Zimmerman Wins af2 Honors
April 30, 2002 - arenafootball2 (af2) News Release
CHICAGO â Quad City quarterback TONY ZIMMERMAN accounted for nine touchdowns and 317 of the Steamwheelers' 320 offensive yards in Saturday's 62-54 win at Fresno to earn af2 Offensive Player of the Week honors for Week 5, the league office announced today.
Zimmerman completed 18-of-26 passes for 312 yards and eight TDs, also rushing for five yards and scoring the game-clinching touchdown on a two-yard run with two seconds left. With the QB leading the way, Quad City scored on all 10 possessions, netting TDs on nine of them. The rookie's eight touchdown passes tied the mark for the most in a game this season (Arkansas' RICKY HEBERT vs. San Diego, 4/27). Zimmerman's nine total TDs equaled his own league high from the previous week (seven passing, two rushing vs. Hawaii, 4/20).
Pensacola WR/DB JERRIAN JAMES earns ADT Defensive Player of the Week honors for his efforts in the Barracudas' 72-6 rout of Mobile. James tied a league season-high by nabbing three interceptions that he returned for a total of 53 yards. He broke up three other passes and added three tackles (one unassisted). Overall, the Wizards managed just 110 yards passing, due in large part to the menacing James.
The Ironman of the Week is DS/KR TERRANCE HARRIS of the Birmingham Steeldogs. Harris was all over the field in the Steeldogs' 69-26 victory against Columbus. He totaled 190 combined return yards, highlighted by a 52-yard kickoff return for touchdown and a 56-yard missed field goal return for TD. On defense, the hard-hitting Harris made 7.5 tackles (seven unassisted), broke up five passes and recovered a fumble.
This week's Built Ford Toughman is Rochester WR/DB VONKEITH SPENCER. Despite nursing a sore hamstring, Spencer was able to provide key contributions in the Brigade's 32-24 win over previously-undefeated Albany. Spencer caught two passes for 51 yards, including a 45-yard momentum-swaying TD grab late in the third quarter. He also kept one of the league's top receivers in check all night, holding COREY HILL to six catches, recording one interception and tallying five passes defended.
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.
QUOTES FROM AROUND af2
"I'M HAPPY THIS OPPORTUNITY CAME UP. MY AGENT AND THE FACT I WAS PLAYING WITH THE NINJAS BOTH HELPED ME GET TO THIS POINT. BY PLAYING WITH THE NINJAS, I WAS ABLE TO STAY IN SHAPE AND HAVE A SOLID TRYOUT. â Former New Haven QB PHIL STAMBAUGH on how playing in af2 led to his signing by the New York Giants. "THAT IS WHAT PLAYING IN ARENA FOOTBALL IS ALL ABOUT. THE GOAL IS TO MOVE UP, WHETHER IT'S FROM AF2 TO ARENA FOOTBALL OR TO THE NFL OR CFL. I'M HAPPY FOR PHIL BECAUSE I KNEW THIS IS WHAT HIS GOAL WAS FROM THE START. â New Haven Head Coach RICK BUFFINGTON on PHIL STAMBAUGH's signing with the New York Giants.
"I WANT TO KEEP BOTH OF THEM, BUT IF THAT DOESN'T HAPPEN THEN I'M GOING TO TRY TO PUT EITHER GUY IN THE BEST POSSIBLE SITUATION â NOT TO SIT ON SOMEBODY ELSE'S BENCH. MY PHONE'S BEEN RINGING OFF THE HOOK. THERE ARE ABOUT THREE OR FOUR TEAMS THAT ARE INTERESTED IN THESE GUYS. BOTH OF THEM ARE GOING TO BE STARTING SOMEWHERE THIS YEAR." â Cape Fear Head Coach CHRIS SIEGFRIED on his new QB quandary with VIC PENN and newly-acquired MIKE GLUSKI, obtained last week in a trade with Macon.
"WHATEVER KIND OF MAGIC HE'S GOT GOING, I HOPE HE KEEPS IT GOING. HE'S GOT A GREAT ARM. HE'S MOBILE. HE'S A GOOD QUARTERBACK." â Roanoke WR ANTHONY HINES on new starting QB CHRIS SANDERS.
"IT WAS A TYPICAL af2 GAME. IT'S WHAT ARENA FOOTBALL IS ALL ABOUT ... THAT BACK-AND-FORTH SCORING. OUR OFFENSE PLAYED WELL. I'VE BEEN TELLING THE GUYS THE ONLY ONES WHO CAN STOP US IS OURSELVES." â Tennessee Valley Head Coach KEVIN GUY after his team's 50-47 win at Macon.
"WE MADE PLAYS DEFENSIVELY, OFFENSIVELY AND ON SPECIAL TEAMS. EVERYBODY CONTRIBUTED TO THE WIN, I REALLY THINK WE ARE STARTING TO COME TOGETHER AS A TEAM." â Birmingham Head Coach BOBBY HUMPHREY following his team's 69-26 win over Columbus.
"OUR DEFENSE HAS BEEN PLAYING GREAT. WE KNEW WHAT THEY WERE GOING TO DO, SO WE WAITED FOR THEM TO MAKE THE CATCH, AND THEN WE TRIED TO PUNISH THEM. THAT'S WHAT WE DID, WE PLAYED AGGRESSIVE." â Augusta Ironman of the Game TIM DUMAS on the play of the Stallions' defense against Carolina.
"ANY TIME YOU GO INTO SOMEONE ELSE'S ARENA AVERAGING 60-SOMETHING POINTS A GAME AND YOU DON'T PLAY YOUR BEST BALL GAME AND HOLD THEM TO 25 POINTS, IT GOES TO SHOW YOU WHAT KIND OF CHARACTER THIS TEAM IS MADE OF. WE MUST IMPROVE OFFENSIVELY OR WE ARE IN FOR A LONG SEASON." â Florida Head Coach JOHN FOURCADE on his team's performance in the 3-0 Firecats' 30-25 win at Memphis.
"WE DIDN'T THINK IT WOULD TURN OUT THIS WAY (POSTING A 72-6 WIN). WE HAD A LOT OF GUYS PLAYING NEW POSITIONS. I JUST WANTED THEM TO GO OUT AND PLAY TOUGH FOR 60 MINUTES. I KNEW WE HAD IT IN US IF WE PLAYED FOUR QUARTERS." â Pensacola Head Coach MIKE BUCK on the Barracudas' big win over Mobile.
"YOU EXPECT GROWING PAINS, BUT I DON'T KNOW IF YOU EXPECT 72-6. MY ONLY EXCUSE IS EXPANSION. IT'S GOING TO TAKE US A WHILE." â Mobile team operator KEN STABLER, the former NFL quarterback, after his team's loss at Pensacola.
"I DON'T LIKE TO LOSE. SOME PEOPLE SAY A LOSS IS GOOD FOR A TEAM, BUT I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S SO GOOD ABOUT IT. OUR TEAM IS MAD, AND WE'RE GONNA COME BACK STRONG THIS WEEK." â Memphis Head Coach DANTON BARTO after his team's 30-25 loss to Florida.
"WE DIDN'T SHOW UP. WE TRAVELED AN HOUR DOWN THE ROAD TO LAY AN EGG. I'M SO DISAPPOINTED IN OUR EFFORT THAT I CAN'T EVEN EXPLAIN IT." â Mohegan Head Coach GARY PORTER on his team's showing in New Haven.
"WE HAD EVERY OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE THIS GAME AWAY FROM THEM IN THE SECOND HALF. WE MAYBE TOOK THEM TOO LIGHTLY, I SUSPECT. THE LITTLE THINGS COST US, AND WE PLAYED THE FIRST HALF WAY CASUAL." â Peoria FB/LB ROBERT MEYER after his team's 45-36 loss at Bossier City.
"WE'RE JUST NOT CLICKING RIGHT NOW, AND IT'S REALLY DISTURBING, BECAUSE THE DEFENSE IS PLAYING GREAT. AGAIN, WE LOST, BUT WE GAVE UP WHAT, 32 POINTS? WE SHOULD WIN THAT GAME. THE DEFENSE DOESN'T NEED TO CHANGE A THING, BUT THE OFFENSE NEEDS TO PICK IT UP.'' â Albany OS COREY HILL after the Conquest's 32-24 loss to Rochester.
"IT'S NOT HOPELESS. WE ARE CERTAINLY RIGHT THERE. WE CAN COMPETE WITH ANY TEAM, LIKE WE DID WITH THIS ONE, WE JUST GOTTA KEEP WORKING THROUGH IT. WE ARE A LOT LIKE SCIENTISTS. WE KNOW WHAT THE PROBLEMS ARE, WE JUST HAVE TO KEEP TRYING THINGS UNTIL WE FIND THE ANSWERS." â Hawaii Head Coach GUY BENJAMIN after his team's 31-27 loss at Wichita.
"AT TIMES, WE DO SOME VERY GOOD THINGS ON THE FIELD. UNFORTUNATELY, WE HAVE DONE TOO MANY BAD THINGS AT TIMES, TO THE POINT WHERE WE CAN'T GET OURSELVES OUT OF THE HOLE. THAT'S WHY WE ARE 0-4." â Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Head Coach TERRY KARG on the Pioneers' 0-4 start.
"THE SPEED HAVE SET THE STANDARD FOR THIS LEAGUE. WE CAN'T AFFORD TO FALL THREE GAMES OUT OF FIRST PLACE THIS EARLY IN THE SEASON, AND WE WILL HAVE TO BRING OUR A-GAME TO THE RICHMOND COLISEUM." â Cape Fear Head Coach CHRIS SIEGFRIED on playing Richmond.
"WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE THE TRIP TO HAWAII. THE BIG CHALLENGE THAT WE FACE IS THAT WE'VE GOT TO GO OVER THERE WITH THE RIGHT PURPOSE IN MIND." â Tulsa Head Coach SKIP FOSTER on traveling to Hawaii this weekend to play the Islanders.
"THE HYPE ABOUT THE RIVALRY HAS BEEN THERE, SO NOW BOTH TEAMS FINALLY GET A CHANCE TO GET ON THE FIELD AND PLAY THE GAME. I KNOW OUR GUYS ARE REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO IT, BECAUSE THEY'VE GOT SOME OF OUR OLD PLAYERS PLAYING FOR THEM NOW. IT SHOULD BE A GOOD GAME AND A LOT OF FUN FOR THE FANS TO COME WATCH." â Bakersfield Head Coach JAMES FULLER on facing Fresno this week.
"THIS WILL BE A FUN GAME FOR ME. I GET TO COACH AGAINST ONE OF MY BETTER FRIENDS IN THE LEAGUE ... I KNOW HE'LL HAVE HIS GUYS READY FOR THIS WEEKEND." â Macon Head Coach KEVIN PORTER on coaching against Jacksonville Head Coach EARNEST WILSON.
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