AFL Awards Week 5 Players of the Week

May 9,2017

Outstanding performances by Hippeard and Stephens lead Storm to last second victory over Brigade

LAS VEGAS – The Arena Football League has announced that Tampa Bay’s quarterback Randy Hippeard and defensive back Paul Stephens have been named as the offensive and defensive players of the week for Week 5, respectively.

OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK – Hippeard (6’3”, 205, UVa-Wise) was instrumental as he led Tampa Bay (3-1) to a last-second 62-55 victory over the Baltimore Brigade (1-3) in Week 5. Completing over 77% of his passes, he threw eight touchdowns for 285 yards and no interceptions to lead his team to its second come from behind victory in their last two games. The UVa-Wise product becomes the first multi Player of the Week recipient of this season.

DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK – Stephens (5’9”, 178, Central Missouri) led all Storm defenders with 6.5 tackles (6 unassisted, 1 assisted), recorded a pass breakup and recovered two crucial fumbles in his Tampa Bay debut. In the second quarter, he scooped up a fumble by Brigade receiver Justin Wilson and returned it 46 yards for the score. With the score tied at 48 in the fourth quarter, he picked up another Wilson fumble which led to a Storm touchdown.

PREVIOUS WINNERS

WEEK 1 – Washington’s Mike Washington (Offensive) and Tampa Bay’s Ceasar Rayford (Defensive)

WEEK 2 – Philadelphia’s Darius Reynolds (Offensive) and Baltimore’s Dexter Davis Jr. (Defensive)

WEEK 3 – Tampa Bay’s Randy Hippeard (Offensive) and Alvin Ray Jackson (Defensive)

WEEK 4 – Philadelphia’s Ryan McDaniel (Offensive) and Dwayne Hollis (Defensive)


ABOUT THE AFL

The Arena Football League is now in its 30 ^th Anniversary Season in 2017. Since its inception in 1987, the Arena Football League has showcased a fast-paced and exciting game to millions of fans in a myriad of markets across the country. Teams slated for 2017 include: Baltimore, Cleveland, Philadelphia, Tampa Bay and Washington D.C.  CBS Sports Network nationally broadcasts AFL games each week during the regular season. ArenaBowl XXX is slated for Saturday, August 26. For all the latest news and discussion on the Arena Football League, follow the AFL on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram (@aflarenaball).