Ashley Jackson, Ray Bentley
Banner Image by Andy Hamilton
Near the turn of the century, there was a smash hit song released by a rock band that encapsulated what it meant to be recognized as a Player of the Week. From the cutting, incisive lyricism of Greg Camp to the musical genius of Steve Harwell, I personally have it blaring every single time I go to edit the article. For it’s one thing to just take to the field every week in the Simulation Football League, putting in the grind; but another entirely to break the mold as a shooting star. Ladies and gentlemen, without any further ado, we proudly present to you your all-star SFL Players of the Week for Week Four!
Offensive Player of the Week
Do you smell that? That’s the smell of a well-oiled Mullenax offense, right on time. On time with it is the Las Vegas Fury’s first Offensive Player of the Week award, captured by star running back Robert Redford. Redford ran roughshod over the reigning champion Denver Nightwing defense, averaging a respectable 7.9 yards a carry as well as 2 touchdowns. Things were looking up with back-to-back wins in Sin City, and now they can add an OPTW to that momentum!
Honorable Mention
Ash Odom of the Chicago Wildcats, come on down – you’re our Week 4 Offensive Honorable Mention! Odom roared to life against Sioux Falls as the only Wildcat to find the endzone – no less with a hat trick of touchdowns – to hand the Sparrows their first loss of the season.
Defensive Player of the Week
Our Defensive player of the week is a force on to be reckoned with. I imagine that every OC has to whip out special plays to keep guys like these from making impacts, but it didn’t work this week. Despite their 38-24 loss to Vancouver, the Carolina Skyhawks’ Zane Doty deserves this week’s POTW honors for his fantastic efforts on the field. Zane had 5 solo tackles and 2 assists as well as 3 interceptions, which gives us one of the strangest stats ever: 10 total INT yards, 11 long. As Doty has 8 interceptions in the season already, it’s possible for him to have the record for the most interceptions in a season sewed up, as it’s currently at 10. If he keeps this up, he could be at 20 plus in no time.
Honorable Mention
A legend in this leauge and in our hearts, Defensive End Alex “Big Sexy” Dominguez of the Florida Storm is this week’s impossibly sexy honorable mention. This 3 time championship winner and record holder for most tackles, most TFL’S and most sacks in a season showed us why he deserves this honor with his 5 solo tackles, 2 assist, 4 sacks, and 4 tackles. A true QB ‘s nightmare!
Special Teams Player of the Week
One of the brightest spots in a 10-20 loss to the Charleston Predators was St. Louis’ Chase Earl on Special Teams. Averaging a field-eating 37.4 yards a return, including the only time a Gladiator crossed Hollywood Boulevard, Earl was the man to go to to help set his team up with field position. Not only was that good enough to put 6 on the board for St. Louis, it was good enough to earn him the nod for Special Teams Player of the Week.
Honorable Mention
When he’s not getting mercilessly injured on-field, Harish Prasad of the Carolina Skyhawks can turn in a mean returning performance himself. The evidence is right there: seven returns against the Legion for 242 yards (an average of 34.58 yards per kick!), as well as a 95-yard long touchdown himself.
