
Week 16 Honors
Published on July 14, 2009 under arenafootball2 (af2) News Release
CHICAGO - Stockton defensive back Mervin Brookins, Jr., wide receivers JESSE SCHMIDT (Quad City) and ROD WINDSOR (Rio Grande Valley), and Peoria defensive back BRANDON HAMPTON have been named the JLS Ironman, Russell Athletic Offensive Players and Aaron's Defensive Player of the Week, respectively, for Week 16 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 16 goes to Spokane wide receiver MARKEE WHITE and the NiFTy Hit of the Week is awarded to Tulsa defensive back DELENELL REID.
JLS IRONMAN OF THE WEEK
Brookins, Jr. (5-11, 195, Bethel College), in his first af2 season, joined the Stockton Lightning on June 11. In just his fourth game with the club, the rookie defensive back tied the league record for most interceptions in a single game (5) in the team's playoff-clinching Week 16 home win against Central Valley. Albany WR/LB Alvin Ray Jackson set the record earlier this season. Brookins, Jr. also accumulated three solo tackles against the Coyotes, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery and two pass breakups. The Bethel College returned two of his five interceptions for touchdowns (54, 28) and also returned three kickoffs for 48 yards for a team-high 139 all-purpose yards (48 kickoff, 91 interception). Brookins, Jr. has 20 tackles, six interceptions and five pass breakups in four games played for the Lightning (5-9).
RUSSELL ATHLETIC OFFENSIVE PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
Schmidt (6-3, 225, Buena Vista) and Windsor (6-2, 208, Western New Mexico) have been chosen as Co-Offensive Players of the Week. Schmidt continued setting af2 records on Saturday night during Quad City's 62-44 home win at home against division rival Green Bay. The Buena Vista alum caught a team-high four touchdowns, bringing his single-season total to 55, surpassing the af2 record of 54 set by Louisville's Rob Mager in 2006 and Tulsa's Donovan Morgan in 2005. Schmidt, who entered the game with a single-season record 2,113 yards receiving, added 212 to his total on 17 catches. He also set a new af2 single-season record in receptions against the Blizzard. Schmidt now has 166 on the year, five better than the previous mark set of 161 set by Albany's Corey Hill in 2002 and 2003. Meanwhile, Windsor has been giving Schmidt a run for his money. The Western New Mexico alum is currently tied with Schmidt with 166 receptions after his 13-catch effort against the Tulsa Talons on Saturday. Windsor finished with 213 yards receiving and six touchdowns. He now has 2,111 yards receiving and 52 touchdowns in 13 games played with the Dorados (7-7). This is Windsor's second Russell Athletic Offensive Player of the Week honor in 2009 (Week 9).
AARON'S DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Hampton (5-8, 195, California), in his rookie af2 season, was a terror in the backfield for the Peoria Pirates during Saturday's 76-34 home win against the Mahoning Valley Thunder. The California alum had three defensive touchdowns; two on interception returns (31, 45) and one fumble recovery in the Thunder's end zone for a score. He also added an additional two more interceptions and six total tackles (4 solo, 4 assisted). His four picks tied a team record set in 2002. Hampton has totaled 23.5 tackles for the Pirates this season in five games played. He is the second consecutive Peoria player to earn Defensive Player of the Week honors.
THE BIG GAME CATCH OF THE WEEK
White (6-7, 215, Texas State), in his first af2 season, is the Week 16 recipient of The Big Game Catch of the Week Award. The Spokane receiver came up big for the No. 1-ranked Shock in the fourth quarter of their Saturday Night slugfest against No. 2 Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, hauling in the go-ahead score with less than 30 seconds to play. The former Bobcat raced down the field, and with about two feet of separation from Pioneers DB Chris Royal, reached out with one hand and, leaping, hauled in the over-the-shoulder pass. White's momentum carried him into the boards, but he was able to hang on the football for the game-winning score. It was White's only score on the evening but proved to be the deciding touchdown in a game that saw seven lead changes. White has 41 catches for 447 yards and 12 touchdowns for the Shock this season.
NIFTY HIT OF THE WEEK
Reid (5-10, 180, Houston), in his fifth 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. With Tulsa holding onto a 5-point lead against Rio Grande Valley with less than a minute to play, the Dorados turned to their clutch playmaker, Rod Windsor, for a third down pass on their way down the field. Reid, however, had other plans, putting a jarring hit on Windsor and knocking the ball out of the star receiver's hands. Tulsa LB Jamar Ransom picked up the loose ball and returned it 17 yards for a touchdown to seal the Talons' 62-50 victory. Reid has put up good numbers for Tulsa this year, recording 67.5 tackles, five interceptions and 22 pass breakups. The veteran defensive back currently ranks fourth in the league in passes defended (27).
JLS Ironman of the Week candidates included:
Tulsa's Jeff Hughley, Quad City's DeMarcus Robinson, Boise's Jomo Wilson, South Georgia's Ivory McCann, Spokane's Raul Vijil, Iowa's Jason Simpson, Tennessee Valley's Travis Blanchard, Bossier's P.J. Berry, Corpus Christi's Henry Hall and Peoria's Brandon Hampton.
Russell Athletic Offensive Player of the Week candidates included:
Boise's Jomo Wilson, South Georgia Alvance Robinson, Manchester's Mike Potts, Stockton's Brandon Horace, Spokane's Raul Vijil, Iowa's Dusty Kain, Kentucky's Justin Rascati, Oklahoma City's Al Hunt, Arkansas' Kyle Rowley, Peoria's Dante Ridgeway.
Aaron's Defensive Player of the Week candidates included:
Tulsa's Jamar Ransom, Quad City's Terrance Freeney, Boise's Ernie James, South Georgia's Eric Turner, Albany's Charles Bryant, Stockton's Mervin Brookins, Jr., Spokane's Sergio Gillam, Iowa's Jason Simpson, Kentucky's Dominic Ross, Bossier-Shreveport's Pierre Lee and Arkansas' Tramaine Jehovah.
The Big Game Catch of the Week candidates included:
Tulsa's Jeff Hughley, Quad City's Jesse Schmidt, Boise's Jomo Wilson, South Georgia's Clenton Rafe, Albany's Alvin Ray Jackson, Stockton's Mervin Brookins, Jr., Spokane's Virgil Gray, Iowa's Walter McCown, Kentucky's Lonnell Dewalt, Oklahoma City's Al Hunt, Peoria's Kenneth Williams and Peoria's Dante Ridgeway.
NiFTy Hit of the Week candidates included:
Quad City's Andre Goines, Boise's Alex Guerrero, Florida's Larry Edwards, Albany's Anton Lindsay, Central Valley's Steve Allen, Iowa's Mike Matthes, Kentucky's J.T. Haskins and Bossier-Shreveport's Dannie Snyder.
arenafootball2 Stories from July 14, 2009
- Sacramento Native Brookins Takes JLS af2 Ironman of the Week Honor - Stockton Lightning
- White honored with Catch of the Week - Spokane Shock
- Battle for the Milk Can - Green Bay Blizzard
- Week 16 Honors - af2
- Watch Dusters press conference live tomorrow - Amarillo Venom
- In-State Rivalry Coming to Green Bay - Green Bay Blizzard
- Dusters Begin Eventful Week Tonight - Amarillo Venom
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