Daily League News & Notes

Arena Football League

New Orleans’ Marlon Favorite Named AFL Pulse Player of the Week

New Orleans VooDoo DL MARLON FAVORITE has been named the AFL Pulse Player of the Week for his recent philanthropic efforts.

Favorite (6-1, 325, LSU) is in his second season in both the AFL and with the VooDoo.

Favorite has dedicated his time volunteering at hospitals, schools and mentoring at-risk youth.

"I have been involved in the community since I was a teenager here in New Orleans," Favorite said. "If you're helping someone then you're doing the right thing in God's eyes and that's what drives me and motivates me."

Most recently, he went to Ames Elementary school to read, visit with students and sign autographs.

"It's just a beautiful thing in my eyes when you can go read to the kids and encourage them to do it and make it a cool thing," Favorite said. "So many of them look at us as professional athletes and love what we do on the field but when they see us do something that they are asked to do all the time it does change their view on reading."

Favorite also has spent two years coordinating "Big Fav's Holiday Toy Drive". In December, Favorite teamed up with the New Orleans VooDoo and several other local businesses to promote the drive by sending out email blasts, Facebook messages, tweets and press releases asking people in the community to donate toys. After the toys were donated, Favorite, the VooDoo Dolls and his family and friends traveled to several areas around New Orleans to distribute the toys to families in need.

"This year we were able to collect over 300 toys," Favorite said. "It was my second time doing the drive and we plan on doing it again this upcoming year because it's just a joy to be able to give out toys to those kids."

Favorite has a passion for mentoring students and helping children. As a football coach at De La Salle High School in New Orleans, he has the opportunity to impact students' lives every day.

"I am fortunate enough to play professional football and gather up this knowledge of the sport and transfer it to these kids, along with life skills," Favorite said. "I just hope I am able to continue to take my experience and wisdom and pass it on to the kids."

Favorite was born and raised in New Orleans and has lived there his entire life. Being able to give back to the community is something that he makes a priority in his life.

"I was blessed to have great parents and a great family and friends to help guide me on my way so to be able to come back and do the same thing in my adult years to the youth in my area means a lot to me," Favorite said.

The AFL Pulse Player of the Week is awarded to one AFL player each week in recognition of their commitment to community service.

The Storm Takes on The Blaze on April 6 at 10:00 PM EST

The Tampa Bay Storm head to Salt Lake City, UT for this week's matchup against the Utah Blaze on Saturday, April 6 at 10:00 PM EST. This will be the fourth time the teams have met, with the Storm holding a 2-1 advantage in the series.

In its second game, the Storm came through with a 22-point win over the Cleveland Gladiators, its first of the season. The game had a balanced offensive attack with quarterback Adrian McPherson finding multiple receivers for eight passing touchdowns.

Storm wide receiver Joe Hills was the game's leading receiver with 10 catches for 155 yards and three touchdowns. With his three touchdowns on the night, Hills has extended his multi-touchdown streak to six games. However, not to be ignored is his teammate Greg Ellingson. Through two games Ellingson is tied for second in the AFL in receptions, averaging 10 per game. Last week versus Cleveland he had five catches for 95 yards and two touchdowns.

The Storm receiving game was balanced by a rushing attack led by its quarterback. McPherson hit the field at a torrid pace rushing for 31 yards and two touchdowns. Heading into this week's matchup he leads the league in rushing yards (89), yards per rush (6.8) and rushing touchdowns (7).

Not to be ignored is the Storm defense. Currently the team is ranked second in turnover margin with a plus-five. The revamped defense began to see the fruits of its labor this past weekend with three interceptions and two fumble recoveries.

Come Saturday, the defensive backfield will have its work cut out for it as it hopes to slow down Blaze QB Tommy Grady and his go-to receiver Mario Urrutia, both of whom have hooked up 13 times for 186 yards and six touchdowns. However, Grady leads the league in interceptions with six, which should be enticing to the defense.

The Blaze comes into this game looking for answers. Going into halftime this past weekend, the team was only down by five points to defending ArenaBowl Champion Arizona Rattlers. That all changed in the third quarter when the Blaze gave up 20 unanswered, including a disastrous 22-yard interception that was returned for a touchdown in the opening minutes of the stanza. The Blaze will look to get back on track this week and ride a defense that has four interceptions and four sacks.

A win would put either team a game over .500, and help improve their rank in the standings.

Indoor Football League

Storm To Make Major Announcement

There will be a major announcement during the Kurtiss Riggs Live Radio Show tonight at 5:30pm on location at Starz.

Head Coach Kurtiss Riggs and "The Silver Fox" Rich Roste will discuss the new major announcement and this Sunday's home game against the Green Bay Blizzard kicking off at 3:05pm.

The Kurtiss Riggs Show will be held live on location at "Starz Sportz, Food & Brewz" at 2209 West 57th St., Sioux Falls. Fans are encouraged to join Coach Riggs, Rich Roste, featured Storm players, coaches, Storm Girls and the Storm staff to show their support of their Sioux Falls Storm. Wear any Storm gear and you will receive Buy 1 drink get 1 FREE.

Can't make the show. Don't worry! Tune in live to Sports Radio AM 1230 & FM 98.1 KWSN, to hear all the excitement.

Lone Star Football League

New Mexico Stars Announce Trade

The New Mexico Stars have traded for a new QB.

The Stars have completed a trade with the Amarillo Venom to acquire QB Brendan Crawford for future considerations. Crawford will step in as the starter in place of KJ Black who will miss the remainder of the season with a torn ACL and MCL.

Crawford is a rookie to the arena football game, but was a 6-game starter for Langston University during his senior year. Crawford's college stats were not available due to technical difficulties with the universities website.

"I'm excited to be with the Stars. Coach Williams, Abe Hernandez, the other coaches, my teammates, they are all great guys; the Santa Ana Star Center is amazing, and I'm excited to try this Green Chile I've heard so much about" said Crawford when speaking with Stars writer James Morris.

The Stars currently hold a 1-1 record this season heading into their home opener this Saturday at the Santa Ana Star Center. Coach Chris Williams said "Crawford has a cannon for an arm, and his height (6'5") gives him the unique ability to see over almost any lineman and make the defensive reads that allow him to find the open receiver. We are giving him a chance to be our long-term starting quarterback. We hope he can quickly get a feel for what we want to be both on and off the field. He has a lot of ability, and I have no reason to think he won't do just that."

Professional Indoor Football League

Panthers Announce T.V. Schedule on WALB-ABC

The Back-to-Back and reigning Professional Indoor Football League Champion Albany Panthers announce their 2013 schedule to rebroadcast game coverage of the Professional Indoor Football League team. Albany's ABC (WALB-TV) will rebroadcast six Albany Panthers home games beginning on Saturday, April 6 (11:30PM).

"WALB TV's combination of WALB-ABC and WALB-NBC, combined with their live local sports experience presented a tremendous opportunity for the Panthers," remarked GM Will Carter.

Albany Panthers on ABC Replay Schedule:

Mediacom 809 HD or channel 9 Analog, Dish Network Channel 17, and Direct TV Channel 11

Ultimate Indoor Football League

Monsters Win Big, Get First Victory in Team History 74-14

The Missouri Monsters (1-2) professional indoor football team won 74 to 14 against the visiting Windy City Hitmen to get the first win in team history in front of 1,542 fans.

The Monsters, now under new Head Coach Martino Theus, scored more points than the first two games combined. Monsters QB Tavares Woodley was 15 for 20 with 265 yards and 10 TD's. Dello Davis moved to WR for this game and had 4 catches for 96 yards, and 4 TD's, WR Gary Johnson caught 5 passes for 103 yards and 2 TD's, WR Easton Knott had 2 catches for 38 yards and 2 TD's.

On the defensive side of the ball former St. Louis Ram Claude Wroten had 5 tackles, 4 sacks, fellow defensive lineman Bernard Quinn, and Chris Cooper both contributed with 3 sacks each. Newly added defensive back DeQwan Young had 1 forced fumble, and 2 interceptions, DB Randall Burden, Moriano Lardge, and Kevin Brown each had 1 interception.

Team 1st 2nd 3rd 4th Total

Windy City Hitmen 0 0 0 14 14

Missouri Monsters 20 22 20 12 74

NEXT GAME:

The Missouri Monsters of the Ultimate Indoor Football League (UIFL) have agreed to terms with the Marion Blue Racers of the Continental Indoor Football League (CIFL) to play the first ever cross league game.

The game will be played on Saturday April 6th at the Family Arena in St. Charles, MO. Kickoff is set for 7:30 pm Central Time. The game will be streamed live at: http://new.livestream.com/missourimonsters

"Having gotten to know the Blue Racers owner LaMonte Coleman over the past few years, there isn't an owner in this business that I will have more pleasure in beating. He left our league to go to a lower league, and he thinks he can compete with us? Thats just crazy. There is NO chance they beat us. I do respect Mr. Coleman for accepting the challenge when several other teams in his league didn't." Said Monsters Owner Andrew Haines.

"I'm so confident that the Monsters will win, that I guarantee it! If we lose, everyone in attendance will receive a FREE ticket voucher they can use for any of the remaining regular season home games." Added Haines.

The Marion Blue Racers are currently in their 3rd season of play. In 2012 the Blue Racers were members of the UIFL Northern Conference, and reach the playoffs. They lost in the first round of the postseason to the Erie Explosion in the first UIFL Outdoor Game. The team is located in Marion, OH, and are the only professional football team in Central OH.

"I want to thank the Missouri Monsters for inviting us to play them in their city. Mr. Andrew Haines is always working on ways to make the game fun for the fans," expressed CEO and Head Coach LaMonte Coleman.

"Andrew and I have been working on a game like this for about a year now. It will be fun to play against some of my former players but I want them to see that it was a mistake to leave my organization. My goal is to win the game and show why I chose to play in the CIFL. If my team loses, which I know that we won't, I will make a small donation to a charity that Andrew currently supports." Added Coleman.

Blue Racers Team captain Thomas "Tmac" McKenzie and other players are excited to play against some of their former teammates.

"There is no doubt that I am going for the sack record against them. Who do they have that can block me - Said Tmac.

The Missouri Monsters are currently in their first season of play. In May of 2012 the Monsters were announced as an expansion team in the Ultimate Indoor Football League.

Both teams are struggling to get wins, as the Blue Racers are 1-5, with their lone win coming by way of forfeit. The Monsters are 1-2. Each team has made head coaching changes, and Monsters new Head Coach Martino Theus started the 2013 season as the Blue Racers Head Coach.

"First, I want to thank Lamonte for the opportunity to coach his organization, be apart of such a good city, and great people in Marion. Now I'm head coaching for a great owner, team. It's just straight business with the team. We know we have better athletes, talent all around. I love being able to coach against a good friend of mine (Mr. LaMonte Coleman) of fourteen years. This win will be big for our organization and fans plus some former players that are with us now. I know they are ready to play against Marion for sure. We will be ready as a team to beat Marion." Said Monsters Head Coach Martino Theus.