Xplorers' Tandem Shares the Wealth
April 16, 2002 - arenafootball2 (af2) News Release
CHICAGO - They say, "If it'll play in Peoria, it'll play anywhere."
That time-honored marketing and political adage applies to af2 this week as Memphis QB TIM LESTER and OS RUSSELL COPELAND share Week 3 Offensive Player of the Week honors, the league office announced today. Lester and Copeland were the catalysts in the Xplorers' 49-48 overtime victory at Peoria on Friday. The pair connected on a do-or-die two-point conversion in OT that gave 2-0 Memphis the win.
Overall, Copeland caught 15 passes for 169 yards and five TDs in addition to the winning two-pointer. The former Buffalo Bill currently leads the league in scoring (44 points), receptions (26) and receiving yards (322). Lester totaled 317 yards against the Pirates on 32-of-44 passing, throwing for five scores and rushing for another. He ranks second in af2 in passing TDs (11), third in passing yards (508), third in total offense (584) and fifth in pass rating (123.5).
Charleston OL/DL PRESTON VINSON is the ADT Defensive Player of the Week. He led a strong defensive effort by the Swamp Foxes in their 67-32 season-opening win at Greensboro with three sacks - two of which resulted in safeties. His Saturday night exploits vaulted him to second in the league in total sacks.
Arkansas FB/LB DARNELL SMALL is the league's Ironman selection for Week 3. In the Twisters' 34-13 win at Wichita Friday, Small totaled 41 yards rushing, 4.5 tackles and a sack to go with his two touchdowns - a 37-yard interception return that put Arkansas on top for good as well as a 4-yard TD run. Small ranks sixth in the league with 51 rushing yards.
The Built Ford Tough Award for Week 3 goes to Richmond WR/DB SHAWN SCALES. The Speed leads the league with a 3-0 record, thanks in part to the contributions of Scales, who was lost for the season with tears of the ACL and MCL in his left knee in the second quarter of Friday's game at Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. Rather than head to the hospital or training room for treatment, Scales stayed with the Speed until the game ended and traveled back to Richmond on the team bus the next day. The two-way player ends his year as Richmond's fourth-leading receiver.
Every team's coaching staff selects up to five players who display a "get it done" attitude after each game. At season's end, the league will honor the "Built Ford Tough" Man of the Year, a player who will win a Ford truck.
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