Philadelphia's D'Orazio, San Jose's Smith and Geathers earn conference championship honors

Tuesday July 15, 2008

NEW YORK – Philadelphia Soul QB MATT D’ORAZIO, San Jose SaberCats DB OMARR SMITH and WR/LB JASON GEATHERS have been named Offensive Player, ADT Defensive Player, and Ironman of the Week, respectively, for the Conference Championship Round of the 2008 playoffs.
 
OFFENSIVE: D’Orazio (6-4, 230, Otterbein) completed 17-of-25 passes for 184 yards and eight touchdowns as the Philadelphia Soul (15-3) defeated the Cleveland Gladiators (11-8), 70-35, on Saturday in the National Conference Championship game. D’Orazio led Philadelphia’s offense on scoring drives on 10 of the team’s 11 possessions while compiling a passer rating of 129.0. The Soul will make its first-ever ArenaBowl appearance when it faces the San Jose SaberCats (13-5) in Virgin Mobile ArenaBowl XXII on Sunday, July 27 at 3 p.m. ET (ABC HD).
 
ADT DEFENSIVE: Smith (5-9, 186, San Jose St.) registered four-and-a-half tackles, a Conference Championship Round-high three interceptions and two passes defensed as the San Jose SaberCats (13-5) defeated the Grand Rapids Rampage (8-11), 81-55, in the American Conference Championship game. Smith’s pass defense of a pass by Rampage QB JAMES MACPHERSON on San Jose’s 24-yard line in the first quarter marked the game’s first turnover. On Grand Rapids’ third possession of the second quarter, Smith intercepted MacPherson on the SaberCats 21-yard line and resulted in a San Jose touchdown seven plays later. During Grand Rapids’ second possession of the third quarter, Smith intercepted MacPherson on San Jose’s 20-yard line, forcing his third turnover and keeping the SaberCats lead at 41-28. With 3:05 remaining in the game, Smith intercepted MacPherson on the Rampage 16-yard line to force his fourth defensive stop of the game.                                                
 
IRONMAN: Geathers (6-4, 225, Miami) accounted for four touchdowns (2 – receiving, 1 – rushing, 1 interception) and became the first player in AFL postseason history to register rushing and receiving touchdowns, and return an interception for a touchdown in a single game as the San Jose SaberCats (13-5) defeated the Grand Rapids Rampage (8-11), 81-55, on Saturday. Geathers recorded receiving touchdowns of 14 and nine yards along with a 14-yard touchdown run on offense. On defense, Geathers intercepted a pass by Rampage QB JAMES MACPHERSON on the final play of the game, and returned the interception 29 yards for the only defensive touchdown of the game to seal the victory.
 
Offensive Player of the Week candidates included: Philadelphia WR Larry Brackins and San Jose WR Cleannord Saintil
 
ADT Defensive Player of the Week candidates included: Philadelphia DB Eddie Moten and San Jose DB Clevan Thomas
 
 Ironman of the Week candidates included: San Jose OL Gene Frederic
 
2008 WINNERS:
Week 1:  Philadelphia’s Tony Graziani (Offensive), Los Angeles’ Damen Wheeler (Defensive), Chicago’s DeJuan Alfonzo (Ironman)
Week 2: New Orleans’ Danny Wimprine (Offensive), New York’s Levy Brown (Defensive), Cleveland’s Robert Redd (Ironman)
Week 3: Georgia’s Chris Greisen (Offensive), Philadelphia’s Gabe Nyenhuis (Defensive), Dallas’ Will Pettis (Ironman)
            Week 4: Grand Rapids’ James MacPherson (Co-Offensive), Philadelphia’s Chris Jackson (Co-Offensive), New Orleans’ Calvin Spears (Defensive), Chicago’s DeJuan Alfonzo (Ironman)
            Week 5: Philadelphia’s Matt D’Orazio (Offensive), Chicago’s John Moyer (Defensive), Orlando’s Marlon Moye-Moore (Ironman)
            Week 6: Colorado’s Ben Nelson (Offensive), Georgia’s Cam Newton (Co-Defensive), New York’s John Walker (Co-Defensive), New York’s Chris Anthony (Ironman)
            Week 7: Orlando’s T.T. Toliver (Offensive), Colorado’s Rashad Floyd (Defensive), Dallas’ Will Pettis (Ironman)
            Week 8: Cleveland’s Otis Amey (Offensive), New Orleans’ Norman LeJeune (Defensive), San Jose’s Jason Geathers (Ironman)
            Week 9: New Orleans’ Danny Wimprine (Offensive), Philadelphia’s Eddie Moten (Defensive), Tampa Bay’s Lawrence Samuels (Ironman)
            Week 10: Utah’s Joe Germaine (Offensive), Orlando’s Kenny McEntyre (Defensive), Los Angeles’ Josh Jeffries (Ironman)
            Week 11: Dallas’ Clint Dolezel (Offensive), Tampa Bay’s Traco Rachal (Defensive), Georgia’s Matt Huebner (Ironman)
            Week 12: Georgia’s Tiger Jones (Offensive), Chicago’s Dennison Robinson (Defensive), Tampa Bay’s Lawrence Samuels (Ironman)
            Week 13: San Jose’s Mark Grieb (Offensive), San Jose’s Marquis Floyd (Defensive), Dallas’ Will Pettis (Ironman)
            Week 14: Georgia’s Carl Morris (Offensive), Arizona’s Isaiah Trufant (Defensive), Dallas’ Will Pettis (Ironman)
            Week 15: Grand Rapids’ James MacPherson (Offensive), Tampa Bay’s Traco Rachal (Defensive), Philadelphia’s Clifton Smith (Ironman)
            Week 16: Philadelphia’s Matt D’Orazio (Offensive), San Jose’s Clevan Thomas (Defensive), Georgia’s Carl Morris (Ironman)
            Week 17: San Jose’s Cleannord Saintil (Offensive), Philadelphia’s Eddie Moten (Defensive), Tampa Bay’s Lawrence Samuels (Ironman)
            Wild Card: New York’s Aaron Garcia (Offensive), Cleveland’s Brandon Hefflin (Defensive), New York’s Idris Price (Ironman)
            Divisional: Grand Rapids’ James MacPherson (Offensive), San Jose’s Marquis Floyd (Defensive), Cleveland’s Joshua Rue (Ironman)
            Conference Championship: Philadelphia’s Matt D’Orazio (Offensive), San Jose’s Omarr Smith (Defensive), San Jose’s Jason Geathers (Ironman)
 
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