McCullough (SPO) Jermaine Moye (MVT)

About J. Lewis Small Company

J. Lewis Small Company (JLS) manufactures high school class rings, college and university class rings, championship rings, and recognition awards to serve the independent salesforce and jewelry industries. Founded in 1915, JLS's highly qualified staff produces a product regarded as one of the best in the industry. Log on to www.jlewissmall.com for more information.

About Russell Athletic

For more than 100 years, Russell Athletic has supplied America's athletes and teams with the latest innovations to help them perform at their best and is a leading supplier of team uniforms at the high school, college, and professional level. Russell Athletic activewear and college licensed products are broadly distributed and marketed through department stores, sports specialty stores, retail chains, and college bookstores. For more information, log onto www.russellathletic.com.

About Aaron's

Founded in 1955 by entrepreneur R. Charles Loudermilk and publicly traded since 1982, Aaron's, a division of Aaron Rents, Inc. (NYSE: RNT), based in Atlanta, currently has more than 1,560 Company-operated and franchised stores in the United States and Canada for the sale of residential and office furniture, accessories, consumer electronics and household appliances. The Company also manufactures furniture and bedding at 12 facilities in five states. Employing approximately 10,000 employees, as the standard bearer of integrity, honesty and fairness, the Company strives in its mission to provide the highest level of service, a large selection of name brand products and the guaranteed lowest price.

About The Big Game

From our humble beginnings over a decade ago, The Big Game quickly grew to become the leading producer of quality sports commemoratives for professional, college and high school sports teams. Since then, our impressive client roster has grown to include Fortune 500 corporations, politicians, movie stars, musicians - even American presidents! Today, our quality merchandise is proudly displayed in the trophy cases of thousands of athletes, sports collectors and fans across the United States. The Big Game uses special patented and proprietary techniques to provide attractive, durable products at a competitive cost regardless of quantity - all at our factory in historic Frisco, Texas. Our craftsmanship, attention to detail and creativity is good old American know-how at its finest. So whether you need to recognize your top 500 performers or a top 10 team, we're confident you'll find a Big Game commemorative that's just right for you. For more information, log onto www.thebiggameusa.com.

About Network Foundation Technologies, LLC

Network Foundation Technologies, LLC (NFT: pronounced 'NiFTy') is a name that is quickly becoming synonymous with the online broadcasting of large, live events to worldwide audiences. NFT's patented technology overcomes the scalability and cost bottlenecks associated with online broadcasting, enabling the company to bring large-scale, advertiser-supported, television-style broadcasting to the Internet for the very first time. Please visit NiFTyTV.com for more information.



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