Post by fwp on Apr 8, 2010 9:17:10 GMT -5
www.albanyherald.com/sports/headlines/90183792.html
ALBANY — Not a bad start for the Albany Panthers.
Not only did they beat Columbus, 54-41, in their season opener last Saturday, but on Wednesday the Panthers earned the Offensive and Defensive Players of the Week awards in the Southern Indoor Football League.
Panthers quarterback Cecil Lester, who threw for 311 yards and seven touchdowns, including four in the fourth quarter, was the Offensive Player of the Week and defensive lineman and former Albany State star Alton Pettway, who had a big night on the line and also scored on a five-yard fumble recovery, was the SIFL’s Defensive Player of the Week.
“I think they deserve it, and I commend them,’’ Panthers general manager Will Carter said. “It shows the hard work they put in during training camp.’’
Carter and coach Lucious Davis put the team together in about two months, and Davis had only seen Pettway in practice.
“That was the first time I saw Pettway in a game,’’ Davis said. “The word on Pettway was that he has a motor that doesn’t stop, and that’s the way he played. I’m really happy for both of them to get the players of the week.’’
Lester, an arena veteran, had been waiting six years to take over a team, and made the most of his first start with the brand new Panthers.
“It feels great. I feel honored, and give it all to God,’’ said Lester, who completed 22 of 37 passes. “It’s something I didn’t expect.’’
Lester said he couldn’t take the credit, and passed it off to his teammates and especially his offensive line.
“My OL did a great job,’’ he said. “They were fantastic all night, and that was a big part of us winning the game.’’
The Panthers scored two first quarter TDs to take a 13-point lead and then never trailed.
“We were focused,’’ Lester said. “We really wanted to come out and win for the city of Albany, for coach, for the franchise and for ourselves. We wanted to show people what we’re all about.’’
Panthers receiver Clenton Rafe, who caught nine passes for 130 yards and three touchdowns, also received votes for the Offensive Player of the Week, and Panthers defensive back LeVance Richmond, who picked off an interception in the final minute to stop Columbus, received votes for the Defensive Player of the Week.
“It’s good for the team,’’ Davis said. “They couldn’t have done it without their teammates. Lester needed his receivers and offensive line to play well to win it, and Pettway needed everyone on defense to play well so he could go one-on-one. It says a lot about the way the team played. I think it’s great to perform that way in the first game, the opening game. It was good for the organization.’’
ALBANY — Not a bad start for the Albany Panthers.
Not only did they beat Columbus, 54-41, in their season opener last Saturday, but on Wednesday the Panthers earned the Offensive and Defensive Players of the Week awards in the Southern Indoor Football League.
Panthers quarterback Cecil Lester, who threw for 311 yards and seven touchdowns, including four in the fourth quarter, was the Offensive Player of the Week and defensive lineman and former Albany State star Alton Pettway, who had a big night on the line and also scored on a five-yard fumble recovery, was the SIFL’s Defensive Player of the Week.
“I think they deserve it, and I commend them,’’ Panthers general manager Will Carter said. “It shows the hard work they put in during training camp.’’
Carter and coach Lucious Davis put the team together in about two months, and Davis had only seen Pettway in practice.
“That was the first time I saw Pettway in a game,’’ Davis said. “The word on Pettway was that he has a motor that doesn’t stop, and that’s the way he played. I’m really happy for both of them to get the players of the week.’’
Lester, an arena veteran, had been waiting six years to take over a team, and made the most of his first start with the brand new Panthers.
“It feels great. I feel honored, and give it all to God,’’ said Lester, who completed 22 of 37 passes. “It’s something I didn’t expect.’’
Lester said he couldn’t take the credit, and passed it off to his teammates and especially his offensive line.
“My OL did a great job,’’ he said. “They were fantastic all night, and that was a big part of us winning the game.’’
The Panthers scored two first quarter TDs to take a 13-point lead and then never trailed.
“We were focused,’’ Lester said. “We really wanted to come out and win for the city of Albany, for coach, for the franchise and for ourselves. We wanted to show people what we’re all about.’’
Panthers receiver Clenton Rafe, who caught nine passes for 130 yards and three touchdowns, also received votes for the Offensive Player of the Week, and Panthers defensive back LeVance Richmond, who picked off an interception in the final minute to stop Columbus, received votes for the Defensive Player of the Week.
“It’s good for the team,’’ Davis said. “They couldn’t have done it without their teammates. Lester needed his receivers and offensive line to play well to win it, and Pettway needed everyone on defense to play well so he could go one-on-one. It says a lot about the way the team played. I think it’s great to perform that way in the first game, the opening game. It was good for the organization.’’