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Week 9 - Quick Hitters

May 22, 2008 - arenafootball2 (af2) News Release


GAMES ON - af2/NiFTy PARTNERSHIP CREATES NEW FREE ONLINE NETWORK: The arenafootball2 league (af2) and Network Foundation Technologies (NFT) have developed a partnership that has created a new, FREE online network to provide the league's passionate fan base an opportunity to view the af2's 2008 season live over the Internet. Thanks to the power of NFT's patented online broadcasting technology, fans across the globe are now be able to bring all the action of af2 football right to their home computer or laptop on a "Free-for-View" basis. Broadcasts began in Week 1 to rave reviews and continue in Week 9 with an 11-game slate.

TALONS TOP WEEK 9 COACHES POLL: The defending ArenaCup Champion Tulsa Talons have maintained the No. 1 ranking in the Week 9 Coaches Poll, the arenafootball2 (af2) league office announced today. Tulsa collected 437 of a possible 448 points and 21-of-29 first place votes in securing the top spot for the ninth consecutive week. The Talons (8-0) continued their perfect start to the 2008 season after holding off Manchester, 59-56, Friday night in Manchester, N.H. The victory over the Wolves was Tulsa's 16th straight, counting eight in a row from last season. The Talons recent run of 16 consecutive victories is the longest active win steak and the third longest win streak in af2 history. The Spokane Shock (7-0, 412 points, 2 first place votes) maintained their grip on the No. 2 spot for the eighth straight week after earning a 59-56 home win over West Division and in-state rival Tri-Cities. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton held firm at the No. 3 position on the strength of a convincing 69-27 home victory against Albany. Since their season-opening defeat, the Pioneers (7-1, 406 points, 6 first place votes) have won seven straight games by an average of 37.6 points. The No. 4-ranked Firecats (6-1, 340 points) maintained their position despite falling for the first time in 2008 at South Division rival Tennessee Valley. The Vipers have climbed to No. 8 overall thanks to five straight wins. Lubbock (5-2, 302 points) returns to the Top-5 this week after a 64-57 home win against Central Division foe Arkansas.

McEwen WINS IN YARD DAWGZ DEBUT: Charles "Sparky" McEwen won his head coaching debut for Oklahoma City in Week 8, guiding the Yard Dawgz to a 62-56 home victory over Iowa. The win was just the second of the season for Oklahoma City and the team's first since their season-opening victory against Arkansas. McEwen joined the team two weeks ago as an assistant head coach before taking over as head coach last week. He replaced Gary Reasons, who resigned as head coach. Over the last 10 years, McEwen has been involved within the Arena Football League as both a player and a coach. In 2005, McEwen was named Head Coach of the Arena Football League's Grand Rapid Rampage after a successful season as the Offensive Coordinator for the Yard Dawgz in 2004. That season, Oklahoma City earned a 10-6 record and their first playoff appearance. Oklahoma City also finished 2004 as the af2's second-highest scoring team (56.8 points per game) and ranked third in total offense (276.8 yards per game) and passing offense (260.8 yards per game).

BLANCHARD, VENA, ADAMS AND CUNNINGHAM EARN WEEK 8 HONORS: Tennessee Valley wide receiver/defensive back TRAVIS BLANCHARD, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton quarterback RYAN VENA and Quad City defensive back KEVIN ADAMS have been named the JLS Ironman, Schutt Offensive Player and ADT Defensive Player of the Week, respectively, for Week 8 of the 2008 season. In addition to these three awards, the Cutters Catch of the Week Award for Week 8 goes to Stockton wide receiver CLARENCE CUNNINGHAM.

Blanchard (5-11, 185, Mississippi), had an impressive all-around effort for Tennessee Valley in the Vipers' 50-34 home victory on Saturday against Florida, their South Division rivals. The third-year player from Mississippi was a factor all over field as Tennessee Valley won its fifth straight game and handed the Firecats their first loss of the season. On offense, Blanchard had three touchdown runs (5, 2, 3) on three rushes. On the defensive side, he recorded a team-best 8.0 tackles (7 solo, 2 asst) and three pass breakups. This is the first af2 weekly league honor of Blanchard's career. He ranks second on the team in all-purpose yards (734), rushing (59), rushing touchdowns (11) and scoring (13 TDs - 78 points). Blanchard earned All-af2 Second Team honors in 2007 after leading the league with 3,019 all-purpose yards. Vena (6-0, 220, Colgate), now in his fifth af2 season, had an outstanding individual effort on Friday night for Wilkes-Barre/Scranton in the team's 69-27 home win against East Division rival Albany. The former Colgate standout completed 26-of-32 passes (81.25 percent) for 300 yards and an af2-season high 10 touchdowns without an interception. Vena is certainly no stranger to this honor. The 2007 Offensive Player of the Year has earned Offensive Player of the Week honors 10 times overall in his career. In addition to his week's award, he was honored earlier this season (Week 5), five times in 2007 (Weeks 4, 12, 13, 20 - Second Round, 22 - ArenaCup), once in 2006 (Week 5) and twice in 2003 (Week 10, Week 15). The East Division-leading Pioneers are 5-0 with Vena under center and 7-1 overall. Vena leads the league in completion percentage (71.3) and ranks second in the af2 in touchdown passes (38) and passer rating (129.0). Adams (6-1, 193, Minnesota State) was an impact player on defense for Quad City in the team's, 54-27, Week 8 home win against Midwest Division foe Peoria. The second-year defensive back registered 8.5 tackles (7 solo, 3 asst), one tackle for loss, three pass breakups and two interceptions. His interceptions came on back-to-back Peoria possessions early in the second quarter. His first pick was returned 45 yards for a touchdown to give the Steamwheelers a 21-6 advantage. Adams' play was a big reason behind Quad City's second victory of the season. This is the first weekly af2 award of his career. In just three games of play since his return to the team from a stint with the AFL's Utah Blaze, Adams leads the team with three interceptions and ranks fourth in tackles with 25. Cunningham (5-10, 180, San Jose State) earned the Catch of the Week Award for his leaping, 15-yard touchdown stab in the fourth quarter of the Lightning's, 40-31, home victory against Amarillo. The second-year player from San Jose State snatched the pass over his left shoulder before crashing into the back wall of the end zone. Cunningham, who also caught a first-quarter touchdown, finished with a team-high eight receptions for 79 yards. He began the year with the AFL's Los Angeles Avengers.

QUAD CITY REACHES 100-WIN MARK: The Quad City Steamwheelers, one of three original af2 members still a part of the league in its ninth season, recorded their 100th win overall (including playoffs). The Steamwheelers join the Tulsa Talons as the only teams in league history to record 100 victories. Below is a breakdown of the five winningest active teams in af2 history.

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