Jackson, Hefflin and Gatewood earn ArenaFan Week 9 honors
Joe Kauffman
Wednesday March 29, 2006
Offensive Player of the Week: Chris Jackson scored seven touchdowns-- six on receptions and one on a kickoff return-- to help the Georgia Force defeat the Tampa Bay Storm 61-51. Jackson had 10 catches for 124 yards and two kickoff returns for 75 yards, including the touchdown which opened the second half of the game. Jackson is in his eight AFL season. He was named Rookie of the Year and named to the All-Rookie team at WR/LB in 2000, named to the All-Ironman team at WR/LB in 2001, and after moving to OS, was named Offensive Player of the Year and All-Arena First Team OS in 2003.
Other players considered for the ArenaFan Online Week Nine Offensive Player of the Week were Mike Horacek (New York), and Matt Nagy (Georgia)..
Defensive Player of the Week: Brandon Hefflin had 13.5 tackles two fumble recoveries and an interception to help the Columbus Destroyers defense hold the Colorado Crush to just three touchdowns in a 65-21 victory. Hefflin had 21 return yards and the two fumble recoveries, one of which set up a second quarter Destroyers touchdown. Hefflin is in his second AFL season.
Other players considered for the ArenaFan Online Week Nine Defensive Player of the Week were Thabiti Davis (Columbus), Monty Montgomery (Nashville), and Jeremy Unertl (Chicago).
Two-Way Player of the Week: Randy Gatewood had seven receptions for 112 yards and five touchdowns on offense, 3.5 total tackles on defense, to help the Arizona Rattlers erase a 14-point third quarter deficit and defeat the Los Angeles Avengers 58-45. Three of Gatewood's touchdowns came in the fourth quarter. Gatewood is in his 11th AFL season, all with the Arizona Rattlers. He has been named first or second team All-Arena at WR?DB on five occasions, has been named to the All-Ironman team twice, was the AFL's Ironman of the Year in 2003 and was #17 on the AFL's 20 Greatest Players list announced this year.
Other players considered for the ArenaFan Online Week Nine Two-Way Player of the Week were Kahlil Carter (Orlando), Thabiti Davis (Columbus), Cory Fleming (Nashville), Timon Marshall (Grand Rapids), and Cornelius White (Chicago).
2006 ArenaFan Online Award Winners
Offensive Player of the Week
Week 1 – Damian Harrell (OS, Colorado Crush)
Week 2 – Terrill Shaw (OS, Dallas Desperados)
Week 3 – Siaha Burley (OS, Utah Blaze)
Week 4 – Shane Stafford (QB, Tampa Bay Storm)
Week 5 – Shane Stafford (QB, Tampa Bay Storm) (2)
Week 6 – Damian Harrell (OS, Colorado Crush) (2)
Week 7 – Clint Dolezel (QB, Dallas)
Week 8 – Clint Dolezel (QB, Dallas) (2)
Week 9 – Chris Jackson (OS, Georgia)
Defensive Player of the Week
Week 1 – Frank Carter (FB/LB, Nashville Kats)
Week 2 – Damon Mason (DS, Austin Wranglers)
Week 3 – Rashad Floyd (WR/DB, Colorado Crush)
Week 4 – Chris Brown (DS, Georgia Force)
Week 5 – Jeremy Unertl (DS, Chicago Rush)
Week 6 – Colston Weatherington (OL/DL, Dallas Desperados)
Week 7 – Jeroid Johnson (DS, Orlando)
Week 8 – Jerald Brown (DS, Columbus)
Week 9 – Brandon Hefflin (DS, Columbus)
Two-Way Player of the Week
Week 1 – Kevin Ingram (WR/LB, Los Angeles Avengers)
Week 2 – Will Pettis (WR/DB, Dallas Desperados)
Week 3 – Lawrence Samuels (WR/LB, Tampa Bay Storm)
Week 4 – Timon Marshall (WR/DB, Grand Rapids Rampage)
Week 5 – Lawrence Samuels (WR/LB, Tampa Bay Storm) (2)
Week 6 – Joe Douglass (WR/LB, Las Vegas Gladiators)
Week 7 – Orshawante Bryant (WR/DB, Utah Blaze)
Week 8 – Josh Bush (WR/DB, Grand Rapids)
Week 9 – Randy Gatewood (WR/DB, Arizona)
About ArenaFan Online
ArenaFan Online (http://www.arenafan.com) is the only independent Web site dedicated to covering all of the Arena Football League and arenafootball2. On-line since 1998, the site provides original stories, an interactive section, a thorough statistical database covering the league's 20-year history, and numerous other features.
Joe Kauffman is President and Editor in Chief of Arenafan Online, having joined the staff in 2000. He graduated from Florida State University in 1998 with a degree in communications andbuilds ecommerce sites for a day job. Joe has enjoyed Arena Football since 1991 and has been a member of the Arena Football Internet community since 1995. Prior to Joining Arenafan, he was a co-founder and Technical Editor of the Storm Shelter, which covered the Tampa Bay Storm from 1996-99. Joe and his wife Erika live in Hackettstown, New Jersey with their two daughters.
