af2 arenafootball2

Week Eight: Quick Hitters

Published on May 14, 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 8) with a 11-game slate that will be available to fans at no charge.

SHOCK TOP WEEK 8 COACHES POLL:

The Spokane Shock have yet to let go of the No. 1 ranking so far this regular season, again earning the top spot in the Week 8 Coaches Poll, the arenafootball2 (af2) league office announced today. Spokane collected 382 of the 384 points possible and 22-of-25 first place votes in securing the top spot for the ninth consecutive week. Spokane (6-0), the only remaining undefeated team in the league, was tested on Saturday by division rival Boise but prevailed by two points, 64-62. The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Pioneers (6-1, 335 points, 2 first place votes) maintained their spot at No. 2 after roughing up Mahoning Valley, 73-37. Tulsa moved into a tie with the Pioneers at No. 2 after the team's 75-56 Week 7 win against rival Oklahoma City. The Talons (6-1, 335 points, 1 first place vote) have won five straight games. The Tennessee Valley Vipers (5-2, 282 points) managed to jump one spot in the poll to No. 4 after their 44-36 road win at Corpus Christi. A new entry in the Top-5 this week is Rio Grande Valley. The Dorados (5-1, 264 points) made the largest leap in the polls this week, moving up five positions from No. 10 to No. 5 after a 66-25 home win against Amarillo.

HOT RODS:

Two of the league's top receivers so far this season have been a pair of rookies named Rod - Arkansas' ROD HARPER and Rio Grande Valley's ROD WINDSOR. Harper, a 6-foot-1, 205-pound Murray State alum, continued his stellar play for Arkansas in the team's Week 7 home win against Florida. Harper had game-highs in receptions (13), receiving yards (150) and receiving touchdowns (4) in the Twisters' 55-42 victory. He currently leads the league in scoring (156 points), total touchdowns (26), receiving touchdowns (26) and receptions (81). Harper is also tied for second in receiving yards per game (154.7) and tied for third in receiving yards (928). The Twisters are currently in second place in the Southwest Division at 5-2. Windsor has been a big reason behind the Dorados' early season success. Rio Grande Valley currently leads the Southwest Division at 5-1. Windsor, a 6-foot-2, 208-pound Western New Mexico alum, had game-highs in receptions (11), receiving yards (142) and receiving touchdowns (3) in Rio Grande Valley's 66-25 home win against Amarillo. Windsor currently leads the af2 in receiving yards per game (155.8). He also ranks second in receiving yards (935), tied for third in receiving touchdowns (22) and fourth in scoring (134 points).

O'HARA GUIDES FEVER TO FIRST WIN:

In his second game as head coach of Tri-Cities, PAT O'HARA led the Fever to their first win of the season on Saturday at the Toyota Center. Tri-Cities overcame a 19-point deficit in the forth quarter to defeat the visiting Stockton Lightning, 43-42. Defensively the Fever were led by DL Ben Alexander who accumulated 3.5 total tackles (2.0 sacks), one fumble forced and one fumble recovery. Offensively, new QB RYAN PORTER threw six touchdowns for the Fever while WR TREMAYNE KIRKLAND finished with eight catches for 101 yards and four scores.

KENNEDY PASSES TEAM TOUCHDOWN RECORD:

South Georgia QB DARNELL KENNEDY, in his first af2 season, set a new team record with 10 touchdown passes in the Wildcats', 72-66, Week 7 home win against South Division foe Kentucky. The Alabama State alum also threw for a season-high and career-best 374 yards on 25-of-41 passes (61 percent). Kennedy was named the Russell Athletic Offensive Player of the Week for the second time this season on Wednesday. He is the only two-time league award winner in 2009. Kennedy has been a big reason behind the Wildcats early season success. South Georgia currently sits atop the South Division standings at 6-2, a half game ahead of second place Tennessee Valley (5-2). Kennedy is tied for the league lead in rushing touchdowns (11), ranks fifth in passer rating (121.8) and is tied for third in the league in TD passes (43).

PIRATES SHIP LOOKS FOR NEW CAPTAIN:

Veteran Peoria Pirates Head Coach Bruce Cowdrey was relieved of his duties this week by majority owner Doug MacGregor. Cowdrey, who was in his fifth season as the Pirates skipper, was 1-5 in af2 play so far this season. His 2008 squad went 4-12. With a combined 5-17 record over the last year and a half, the organization felt it was necessary to make a change. The team has already started the search for a high profile successor who is a proven winner in Arena Football. An announcement is expected by the first of next week. Meanwhile, Coach Cowdrey will lead the club one last time Friday night on the road against the Green Bay Blizzard.

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 7) 19 international players saw action around the league. Two players who stood out from the af2's international talent pool were Peoria WR/KR BRIAN ALLBROOKS and Rio Grande Valley FB/LB VALENTINE CHUDE. Allbrooks had two touchdowns (1 receiving, 1 rushing) and 202 all-purpose yards (83 receiving, 120 ko return, -1 rushing) in a 62-57 home loss on Saturday against Milwaukee. Chude (3.5 tackles, 2.5 sacks, 1 forced fumble) earned the Aaron's Defensive Player of the Game on Monday Night in the Dorados' 66-25 home win against Amarillo.

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 21 straight regular season home games, a streak that dates back to 2006. Counting the playoffs, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton has won 25 of its last 26 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 9 when Wilkes-Barre/Scranton hosts Green Bay. 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.

WISE, KENNEDY, ALEXANDER, HUSSEY, SIMPSON EARN WEEK 7 HONORS:

Albany wide receiver/defensive back CHRISTIAN WISE, South Georgia quarterback DARNELL KENNEDY and Tri-Cities defensive lineman BEN ALEXANDER have been named the JLS Ironman, Russell Athletic Offensive Player and Aaron's Defensive Player of the Week, respectively, for Week 7 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 7 goes to Corpus Christi wide receiver BRANDON HUSSEY and the NiFTy Hit of the Week is awarded to Iowa defensive back JASON SIMPSON.

Wise

(6-1, 180, Clark Atlanta), in his second af2 season, had a stellar all-around effort for Albany (2-5) in the team's Week 7 road win at Bossier-Shreveport, 54-41. The Clark Atlanta alum was a factor in all three phases of the game (offense, defense and special teams) to help the Firebirds earn their second straight win. Wise caught 11 passes for 190 yards and three touchdowns, all game-highs. He also had one interception (16-yard return) and one pass breakup on defense and recorded 54 return yards on four kickoffs. Wise finished with a Week 7-best 260 all-purpose yards. This is the first Ironman of the Week Award of Wise's career. He ranks sixth in the af2 in all-purpose yards per game (179.2). Wise leads the Firebirds in receiving (51-770-8 TDs), kick return yards (289) and all-purpose yards (1,075).

Kennedy

(6-1, 190, Alabama State), in his first af2 season, continued his stellar play for South Georgia in the team's, 72-66, Week 7 home win against South Division foe Kentucky. The Alabama State alum threw for a season-high and career-best 374 yards on 25-of-41 passes (61 percent). Ten (10) of his 25 completions went for touchdowns to set a new South Georgia single-game record. His only blemish on the night was a third quarter interception. This is the second Offensive Player of the Week Award of Kennedy's career and his second in the past three weeks (Week 5). He has been a big reason behind the Wildcats early season success. South Georgia currently sits atop the South Division standings at 6-2, a half game ahead of second place Tennessee Valley (5-2). Kennedy is tied for the league lead in rushing touchdowns (11) and ranks fifth in passer rating (121.8). He is also tied for third in the league in TD passes (43).

Alexander

(6-2, 260, Idaho) was a major player on defense in Tri-Cities', 43-42, Week 7 home win against Stockton. The first-year defensive lineman from Idaho was a force for the Fever with 3.5 total tackles, including three tackles for loss and two sacks. He also had one forced fumble and one fumble recovery to help Tri-Cities break through for its first victory of the season. This is the first af2 weekly award of Alexander's career. He currently leads the Fever (1-6) in tackles for loss (6.5), sacks (4.0) and forced fumbles (2). Alexander is also tied for the team lead in fumble recoveries (2) and ranks fourth in total tackles (19).

Hussey

(5-9, 175, Winston Salem State), in his third year with Corpus Christi, is the Week 7 recipient of The Big Game Catch of the Week Award. Hussey's catch was a 7-yard, leaping one-handed touchdown grab late in the first quarter of the Sharks' 44-36 home loss to Tennessee Valley. The Winston Salem State alum finished with seven catches on the night for 99 yards and two scores. Hussey currently leads the Sharks (1-5) in receiving yards (585) and receiving touchdowns (9). He is also tied for the team lead in scoring (54 points) and ranks second in receptions (43).

Simpson

(6-1, 195, Missouri), in his third af2 season, is the sixth 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. Simpson's hit came midway through the first quarter on Friday night in Iowa's 46-41 road win at Central Division rival Green Bay. On a 2nd-and-15 play from the Green Bay 24-yard line, Blizzard QB Gino Guidugli dropped back looking to pass. Simpson, however, lined up on the left edge, was left unblocked on the play. As a result, the Missouri alum was in Guidugli's face in a second and put a hit so hard on the veteran signal caller that the ball popped out and was recovered eight yards downfield by Iowa DB Tanner Varner. Besides the sack and forced fumble, Simpson also produced another forced fumble later in the game and recovered the fumble as well. The veteran defender leads the Barnstormers (4-3) in tackles for loss (4.5) and is tied for second in sacks (2). Simpson also ranks third on the squad in tackles (30).

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 six sacks in 2009 and 47 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:

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