PIFL Names Players of the Week

The Professional Indoor Football League (PIFL) has named Alabama Hammers QB Russell Hill, Alabama Hammers LB Jake Trantin, and Albany Panthers K Ryan Gates as the Week 2 Players of the Week.

On Saturday, QB Russell Hill (6'0 200, Idaho) led the Alabama Hammers to an impressive 65-23 victory over the Richmond Raiders by completing 30 of 40 passes for 340 yards and nine touchdowns. Hill, who spent the 2012 season in Knoxville, got his first start of the season on Saturday after coming in mid-relief in the Hammers first game versus Lehigh Valley. Russell managed to put up those numbers against a Raiders squad that was primed to repeat a 2012 season in which they led the PIFL in total defense. Hill's performance earned him the Week 2 PIFL Offensive Player of the Week.

Through the first two games, LB Jake Trantin (6'2 240, William & Mary) has been the main catalyst leading the Hammers to the number one spot in total defense (184 yards allowed/game) and team sacks (10). This past weekend Trantin, who is the nephew of former NFL Head Coach Marty Schottenheimer, lead Alabama in their victory over Richmond gathering seven tackles, one pass break-up, two sacks, as well as a safety holding the Raiders to just 23 points and 170 yards of total offense. His play earned him the Week 2 PIFL Defensive Player of the Week.

Albany Panthers K Ryan Gates (5'9 180, Gardner-Webb) all but won Saturday's game against the Columbus Lions off his right leg scoring 10 points in a game where every point was at a premium. Gates was a perfect 5 for 5 on PAT attempts while notching his first two Uno's of the season. But it was arguably his last three points that proved to be the difference as his 28-yard field goal with two seconds remaining ended up as the game-winner in Albany's 40-37 victory over the Lions. His late-game heroics validated him as the Week 2 PIFL Special Teams Player of the Week.

Week 3 of the PIFL season gets underway this Saturday with a triple-header beginning at 7:00 PM with the Richmond Raiders (0-1) looking to bounce back off their season opening loss by hosting the Knoxville Nighthawks (0-2) who are also in search of their first win. After Saturday, only one team will stand alone as undefeated as the defending champion Albany Panthers (2-0) will back at home to host the upstart Alabama Hammers (2-0). Lastly, first off their first win in the PIFL the Steelhawks (1-1) make their first ever trip to the Bayou to take on the Louisiana Swashbucklers (0-1).