Tulsa wide receiver/kick returner JEFF HUGHLEY, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton quarterback RYAN VENA, and Spokane defensive back VIRGIL GRAY have been named the JLS Ironman, Russell Athletic Offensive Player and Aaron's Defensive Player of the Week, respectively, for the Conference Championship Round of the 2009 af2 Playoffs. In addition to these three awards, the af2 is also highlighting the player who makes the best catch and the best hit of the week. The Big Game Catch of the Week Award for the Conference Championship Round goes to Spokane wide receiver MARKEE WHITE and the NiFTy Hit of the Week is awarded to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton wide receiver ANTWUN WILLIAMS.
JLS IRONMAN OF THE WEEK
Hughley (5-8, 165, Averett) did everything he could to keep Tulsa in the game during last week's National Conference Championship, but he and the Talons eventually fell to the Spokane Shock, 51-44. Hughley led the Talons in receiving with 10 catches for 169 yards and one touchdown, and returned six kickoffs for 95 yards. His 264 all-purpose yards was also a team high. Hughley helped to provide a spark for Tulsa and their fans when he caught a 14-yard pass midway through the third quarter to take the lead back from the Shock (34-30) after Spokane took its first lead of the night four minutes into the second half (30-27). This is the fifth Ironman of the Week Award of Hughley's career and his seventh weekly league honor overall.
RUSSELL ATHLETIC OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Vena (6-0, 220, Colgate) takes home his eighth career offensive player of the week award after he continued his hot streak on Saturday in the American Conference Championship game. The former Colgate standout tossed eight touchdown passes - a week after his record 11 TD passes - in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton's 72-67 victory over the Green Bay Blizzard. Vena completed 15-of-19 passes for 331 yards and no interceptions. He also added an 11-yard rushing TD. Vena currently has the highest pass efficiency rating in the postseason (139.1) and has the most total touchdowns (26) and passing touchdowns (24). Vena recently earned his third straight All-af2 First Team honor and fourth First Team nod overall (2003). The Pioneers (16-3) will be facing the National Conference Champion Spokane Shock in the 2009 ArenaCup game this Saturday in Las Vegas.
AARON'S DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Gray (5-10, 188, Rhode Island) and the Spokane defense held off a potentially dangerous Tulsa resurgence in the National Conference Championship game last Saturday. After Tulsa QB Justin Allgood completed three passes to bring the Talons to the Shock 11-yard line with a little more than a minute to play, the Spokane defense shut the Talons down and prevented them from tying up a game that seesawed back and forth all night. Gray finished the night with the second most tackles on Spokane (8) and also tallied one pass breakup. Gray made sure the Shock were in good offensive position throughout the game as well, returning four kickoffs for 94 yards. Gray will continue on with the Spokane Shock as they take on American Conference Champion Wilkes-Barre/Scranton this weekend in the 2009 ArenaCup in Las Vegas.
THE BIG GAME CATCH OF THE WEEK
White (6-7, 215, Texas St.), in his rookie af2 season, is the Conference Championship playoff recipient of The Big Game Catch of the Week Award. White's tough snag came late in the second quarter of Spokane's 51-44 victory over the Tulsa Talons. The catch brought the Shock within four points (27-23) at halftime and began what would prove to be a lethal comeback for the Shock. On a critical 4th-and-goal play, White used his 6-foot-7 frame to make a leaping 6-yard grab in the corner of the end zone for a touchdown over a helpless Tulsa defender. White finished with six catches for 71 yards and a game-high three touchdowns to help Spokane advance to the 2009 ArenaCup Championship game this Saturday (Aug. 22) at the Orleans Arena in Las Vegas.
NIFTY HIT OF THE WEEK
Williams (6-2, 185, Virginia St) has been awarded the NiFTy Hit of the Week, a new weekly honor that highlights the player who makes the best hit or tackle of the week. The third Pioneers player in as many weeks to get the award, the wide receiver saw an opportunity to stop play and he did. After Pioneers QB Ryan Vena scored an 11-yard rushing touchdown, Green Bay Blizzard WR/KR Terry Love took the ensuing kickoff off the nets and made it to the 4-yard line before Williams caught up to him and stopped him in his tracks. Overall, Williams made 3.5 tackles in the game against Green Bay and has 12 overall in three postseason games. He will have the opportunity to contribute more this Saturday (Aug. 22) when the Pioneers take on the Spokane Shock in the 2009 ArenaCup at the Orleans Arena in Las Vegas.
JLS Ironman of the Week candidates included:
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton's Larry Kendrick.
Russell Athletic Offensive Player of the Week candidates included:
Tulsa's Justin Allgood.
Aaron's Defensive Player of the Week candidates included:
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton's LaBrose Hedgemon.
The Big Game Catch of the Week candidates included:
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton's Rich Musinski.
About J. Lewis Small Company
J. Lewis Small Company (JLS) manufactures high school class rings, college and university class rings, championship rings, and recognition awards to serve the independent salesforce and jewelry industries. Founded in 1915, JLS's highly qualified staff produces a product regarded as one of the best in the industry. Log on to www.jlewissmall.com for more information.
About Russell Athletic
For more than 100 years, Russell Athletic has supplied America's athletes and teams with the latest innovations to help them perform at their best and is a leading supplier of team uniforms at the high school, college, and professional level. Russell Athletic activewear and college licensed products are broadly distributed and marketed through department stores, sports specialty stores, retail chains, and college bookstores. For more information, log onto www.russellathletic.com.
About Aaron's
Aaron's, Inc. (NYSE: AAN and AAN.A effective April 20, 2009), the nation's leader in the sales and lease ownership, specialty retailing and rental of residential and office furniture, consumer electronics and home appliances and accessories has more than 1,575 Company-operated and franchised stores in 48 states and Canada. Founded in 1955 by entrepreneur R. Charles Loudermilk, Sr. and headquartered in Atlanta, Aaron's has been publicly traded since 1982.
About The Big Game
From our humble beginnings over a decade ago, The Big Game quickly grew to become the leading producer of quality sports commemoratives for professional, college and high school sports teams. Since then, our impressive client roster has grown to include Fortune 500 corporations, politicians, movie stars, musicians - even American presidents! Today, our quality merchandise is proudly displayed in the trophy cases of thousands of athletes, sports collectors and fans across the United States. The Big Game uses special patented and proprietary techniques to provide attractive, durable products at a competitive cost regardless of quantity - all at our factory in historic Frisco, Texas. Our craftsmanship, attention to detail and creativity is good old American know-how at its finest. So whether you need to recognize your top 500 performers or a top 10 team, we're confident you'll find a Big Game commemorative that's just right for you. For more information, log onto www.thebiggameusa.com.
About Network Foundation Technologies, LLC
Network Foundation Technologies, LLC (NFT: pronounced 'NiFTy') is a name that is quickly becoming synonymous with the online broadcasting of large, live events to worldwide audiences. NFT's patented technology overcomes the scalability and cost bottlenecks associated with online broadcasting, enabling the company to bring large-scale, advertiser-supported, television-style broadcasting to the Internet for the very first time. Please visit NiFTyTV.com for more information.
