af2 names week one honorees
Tuesday April 3, 2007
CHICAGO - Quad City fullback/linebacker JERMAINE PETTY, Florida quarterback CHRIS WALLACE and Tennessee Valley wide receiver/defensive back QUENTIN BURRELL have been named the U.S. Army Ironman, Schutt Offensive Player and ADT Defensive Player of the Week, respectively, for Week 1 of the 2007 season. In addition to these three awards, the af2 is also highlighting the player who makes the best catch of the week. The Cutters Catch of the Week Award for Week 1 goes to Mahoning Valley wide receiver CHRIS ARCHIE.
U.S. ARMY IRONMAN OF THE WEEK
Petty (6-2, 250, Arkansas), in his second season, made his presence felt on both sides of the ball in the Steamwheelers' season-opening 81-21 road win against the expansion Cincinnati Jungle Kats. Petty's notable two-way play included two touchdown runs (6, 1) on offense. On defense, the Arkansas alum was equally impressive, recording 1.5 tackles for loss, one sack, one fumble recovery and one pass breakup. This is the first weekly af2 award of Petty's career.
SCHUTT OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Wallace (6-2, 230, Toledo) led a Firecats offense in Week 1 that flexed their muscles against a solid Oklahoma City defense for 55 points in a convincing 55-22 home victory against the Yard Dawgz. Wallace, in his sixth year as an af2 signal caller, picked up right where he left off a year ago, completing 21-of-29 passes for 268 yards and eight touchdowns, a league-high for the week. The veteran QB is coming off the finest af2 season of his career in 2006, throwing for nearly 4,000 yards (3,918) and 100 touchdowns. Wallace became just the second QB in af2 history to hit the century mark in TD passes, ranking second overall in the af2 behind Central Valley's Scott Rislov (106). This is the third af2 weekly award of Wallace's career and first since 2000.
ADT DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Burrell (6-0, 185, Notre Dame), an af2 rookie, was a major player on defense in Week 1 for Tennessee Valley as the Vipers won their home opener, 44-27, against their long-time rivals, the Alabama Steeldogs. Burrell looked like an Arena Football veteran in his first-ever af2 game, recording a game-high six total tackles (5 ua, 2 a), one fumble recovery and three pass breakups. The former Notre Dame team captain also had a 16-yard interception return for a touchdown.
CUTTERS CATCH OF THE WEEK
Mahoning Valley wide receiver Chris Archie (6-4, 215, Cincinnati), who is entering his third season in the af2, is the Week 1 recipient of the Cutters Catch of the Week Award, a weekly honor that emerged last year to highlight the player who makes the best catch of the week. Archie's catch was a leaping 32-yard touchdown reception in the third quarter that gave the Thunder a 27-7 advantage over Tri-Cities. Archie finished the night with eight catches for 117 yards (game-high) and three touchdowns to pace Mahoning Valley to a 48-40 season opening home win against the Fever.
U.S. Army Ironman of the Week candidates included:
Bakersfield's Nathan Munson, Laredo's Edward Giddings, Tennessee Valley's Travis Blanchard, Boise's Lee Marks, W-B/Scranton's Doug Harding, Fort Wayne's Cesare Manning, Mahoning Valley's Tim Frost, South Georgia's Derrick Lloyd, Florida's Brent Burnside, Stockton's Vernon Smith and Everett's LaMonte Jones.
Schutt Offensive Player of the Week candidates included:
Bakersfield's DeRonn Finley, Bakersfield's Alex Neist, Boise Bart Hendricks, Tennessee Valley's Travis Blanchard, W-B/Scranton's Ryan Vena, Fort Wayne's Cody Hodges, Mahoning Valley's Chris Archie, Quad City's Kris Peters, South Georgia's D. Bryant, Florida's Ethenic Sands, Spokane's Andrico Hines and Tulsa's Josh Blankenship.
ADT Defensive Player of the Week candidates included:
Bakersfield's Ben McCombs, Laredo's LaRon Ragsdale, Boise's Brandon Hazenburg, Tennessee Valley's Anthony Andriano, W-B/Scranton's Joe Hollister, Fort Wayne's A.J. Lindsay, Mahoning Valley's Anton Ceaser, Quad City's Kevin Adams, South Georgia's Ed Wangler, Florida's Levy Brown, Spokane's Rob Keefe and Tulsa's Delenell Reid.
