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Week Nine Honors

May 27, 2009 - arenafootball2 (af2) News Release


CHICAGO - Bossier-Shreveport wide receiver/kick returner P.J. BERRY, Rio Grande Valley wide receiver ROD WINDSOR and Kentucky defensive back WILLIAM MULDER have been named the JLS Ironman, Russell Athletic Offensive Player and Aaron's Defensive Player of the Week, respectively, for Week 9 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 9 goes to Mahoning Valley wide receiver C.J. BREWER and the NiFTy Hit of the Week is awarded to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton fullback/linebacker KIRBY GRIFFIN.

JLS IRONMAN OF THE WEEK

Berry (6-0, 195, Virginia State), in his second af2 season, had a stellar all-around effort for Bossier-Shreveport in the team's Week 9, 76-59, home win against Southwest Division rival Rio Grande Valley. The dynamic playmaker from Virginia State scored three different ways and finished with five total touchdowns on the night to help the BattleWings evened their record at .500 (4-4). On offense, Berry had six catches for 122 yards and three touchdowns. His receiving yards and receiving touchdown total were both team-high marks. He was also special on special teams with 166 kickoff return yards, including a 56-yard return touchdown in the first quarter. Berry also had a 12-yard touchdown run late in the first half to give Bossier-Shreveport a 42-28 halftime advantage. He finished with 300 all-purpose yards and even had an assisted tackle on defense. This is the first weeky league honor of Berry's career. He currently leads the BattleWings in receiving yards (560), kickoff return yards (781), kickoff return TDs (3) and all-purpose yards (1,355).

RUSSELL ATHLETIC OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK

Windsor (6-2, 210, Western New Mexico), in his first af2 campaign, continued his stellar play for Rio Grande Valley in the team's Week 9 road game at Bossier-Shreveport. Despite the result (76-59 loss), the Western New Mexico alum had a record-setting night for the Dorados, catching 15 passes for 224 yards and seven touchdowns. Windsor's receiving yard and receiving touchdown total both set new team single-game records. This is the first Offensive Player of the Week honor for Windsor and his second weekly league award this season (Catch - Week 1). He currently leads the af2 in a number of categories, including scoring (204 points), total touchdowns (33), receiving touchdowns (33), receptions (107) and receiving yards (1,328).

AARON'S DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK

Mulder (6-0, 185, Campbellsville), in his second af2 season, was a major player on defense in Kentucky's 83-48 Week 9 home win against South Division foe Florida. The veteran defensive back from Campbellsville was a force for the Horsemen with 10 total tackles (9 UA, 2 A), one pass breakup and a team-record four interceptions. His four picks also tied an af2 single-game record. Mulder now shares the league-high mark with three other players (Deon Giddens, Brent Browner, Lincoln Dupree). He also accumulated 143 yards in kickoff returns. Combined with his 138 return yards from his four interceptions, Mulder finished with a game-high 281 all-purpose yards. The Horsemen are currently in third place in the South with a 4-4 record. This is the first Defensive Player of the Week Award of Mulder's career. He currently ranks second in the league in passes defended (20) and is tied for second in interceptions (6).

THE BIG GAME CATCH OF THE WEEK

Brewer (6-3, 215, Wyoming), in his second af2 season, is the Week 9 recipient of The Big Game Catch of the Week Award. Brewer's catch was a leaping, 33-yard touchdown grab with just over a minute to play in the fourth quarter of Mahoning Valley's recent road game at Manchester. Despite the result (56-42 loss), the Wyoming alum's grab was one of the best of the season. As QB Blake Powers scrambled to avoid the Wolves rush, he heaved a long pass downfield in Brewer's direction. Brewer out jumped a Manchester defender and snared the pass as he toppled over the back wall of the end zone. Brewer finished with eight catches for 82 yards. He is currently second on the Thunder in receiving with 38 catches for 373 yards and six scores in six games played.

NIFTY HIT OF THE WEEK

Griffin (6-1, 270, California-Pa.), in his second af2 season, is the eighth 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. Griffin's hit came on a second quarter kickoff Saturday night in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton's 69-19 home win against Green Bay. Thanks to a deep kickoff by David Davis that ricocheted high off the rebound net, Griffin was able to sprint downfield on coverage and torpedo himself into Okoebor as he tried to juke to find a hole. The hit took Okoebor right off his feet. Griffin finished with 1.5 tackles on defense. The fullback/linebacker from California University of Pennsylvania also scored four touchdowns on offense, three rushing and one receiving. He currently ranks second in the league in rushing yards (210) and is tied for second in rushing TDs (13).

JLS Ironman of the Week candidates included:

Iowa's Charles Johnson, Oklahoma City's Craig Fulton, Jr., Boise's Terrance Sanders, Spokane's Charles Dillon, Peoria's Jacob Schoonover, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton's Rich Musinski, Kentucky's J.T. Haskins and Manchester's Martel Van Zant.

Russell Athletic Offensive Player of the Week candidates included:

Iowa's Brian Villanueva, Corpus Christi's Gary Cooper, Boise's Jomo Wilson, Spokane's Raul Vijil, Quad City's Jesse Schmidt, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton's Kirby Griffin, Kentucky's Lonell Dewalt and Manchester's James Pinkney.

Aaron's Defensive Player of the Week candidates included:

Iowa's Brent Curvey, Corpus Christi's Roshawn Marshall, Stockton's Carl Walker, Spokane's Ben McCombs, Peoria's James Smith, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton's Micheaux Robinson, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton's Royce Morgan, Bossier-Shreveport's Roland Cola and Manchester's Al Phillips.

The Big Game Catch of the Week candidates included:

Corpus Christi's Anthony Clark, Boise's Jomo Wilson, Spokane's Raul Vijil, Peoria's Darren Paige, Iowa's Errick McCown, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton's Irving Campbell, Kentucky's Lonnell Dewalt and Bossier-Shreveport's P.J. Berry.

NiFTy Hit of the Week candidates included:

Corpus Christi's Jeremy Mayfield, Boise's David Stanton, Iowa's Mike Matthes, Kentucky's John Cooper, Bossier-Shreveport's Marvin Byrdsong and Manchester's Martel Van Zant.



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