Week 17: Players of the Week Named
August 18, 2021 - Indoor Football League (IFL) News Release
The Indoor Football League announced the Week 17 Players of the Week on Wednesday, with a pair of Tucson Sugar Skulls receiving honors from the league. Sugar Skulls wide receiver Ryan Balentine earned Offensive Player of the Week honors, Spokane Shock linebacker Caleb Bailey earned Defensive Player of the Week, and Sugar Skulls kicker Jimmy Camacho was named Special Teams Player of the Week.
RYAN BALENTINE - OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
In a must-win game to keep the Tucson Sugar Skulls playoff hopes alive, Balentine came up big for his team to secure a victory in Week 17. Balentine finished the night with nine receptions for 130 yards and three touchdowns. In the fourth quarter with Tucson down 59-49 and 2:29 remaining against the Duke City Gladiators, quarterback Cory Murphy connected with Balentine for a 40-yard touchdown strike to bring the game within three points. The Sugar Skulls would go on to win it, 63-59. The performance marked Balentine's second game this season with three receiving touchdowns.
CALEB BAILEY - DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Spokane Shock linebacker Caleb Bailey led the defensive front against the Arizona Rattlers. Bailey chalked up 12 total tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, half a sack and grabbed one interception. Early in the first quarter, Bailey helped the Shock get off to a great start, jumping in front of a pass and coming away with an interception at Arizona's 10 yard line. The Shock offense would go on to score a touchdown after the interception to increase their lead to 10-0 in the first quarter.
JIMMY CAMACHO - SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Sugar Skulls kicker Jimmy Camacho made crucial plays to set his team up to get the win on Saturday night and keep their playoff hopes alive. Camacho made 7-of-7 extra point kicks and drilled two field goals, one from 33 yards and the other from 50 yards out. With 1:23 remaining in the game and Tucson down 59-56 to Duke City, Camacho attempted an onside kick that was recovered by the Sugar Skulls. The recovery led to Murphy's game-winning drive.
Balentine, Camacho, and the Sugar Skulls will be on the road for their final game of the regular season against the Northern Arizona Wranglers on Saturday, August 21, at 8:05 p.m. CT. Bailey and the Shock have a bye week and will begin to prepare for their postseason run.
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