Wilson, Grady, Gilliam, Forse, Kendrick Earn First Round Honors

August 4, 2009 - arenafootball2 (af2) News Release

CHICAGO - Boise wide receiver/defensive back JOMO WILSON, Oklahoma City quarterback TOMMY GRADY, and Spokane defensive back SERGIO GILLIAM have been named the JLS Ironman, Russell Athletic Offensive Player and Aaron's Defensive Player of the Week, respectively, for the First Round of the 2009 af2 Playoffs. 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 the First Round goes to Green Bay wide receiver NATE FORSE and the NiFTy Hit of the Week is awarded to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton wide receiver/linebacker LARRY KENDRICK.

JLS IRONMAN OF THE WEEK

Wilson (6-0, 215, Eastern Oregon) had a strong all-around effort for No. 4 Boise in the team's 77-36 First Round home win against No. 4 Arkansas on Saturday. The third-year player from Eastern Oregon made an impact in all three facets of the game (offense, defense, special teams) to help the Burn (13-4) advance to the National Conference Semifinals. Wilson had one rushing TD and two catches for 26 yards on offense. On the defensive side, he had one interception, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery and one assisted tackle. Wilson also returned two kickoffs for a total of 57 yards to finish with 127 all-purpose yards. This is the second time in his career that he's received the Ironman of the Week Award (WK18, 2008 - Central Valley). Wilson finished the regular season as the Burn's leader in scoring (164 points), receiving (93-1,032) and all-purpose yards (1,966).

RUSSELL ATHLETIC OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK

Grady (6-7, 240, Utah) had a record-setting showing for No. 7 Oklahoma City in the club's First Round playoff game at No. 2 Tulsa. Despite the result (90-75 loss), the rookie signal caller from Utah set an af2 postseason record with 507 yards passing against the Central Division Champion Talons (14-3). Grady, in just his third career start under center for the Yard Dawgz (7-10), became the first player in the league's 10-year history to eclipse 500 yards passing in a single game. He also completed 32-of-51 passes on the night, including a postseason-record tying 10 touchdowns against just one interception. This is the first weekly league honor of Grady's career. He threw for nearly 1,200 yards (1,194) and 23 TDs against just three INTs in his three games played.

AARON'S DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK

Gilliam (6-2, 195, Clemson), was a difference maker on defense to help No. 1 Spokane dominate No. 8 Stockton, 62-21, for a first round home playoff win Saturday night. The second-year defensive back from Clemson tied a postseason record with three interceptions to help the Shock (16-1) advance to the National Conference Semifinals. Gilliam returned his third interception of the night 52 yards for a touchdown late in the fourth quarter. He also had 10 total tackles (9 solo, 2 assisted), one fumble recovery and two pass breakups. Gilliam led Spokane in interceptions for the second straight season in 2009 with 13 (2nd in af2), following up his league-record 16 in 2008. This is the third defensive player of the week award of his career (WK1, WK2 - 2008).

THE BIG GAME CATCH OF THE WEEK

Forse (6-4, 220, California-PA), in his first af2 season, is the First Round playoff recipient of The Big Game Catch of the Week Award. Forse's grab was a sick, one-handed snare late in the first half of Green Bay's 60-56 road win at Tennessee Valley. On a deep crossing pattern on a 1st-and-10 play from the Green Bay 22-yard line, Forse had to stop and reach out with his left hand to clutch the pass thrown behind him by QB Gino Guidugli. His first down catch helped the team score a touchdown two plays later as the Blizzard took a 30-28 lead into halftime. The rookie receiver from California-PA finished the night with nine catches for 126 yards and threea TDs. Forse had a tremendous regular season for Green Bay (11-6), setting team records for receptions (131), receiving yards (1,875) and receiving TDs (28). The Blizzard victory means the team will move on to the American Conference Semifinals and play at Midwest Division rival Iowa (13-4) on Saturday night.

NIFTY HIT OF THE WEEK

Kendrick (6-0, 215, Mississippi), in his third af2 season, has been awarded the NiFTy Hit of the Week, a new weekly honor that highlights the player who makes the best hit or tackle of the week. Kendrick's hit came early in the second quarter in the team's First Round home game against Albany. On a 4th-and-1 play for the Firebirds, QB Stephen Wasil dropped back to pass but couldn't find an open receiver. As a result, the Albany signal caller stepped up, tucked the ball, and ran up between the tackles to try and pick up the first down. As he stumbled up the field looking to gain the necessary yardage, Kendrick came up and laid a jarring hit on Wasil that forced the ball out of his hands as he fell to the turf. Kendrick also recovered the fumble on the play to give the ball back to the Pioneers. One play later Wilkes-Barre/Scranton scored a touchdown to put the team ahead, 42-7. The Ole Miss alum tied for the team lead in fumble recoveries during the regular season with three. Kendrick also ranked second on the Pioneers in interceptions (6) and sixth in tackles (37.5). No. 1 Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (14-3) advances on to American Conference Semifinals and will host No. 5 Kentucky (11-6) on Saturday night.

JLS Ironman of the Week candidates included:

Iowa's Errick McCown, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton's Rich Musinski, Kentucky's William Mulder, Bossier-Shreveport's P.J. Berry, Green Bay's Larry Williams, Tulsa's Jeff Hughley and Spokane's Johnie Kirton.

Russell Athletic Offensive Player of the Week candidates included:

Iowa's Brian Villanueva, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton's Irving Campbell, Kentucky's Jared Lorenzen and Justin Rascati, Bossier-Shreveport's P.J. Berry, Green Bay's Anthony Crissinger-Hill, Spokane's Nick Davila and Boise's Nichiren Flowers.

Aaron's Defensive Player of the Week candidates included:

Iowa's Jason Simpson, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton's Micheaux Robinson, Kentucky's William Mulder, Bossier-Shreveport's Adam Huebner, Tennessee Valley's Vince Hill, Tulsa's Terrance Carter and Boise's Marcus Lawrence.

The Big Game Catch of the Week candidates included:

Iowa's Dusty Kain, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton's J.J. Outlaw, Kentucky's Lonnell Dewalt, Bossier-Shreveport's Tommy Taggart, Tulsa Carlese Franklin, Spokane's Sergio Gilliam and Boise's Levi Madarieta.

NiFTy Hit of the Week candidates included:

Iowa's Jason Simpson, South Georgia's Mel Long, Bossier-Shreveport's Adam Huebner, Tennessee Valley's Michael Johnson and Jeremy Grier, Tulsa's Jamar Ransom and Boise's Terrance Sanders.

2009 WEEK-BY-WEEK AWARD WINNERS

WK OFFENSE IRONMAN DEFENSE CATCH HIT

KO Jason Murrietta (CVC) Chris McKinney (FLA) Kinny Spotwood (SGW) Kelvin Dickens (SGW) None

1 Andy Collins (STK) Jamar Ransom (TUL) Levi Madarieta (BOI) Rod Windsor (RGV) None

2 Brian Villanueva (IAB) Jeff Hughley (TUL) Lavar Stepter (MIL) Buchie Ibeh (BSB) Cory Lacek (WBS)

3 Errick McCown (IAB) Bradly Chavez (TVV) Takashi Walker (SGW) Nick Codutti (QCS) Jared Lorenzen (KEN)

4 Kevin Eakin (TVV) LaMonte Jones (CVC) Craig Wilson (GBB) James Panui (FLA) Craig Turner (RGV)

5 Darnell Kennedy (SGW) Terrance Sanders (BOI) Rob Green (MAN) Lonell Dewalt (KEN) Fred Shaw (OKC)

6 Rod Harper (ARK) Craig Turner (RGV) Dustin Johnson (BSB) Rich Musinski (WBS) Demetrius Hodges (FLA)

7 Darnell Kennedy (SGW) Christian Wise (ALB) Ben Alexander (TRI) Brandon Hussey (CCS) Jason Simpson (IAB)

8 Chad Cavender (STK) Bradly Chavez (TVV) Pierre Thomas (TUL) Jerard Rabb (BOI) Kamau Jackson (TUL)

Justin Taplin (STK)

9 Rod Windsor (RGV) P.J. Berry (BSB) William Mulder (KEN) C.J. Brewer (MVT) Kirby Griffin (WBS)

10 Kyle Rowley (ARK) Terrance Sanders (BOI) James McClinton (TUL) Phil Goodman (CVC) Demetrius Hodges (FLA)

Rod Harper (ARK)

11 Jason Schule (BOS) Alvin Ray Jackson (ALB) Gerard Lewis (AMR) Finas Rabb (TRI) Levi Madarieta (BOI)

12 Gino Guidugli (GBB) Alvin Ray Jackson (ALB) Stanley Franks (SPK) Duvaughn Flagler (AMA) Henry Hall (CCS)

13 Aaron Fairooz (ARK) Freddie Rollins (OKC) Brandon Taylor (MVT) Jeremy Grier (TVV) Derrick Harris (RGV)

14 Gino Guidugli (GBB) Larry Kendrick (WBS) Quinton Griffin (KEN) Kevin McCullough (SPK) Jermaine Moye (MVT)

15 P.J. Berry (BOS) Jesse Schmidt (QCS) Michael Lewis (PEO) Dusty Kain (IBS) Andre Burns (OKC)

16 Jesse Schmidt (QCS) Mervin Brookins, Jr. (STK)Brandon Hampton (PEO)Markee White (SPK) Delenell Reid (TUL)

Rod Windsor (RGV)

17 Kyle Rowley (ARK) Jeff Hughley (TUL) Vince Hill (RGV) Irving Campbell (WBS) George Lewis (FLA)

18 Ryan Vena (WBS) Steve Savoy (MAN) Chris Hemphill (TRI) Rod Windsor (RGV) Jason Hunt (STK)

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arenafootball2 Stories from August 4, 2009

• Wilson named af2 JLS Ironman of the Week - Boise Burn
• Dawgz' Grady Named Offensive Player of the Week - Oklahoma City Yard Dawgz
• Iron, af2 not impacted by AFL decision - Milwaukee Mustangs
• Gilliam selected as af2's Defensive Player of the Week - Spokane Shock
• Wilson, Grady, Gilliam, Forse, Kendrick Earn First Round Honors - af2

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