Whittaker, Taylor, Berry earn week 7 honors

Tuesday April 26, 2011

Savoy, Gray, and Bongarra also awarded for weekend’s highlights

 TULSA, OKLA. – Tampa Bay WR HUEY WHITTAKER, Utah DB BRANDON TAYLOR and New Orleans WR PJ BERRY have been named Russell Athletic Offensive Player of the Week, Riddell Defensive Player of the Week and JLS Ironman of the Week, respectively, for Week 7 of the 2011 AFL season. In addition to these three awards, the AFL is also awarding the best catch of the week, the playmaker of the week and the highlight of the week. The Cutters Catch of the Week award winner for Week 7 is WR STEVEN SAVOY of the Kansas City Command, while the Nifty Playmaker of the Week is Chicago WR REGGIE GRAY. The Spalding Highlight of the Week award winner is Tulsa K JUAN BONGARRA.

RUSSELL ATHLETIC OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Whittaker (6-5, 215, South Florida) caught 15 balls for 193 yards and five touchdowns in the Storm’s 61-67 loss to Dallas in Week 7. He is the Storm’s leading receiver with 54 catches for 600 yards and 10 touchdowns on the year.

RIDDELL DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Taylor (5-11, 195, New Hampshire) led the Blaze with 13 tackles and came away with a forced fumble, fumble recovery and an interception in the team’s 61-67 overtime loss to Arizona.

JLS IRONMAN OF THE WEEK
Berry (6-0, 200, Virginia State) recorded nine catches for 91 yards and two touchdowns, but added 151 yards, including a 58-yard touchdown, as a kick returner in the VooDoo’s 49-56 loss to Pittsburgh. He finished the game with a league-high 242 all-purpose yards.

CUTTERS CATCH OF THE WEEK
Savoy (5-11, 190, Utah) hauled in a one-handed touchdown catch from quarterback JJ Raterink in the Command’s 58-51 victory over Chicago. Savoy finished the game with 14 catches for 136 yards and three touchdowns. He also rushed for another score in the contest.

NIFTY PLAYMAKER OF THE GAME
Gray (5-10, 175, Western Illinois) hauled in four catches for 52 yards and one touchdown in the Rush’s 51-58 loss to the Command. He also returned four kicks for 114 yards, including a 55-yard return for a touchdown.

SPALDING HIGHLIGHT OF THE GAME
Bongarra (6-3, 190, Albany State) kicked a game-winning field goal as time expired to give the Talons their first home victory of the year, defeating Iowa 61-60. He converted on all six of his extra point attempts in the contest.

Russell Athletic Offensive Player of the Week candidates included: Kansas City’s Steven Savoy, Pittsburgh’s Anthony Morelli, Spokane’s Raul Vijil, Tulsa’s Matt Bassuener and Utah’s Tommy Grady.

Riddell Defensive Player of the Week candidates included: Chicago’s Jason Simpson, Dallas’ Chris LeFlore, Georgia’s Tracy Belton and San Jose’s Jamario O’Neal.

JLS Ironman of the Week candidates included: Arizona’s Virgil Gray, Jacksonville’s Jeff Hughley and Tulsa’s Al Hunt.

About the AFL
Since its inception in 1987, the AFL has afforded the fast-paced and exciting game of Arena Football to millions of fans in a myriad of markets across the country. The NFL Network will once again broadcast an AFL National Game of the Week for the entire regular and post season on Friday nights at 8:00 pm EST, culminating with the ArenaBowl Championship Game in August.