Week 6: Quick Hitters

Published on April 30, 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 6) with a 12-game slate that will be available to fans at no charge.

SHOCK TOP WEEK 6 COACHES POLL: The Spokane Shock have maintained their hold on the No. 1 ranking in the Week 6 Coaches Poll, the arenafootball2 (af2) league office announced on Wednesday. Spokane collected 372 of a possible 384 points and 20-of-25 first place votes in securing the top spot for the seventh consecutive week. The Shock, one of two undefeated teams left in the league, improved to 4-0 with a 71-50 road victory Saturday at West Division rival Stockton. Oklahoma City (341 points, 2 first place votes) maintained the No. 2 spot for the second straight week. The Yard Dawgz (4-0) continued their perfect start to the 2009 season with a 41-28 victory against Amarillo. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (4-1, 307 points, 2 first place votes) moved up one spot to No. 3 this week after a convincing 70-26 road win at Albany. South Georgia (5-1, 305 points) slipped to No. 4 despite the Wildcats' 83-54 home win against Peoria. The Arkansas Twisters (4-1, 287 points) worked their way back into the Top-5 after scoring a strong road win at Green Bay, 62-47. Tulsa dropped one spot to No. 6 even after the Talons silenced the Mahoning Valley Thunder for the second time in three weeks, 66-30, Saturday in Youngstown, Ohio.

DOWN TO TWO: Through the first five full weeks of the 2009 season, only two of the league's 25 teams remain unbeaten -Oklahoma City and Spokane. The Yard Dawgz and Shock are both 4-0. Oklahoma City is off to its best start in the team's six-year history. Spokane has started three of the team's first four seasons with at least a 4-0 record. The Shock's best start to a season came last year (2008) when the club won its first 11 games.

BLIZZARD LINEMAN SIGNS WITH NFL TEAM: The Green Bay Blizzard announced late last week that OL BRANDON BARNES has signed an NFL contract with the Indianapolis Colts. The 6-foot-2, 315-pound lineman was playing his first season in the af2 and was seeing great improvement in the early season. Barnes, a former Grand Valley State standout, spent a short period of time with the Baltimore Ravens in 2008 before joining the Blizzard. Being able to play football, develop their skills and get exposure to NFL teams is exactly the outcome players want when playing in the af2. Replacing Barnes in the trenches will be former Blizzard OL Aqua Etefia. Etefia was named First Team All-af2 in 2008.

MILWAUKEE IDOL: Recent American Idol 8 contestant Jamar Rogers has confirmed he will be singing the National Anthem before the Milwaukee Iron's upcoming home game against the Green Bay Blizzard this Friday, May 1 at the Bradley Center. Rodgers will perform a sound check at the Bradley Center at 5:30 and sign autographs on the main concourse at the Bradley Center from 6:00 to 6:30. Iron fans attending the game who present their ticket stub from the Iron game from last Friday night against Peoria will receive priority placement in the autograph line. Tickets for Iron home games begin at just $11 and are available at mkeiron.com, Ticketmaster and the Bradley Center box office.

MAHONING VALLEY MAKES COACHING CHANGE: The Mahoning Valley Thunder announced on Tuesday that Defensive Coordinator Brennen Booth has taken over as interim head coach effective immediately. Mike Hold was relieved of his head coaching duties following a 1-4 start to the 2009 campaign. Hold finished his Thunder coaching career with an 11-26 record over two and a quarter seasons. Booth takes the reigns after beginning the season as the team's defensive coordinator and offensive line coach. Booth will continue to handle those duties as well as the head coaching responsibilities. Booth is no stranger to Arena Football. The Kennesaw State graduate spent the previous five seasons coaching in the Arena Football League, including the last three seasons with the Georgia Force. Booth's other AFL coaching stops were with the Nashville Kats and Carolina Cobras. In the AFL, Booth has coached the offensive and defensive lines, fullbacks and served as special teams coordinator. Booth also spent several seasons coaching at the college level, including a stint with at the University of Louisville. All of the Mahoning Valley assistant coaches will remain on the staff along with the addition of Andy Kelly who will serve as the offensive coordinator. Kelly was a record setting quarterback at both the University of Tennessee and in the Arena Football League. In 15 AFL seasons, Kelly finished his career 2nd all-time in passing yards, 1st in career pass attempts, 1st in pass completions and 4th in touchdown passes. Kelly is one of only four players to throw at least 800 touchdown passes in a football career.

O'HARA TAKES OVER FEVER: The Tri-Cities Fever announced on Tuesday that PAT O'HARA has been named the team's new head coach for the remainder of the 2009 season. One of the most successful quarterbacks in AFL history before entering the coaching ranks, O'Hara comes to Tri-Cities after three seasons as the offensive coordinator of the Tampa Bay Storm (2005, 2007-08). As the offensive coordinator of the Storm, O'Hara played a vital role in the development of quarterbacks Shane Stafford and Brett Dietz. In 2005, Stafford increased his production considerably, throwing for 4,522 yards and 83 touchdowns, which was up from 3,418 yards and 67 scores in 2004. Midway through the 2007 season, when a rash of season-ending injuries struck Tampa Bay's quarterback position, O'Hara began tutoring Dietz. At the end of the season, after only nine games of action, Dietz earned AFL "Co-Rookie of the Year" honors, completing 65.9 percent of his passes (an AFL rookie record) for 2,395 yards and 47 touchdowns. In addition, only one first-year player in league history has had a higher quarterback rating than Dietz's 119.3 in 2007. O'Hara played 14 seasons of professional football, including two in the National Football League. He is one of only 12 players in AFL history to play in 100 or more games. Over the course of his 11 seasons as an AFL quarterback, O'Hara was 988-of-1,752 for 13,413 yards and 231 touchdowns and played in five ArenaBowls. After being drafted by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the 10th round of the 1991 NFL Draft (260th overall), he spent 11 weeks on the developmental squad before being placed on the active roster for the remainder of the season. O'Hara takes over the Fever after RICHARD DAVIS was relieved of his head coaching duties following a 0-5 start to the 2009 campaign.

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 20 straight regular season home games, a streak that dates back to 2006. Counting the playoffs, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton has won 24 of its last 25 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 this Friday when Wilkes-Barre/Scranton hosts Manchester.

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 14 countries on team rosters. This past week (Week 5) 20 international players saw action around the league. Two players who stood out from the af2's international talent pool were Green Bay WR/DB SHADRACH OKEOBOR (Nigeria) and Rio Grande Valley LB VALENTINE CHUDE (Nigeria). Okoebor (6 catches, 74 yards, 129 kickoff return yards, 2.5 tackles) earned JLS Ironman of the Game honors in the Blizzard's 62-47 home loss to Arkansas. Chude tallied 5.5 tackles, including two tackles for loss, one sack and one fumble recovery for the Dorados in the team's 77-50 home win against Corpus Christi.

SANDERS, KENNEDY, GREEN, DEWALT, SHAW EARN WEEK 5 HONORS: Boise defensive back TERRANCE SANDERS, South Georgia quarterback DARNELL KENNEDY and Manchester defensive back ROB GREEN have been named the JLS Ironman, Russell Athletic Offensive Player and Aaron's Defensive Player of the Week, respectively, for Week 5 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 5 goes to Kentucky wide receiver LONNELL DEWALT and the NiFTy Hit of the Week is awarded to Oklahoma City defensive back FRED SHAW.

Sanders (5-10, 175, Eastern Illinois), in his second af2 season, had a impressive all-around effort for Boise (3-1) in the team's Week 5, road win at division rival Central Valley, 52-45. The Eastern Illinois alum was a factor on defense and on special teams against the Coyotes. On defense, Sanders had seven total tackles and one pass breakup. He also accumulated 164 kickoff return yards which included a 56-yard return for a touchdown in the third quarter. This is the first Ironman of the Week Award of Sanders' career. He currently leads the Burn in tackles (26.5) and pass breakups (5). Kennedy (6-1, 190, Alabama State), in his first af2 season, continued his stellar play for South Georgia in the team's, 83-54, Week 5 home win against Peoria. The Alabama State alum was nearly perfect against the Pirates, completing 18-of-21 passes (85.7 percent) for 278 yards and eight touchdowns without an interception. He also added one rushing touchdown as the Wildcats earned their fifth win in six games. South Georgia currently sits atop the South Division standings at 5-1, two games ahead of second place Tennessee Valley. This is the first Offensive Player of the Week Award of Kennedy's career. He leads the af2 in rushing touchdowns (11), ranks fourth in passer rating (127.9) and is tied for fourth in TD passes (29). Green (6-1, 200, Massachusetts) was a major player on defense in Manchester's, 69-33, Week 5 home win against Tri-Cities. The veteran defensive back, in his fifth af2 campaign, recorded 3.5 total tackles, two interceptions, one forced fumble, one pass breakup and a half a tackle for loss to help the Wolves win their third straight game. Both of Green's interceptions came in the first half as Manchester built a 42-6 halftime advantage. He returned his second pick for an 8-yard touchdown with seven seconds to play in the second quarter. This is the first af2 weekly award of Green's career. His four interceptions on the season lead the Wolves (3-1) and rank second in the league. Dewalt (6-6, 230, North Alabama), a third-year af2 player in his first season with Kentucky, is the Week 5 recipient of The Big Game Catch of the Week Award. Dewalt's catch was a 35-yard touchdown on the last play of the first half of the Horsemen's 56-38 home win Saturday against Milwaukee. With 3.5 seconds left to play in the second quarter, Kentucky QB Jared Lorenzen unleashed a high Hail Mary pass that banged off the bottom of the net frame and caromed back to the front half of the end zone. The 6-foot-6 Dewalt alertly snatched the pass out of the air for his third score of the game. He finished with 11 catches overall for 149 yards and a team-record six touchdowns. Dewalt currently leads the Horsemen (2-2) in receiving (31-355-11 TDs) and scoring (66 points). Shaw (6-2, 215, Central Oklahoma), in his fourth af2 season, is the fourth 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. Shaw's hit came in the first quarter on Saturday night in Oklahoma City's 41-28 home win against Central Division rival Amarillo. On the Dusters first drive of the game, QB Collin Drafts threw a 7-yard pass to Alex Watson as he slipped up the left side of field. Watson was immediately met by the shoulder pads of Shaw, sweeping the receiver off his feet and onto the turf. The hit may not have jarred the ball loose, but it did set the tone for the rest of the game. Oklahoma City allowed only 161 yards of total offense by Amarillo. Shaw finished with three solo tackles, one forced fumble and one pass breakup. He also recorded his third interception of the year at the end of the third quarter to set up a Yard Dawgz score. Shaw currently leads Oklahoma City (4-0) with three interceptions and two fumble recoveries while ranking second in tackles with 25.

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, recorded one sack against the Lightning to up his career total to 45. C.J. MCLAIN owned the previous all-time, league-high sack total with 44.5. McCombs entered the year with 41 career sacks and has recorded four through the Shock's first four games. Below is a breakdown of the leading sack artists in af2 history:

Most Sacks, Career

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

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

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

37.5 Greg Taylor, Arkansas 2000-02, Tulsa 2003

27.5 E.J. Burt, Cape Fear 2002

26.5 Darnell Small, Arkansas 2000-2005

26.5 Ernest Certain, Tallahassee 2000-01

26.5 Lawrence Lewis, Richmond 2000, 2002-03, Cape Fear 2004

24.5 Quinton Staton, Rio Grande Valley 2007-present*

24.5 Ronnie Washburn, QUA 2000, CHA 2000, CAR 2000-02, CIN 03, GBB 04

* Active in 2009

TYLER TIES SINGLE-GAME TACKLE MARK: Boise DB Tremaine Tyler tied the af2 record for tackles in a game with 17.5 (15 UA, 5 A) in the Burn's 52-45 West Division road win at Central Valley on Saturday. Tyler's effort tied that of former Lubbock DB DARVIN PETERSON. Peterson set the original tackle mark in Week 16 of 2008 against the Austin Wranglers.

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 508. Wallace also holds af2 career records for passing yards (23,282), completions (1,901 and attempts (3,186). 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

23282...Chris Wallace, CAR 2000, NOR 2002-03, CPF 2004, FLA 2004-present

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

20984...Ryan Vena, Albany 2002-03, 2006, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton 2007-present

Most touchdown passes, career

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

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

425...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 (20,749 yards passing, 417 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 81 and stands just six rushing scores shy of tying SHERARD POTEETE's league record of 87.

FORNEY AND VENA HAVE A GRAND IN THEIR SIGHTS: Kentucky FB/LB DEMETRIUS FORNEY and Wilkes-Barre/Scranton QB RYAN VENA are closing in on 1,000 career rushing yards. Forney, who has gained 26 rushing yards so far in 2009, has 957 for his career. Vena has 24 this year and 915 for his career. 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

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

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

865...... Julian Reese, AMA 2005, 2008, EVE/SGW 2006, SGW 2007

INGOLD GOING FOR 80: With Wilkes-Barre/Scranton's Week 5 road win at Albany, RICH INGOLD improved his league-leading, all-time coaching win total to 79. His overall record currently stands at 79-31 (.718). 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 72. Amarillo's BEN BENNETT (64) 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* 79

2. Chris Siegfried* 72

3. Ben Bennett* 64

4. Danton Barto* 63

5. Tommy Johnson 55

6. Kevin Guy 52

7. Bobby Humphrey 51

8. Kevin Bouis* 52

9. Fred Biletnikoff, Jr.* 46

Richard Davis 46

* denotes active coaches

LEAGUE'S ALL-TIME SCORING RACE HEATING UP: Central Valley WR GEORGE WILLIAMS is the league's current all-time leading scorer with 1,162 points. Williams entered the year ranked second to Florida WR MAGIC BENTON. Benton is currently No. 2 overall with 1,130 points. Oklahoma City WR AL HUNT is right behind Benton in third place with 1,126 career points. Former league standouts KEVIN WILLIAMS and JARRAIL JACKSON 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

1,162 George Williams* 2001, 2003-present

1,130 Magic Benton* 2001-present

1,126 Al Hunt* 2003-present

958 Kevin Williams 2001-2008

932 Jarrail Jackson 2000-2001, 2005-2008

924 Chavis McCollister* 2005-present

906 J.R. Thomas 2004-2008

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

816 Kris Peters* 2004-present

782 Antwone Savage* 2005-present

782 Robert Garth* 2002-present

* Active in 2009

WILLIAMS ALSO LEADS TIGHT ALL-TIME TD RACE: In addition to taking over the all-time scoring lead, Central Valley WR GEORGE WILLIAMS also moved past Florida WR MAGIC BENTON earlier this season for first place on the all-time touchdown list. Williams currently has 192 total touchdowns. Oklahoma City WR AL HUNT and Benton are currently tied for second with 185 career touchdowns. Despite his recent 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

192 George Williams*

185 Al Hunt*

185 Magic Benton*

157 Kevin Williams

154 Chavis McCollister*

154 Jarrail Jackson

149 J.R. Thomas

146 Jack Walker, Jr.*

134 Kris Peters*

129 Antwone Savage*

128 Robert Garth*

126 Mitch Allner

* Active in 2009

arenafootball2 Stories from April 30, 2009

• Pirates game notes - Peoria Pirates
• Vipers will play Saturday Night at VBC - Alabama Vipers
• Friday Night Matchups - af2
• Week 6: Quick Hitters - af2
• Yard Dawgz Ranked Second for Second Straight Week - Oklahoma City Yard Dawgz

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