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Week 16 :Quick Hitters

July 9, 2009 - arenafootball2 (af2) News Release


VEGAS BABY - 2009 ARENACUP HEADED TO LAS VEGAS - TICKETS GO ON SALE FRIDAY: The Orleans Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, will be the backdrop for the 2009 ArenaCup, the arenafootball2 league's 10th anniversary championship event. ArenaCup10, promoted in conjunction with the Orleans Casino and Hotel, will be held on Saturday, August 22, the League office recently announced after a unanimous vote by the af2 Board of Directors. This will be the first time the af2 title game will be held in Las Vegas. The Arena Football League (AFL) held two ArenaBowl Championship games in Las Vegas in 2005 and 2006. This is the fourth time in the last five seasons the af2 has held a neutral-site ArenaCup. A neutral-site championship game gives fans time to make plans to attend the game and allows the League to put together a unique sports and entertainment weekend. The Orleans Casino and Hotel has created a number of fan and family-friendly, affordable ArenaCup Weekend options that include tickets to the game and a two-night hotel stay. Those options are listed in detail below.

All Hotel Packages include two (2) tickets to the 2009 ArenaCup on Saturday, August 22 (at price level indicated) + two (2) hotel nights (room & tax). Fans can stay Friday & Saturday or Saturday & Sunday.

Package A: $236 - This includes the $60 tickets (P1)

Package B: $190 - This includes the $40 tickets (P2)

Package C: $175 - This includes the $32.50 tickets (P3)

Package D: $145 - This includes the $17.50 tickets (P4)

Ticket/Hotel packages for the 2009 ArenaCup will be available for purchase beginning Friday, July 10, at 10 a.m. PST. For tickets visit www.orleansarena.com, all Coast Casinos box offices, The Galleria at Sunset or call 800-675-3267 and mention code: ARENACUP.

AARON'S af2 DREAM TEAM ONLINE FAN VOTING CONTINUES: The online fan voting process for the Aaron's af2 Dream Team continues. For the next three 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.

af2TV FREE ONLINE NETWORK CONTINUES SUCCESSFUL RUN 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 16) with a 12-game slate that will be available to fans at no charge.

RACE TO 2009 ARENACUP NOW ON FACEBOOK AND TWITTER: Stay updated on the race to the 2009 ArenaCup. Friend us on facebook -- http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/group.php?gid=113035060208 -- or follow us on twitter -- http://twitter.com/RacetoArenaCup.

SCHMIDT SETS NEW STANDARD FOR RECEIVING YARDS: Quad City veteran WR JESSE SCHMIDT, in his third af2 season, set a new league record for yards receiving in a season last Friday during the team's 49-36 road loss to division rival Peoria. The Buena Vista alum, 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. Only three players in af2 history have surpassed the 2,000-yard receiving mark in a single season.

SHOCK'S RUN AT NO. 1 HITS 17 WEEKS: The Spokane Shock have maintained the No. 1 ranking of the Weekly Coaches Poll for the 17th straight week, the arenafootball2 (af2) league office announced on Wednesday. The Shock collected 372 of the possible 384 points with 18 first place votes despite being handed their first loss of the season this past weekend, falling 54-48 at Iowa on July 4. Spokane's 17-week stay at the top is the longest run at No. 1 since the inception of the coaches poll in 2004. The Shock, who still own the league's best record at 12-1, will continue to be tested over the final three weeks of the season as two of their last three games will be against Top-5 opponents (Host No. 2 Wilkes-Barre/Scranton on Saturday, at No. 5 Boise in Week 18). This week all five of the league's top teams held firm at their respective positions from a week ago. Of the Top-5, only No. 1-ranked Spokane saw action in Week 15. No. 2 Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, No. 3 Tennessee Valley, No. 4 Tulsa and No. 5 Boise were all idle. Iowa climbed into a tie with Arkansas at No. 6 on the strength of the Barnstormers' big home win against the Shock.

SCHULE ON THE RUN TO af2 RECORDS: Bossier-Shreveport FB JASON SCHULE is running over the af2 record books this season. The Louisiana Monroe alum, in his third season, set two league marks in the BattleWings' 79-29 home win against Corpus Christi in Week 11. Schule had 13 rushes for 112 yards with six rushing TDs against the Sharks. His rushing yards and rushing touchdowns totals both set af2 single-game records. Schule is the first player in league history to rush for at least 100 yards in an af2 game. Kenyatta Spruill set the previous league-high rushing yards standard in 2001 with 96 yards. Seven different players owned the previous af2 record for rushing touchdowns with five. Schule has now moved into second place on the af2 career rushing list with 1,212yards and trails another former BattleWings player, Sherard Poteete, who has 1,346 yards. He currently leads the af2 in rushing yards in 2009 with 480 and in rushing TDs with 20. Schule is also just 20 yards shy of the league single-season record for rushing yards. Former Florida standout Steve Gorrie rushed for 500 yards in 2004.

ALLGOOD, HILL AND ROWLEY HAVE SIGHTS ON PASSING RECORDS: Veteran quarterback JUSTIN ALLGOOD (Tulsa) is 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 90 TD passes through 13 games. Hill (3,974) and Arkansas QB KYLE ROWLEY (3,904) 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.

SCHMIDT, BERRY, LEWIS, KAIN, BURNS earn Week 15 honors: 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.

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. 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). 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. 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). 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 (76.0) and pass breakups (14).

RECEIVERS ON RECORD PACE: Quad City veteran WR JESSE SCHMIDT and Rio Grande Valley rookie WR ROD WINDSOR are on pace to shatter many if not all of the af2's receiving and scoring records in 2009. In 14 games played, Schmidt leads the league in scoring (308 points), receiving yards (2,113 - new af2 record), total touchdowns (51) and receiving touchdowns (51). Windsor, in 12 games played, leads the league in receptions (153) and ranks second in scoring (284 points), receiving yards (1,898), receiving touchdowns (46) and total touchdowns (46). The following is a breakdown of where the two players stand to date.

POSTSEASON APPEARANCES: Ten (10) of the 16 spots available for the 2009 af2 playoffs have already been clinched. Leading the way among the group are the Spokane Shock, Tennessee Valley Vipers, Tulsa Talons and Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Pioneers. The Talons have earned their 10th straight postseason appearance, the most of any active team. Tulsa, one of three original af2 member teams, has qualified for the playoffs every season of the team's existence. The Vipers have earned a spot in the postseason in seven of the team's nine years of af2 play. The Pioneers rank tied for third in all-time playoff appearances with six in eight af2 seasons. The Shock have booked their fourth trip to the postseason in as many seasons.

MOST PLAYOFF APPEARANCES, ALL-TIME

TEAM APPEARANCES

TULSA 10

FLORIDA 7

QUAD CITY 7

TENNESSEE VALLEY 7

ARKANSAS 6

W-B/SCRANTON 6

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 24 straight regular season home games, a streak that dates back to 2006. Counting the playoffs, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton has won 28 of its last 29 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 17 when Wilkes-Barre/Scranton hosts Albany. 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.

HUGHLEY'S ALL-PURPOSE PROWESS: Tulsa veteran WR/KR JEFF HUGHLEY has been one of the league's top all-around talents since coming onto the scene with the Talons in 2007. This season, his third in the af2, the Averett alum is on pace to set a new league record for all-purpose yards. Hughley currently leads the league with 3,095 all-purpose yards (1,551 receiving, 122 missed field goal, 1,425 kickoff return, -3 rush), averaging just over 238 yards per game. With three games to play, Hughley has the league record well within his sights. He needs just 378 yards to surpass former Quad City standout IRA GOOCH's current af2 standard of 3,472 all-purpose yards set in 2002. Hughley has had eight games of at least 200 all-purpose yards this season, three of which were over 300 yards.

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 13.0 sacks in 2009 and 54.0 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

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

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

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

37.5 Greg Taylor, Arkansas 2000-02, Tulsa 2003

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

28.0 Quinton Staton, Rio Grande Valley 2007-present*

27.5 E.J. Burt, Cape Fear 2002

* Active in 2009

WALLACE FIRST TO 500/25,000: 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 reached another milestone in Florida's Week 13 road loss at Tennessee Valley by becoming the first player to reach 25,000 career passing yards. Wallace currently holds af2 career records for touchdown passes (556), passing yards (25,332), completions (2,074) and attempts (3,466). 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

25332...Chris Wallace, CAR 2000, NOR 2002-03, CPF 2004, FLA 2004-present

22984...Ryan Vena, Albany 2002-03, 2006, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton 2007-present

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

Most touchdown passes, career

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

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

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

VENA TIES RUSHING TD RECORD: Over his career, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton QB RYAN VENA has hurt many opponents with his arm (22,984 yards passing, 462 touchdowns), but he has also proven to be an adept runner as well. With his 2-yard touchdown run in a Week 13 home win against Central Valley, Vena tied SHERARD POTEETE's league record of 87 career rushing touchdowns.

TWO PLAYERS HIT 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 1,212. Schule also leads the league in rushing yards this season with 480. Kentucky FB/LB DEMETRIUS FORNEY became the third player in league history to reach 1,000 rushing yards in a career. Forney hit the millennium mark in a Week 9 home win against Florida. His current career total is now 1,034 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

1212. Jason Schule, Bossier-Shreveport 2006-present

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

1034. Demetrius Forney, Louisville, 2002-05, 2007-08, Manchester 2006, Kentucky 2009

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

NORRIS JOINS 40-WIN CLUB: With a Week 15 win against Amarillo this past Saturday, Bossier-Shreveport head coach JON NORRIS earned his 40th career win. There are now 18 af2 head coaches who own 40 or more career coaching victories. RICH INGOLD is the league's all-time leader in wins with 86 (86-32 - .729). Ingold is in his seventh season overall and fourth with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Pioneers. Twisters Head Coach CHRIS SIEGFRIED currently ranks second overall in career wins with 77. Amarillo's BEN BENNETT and Manchester's DANTON BARTO rank third on the all-time win list with 66 wins each. Below is a breakdown of the leaders in career af2 coaching victories:

TOP ALL-TIME COACHING VICTORIES

NAME WINS

1. Rich Ingold* 86

2. Chris Siegfried* 77

3. Ben Bennett* 66

3. Danton Barto* 66

5. Kevin Bouis* 56

6. Tommy Johnson 55

7. Kevin Guy 53

8. Bobby Humphrey 51

9. Fred Biletnikoff, Jr.* 47

10. Richard Davis 46

* denotes active coaches

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 16 countries on team rosters. This past week (Week 15) seven international players saw action around the league. Two players who stood out from the af2's international talent pool were Peoria WR BRIAN ALLBROOKS (Spain) and Rio Grande Valley K RADAMEZ RUBIO (Mexico). Allbrooks caught four passes for 70 yards, three of which went for touchdowns, in the Pirates' 49-36 home win against Quad City. He also accumulated 53 yards on two kickoff returns. Rubio converted both of his field goal attempts (22, 31) and connected on 4-of-6 extra points to help the Dorados defeat Oklahoma City, 46-43.

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 1,310 points. Williams now ranks third with 1,168 career points. Florida WR MAGIC BENTON ranks No. 2 overall with 1,186 points. 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

1,310 Al Hunt* 2003-present

1,186 Magic Benton* 2001-present

1,168 George Williams* 2001, 2003-present

996 Chavis McCollister* 2005-present

958 Kevin Williams 2001-2008

932 Jarrail Jackson 2000-2001, 2005-2008

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

906 J.R. Thomas 2004-2008

868 Robert Garth* 2002-present

866 Tim Dodge* 2003-06, 2008-present

860 Chris McKinney* 2004-present

836 Antwone Savage* 2005-present

834 Kris Peters* 2004-present

834 LaMonte Jones* 2004-present

* Active in 2009

HUNT TOUCHES DOWN ON 200 MARK: Oklahoma City WR AL HUNT became the first player in af2 history to record 200 career touchdowns in the team's Week 11 win at Arkansas. Hunt, who entered the week with 198 career scores, eclipsed the 200 mark with five total touchdowns in the Yard Dawgz' 56-54 victory. His current touchdown total stands at 215. Florida WR MAGIC BENTON ranks second overall with 194 career TDs. Benton is 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

215 Al Hunt*

194 Magic Benton*

193 George Williams*

166 Chavis McCollister*

157 Kevin Williams

154 Jarrail Jackson

149 J.R. Thomas

148 Jack Walker, Jr.*

143 Tim Dodge*

142 Robert Garth*

140 Chris McKinney*

138 Antwone Savage*

137 Kris Peters*

136 LaMonte Jones*

* Active in 2009

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