New York - Former William and Mary cornerback and current New York
Dragons defensive specialist Billy Parker ('03) has been named to the Mid-Season
All-AFL Team by the Arena Football League Writers Association (AFLWA). All
AFLWA mid-season honors were announced late yesterday.
Parker, a rookie, is second in AFL interceptions with five (loss of 12
yards) this season. Parker is among the team's leaders on defense with 43.0
tackles (38 solo), five interceptions and five pass breakups. He is also
credited with one kickoff return (2 yards).
At William & Mary, Parker played in ten games his senior year of 2003,
registering 45 total tackles, two interceptions, one forced fumble with one
recovery and six pass breakups. In 2002, he led the conference in passes
defended from the beginning to end of the season and returned interceptions
for touchdowns in back-to-back games (41 yards against Delaware; 26 yards
against Hofstra), tying the single-season Atlantic-10 record for
interception returns for a touchdown. In 2001, he started all 12 games at
cornerback and led team (No. 2 in the conference) in passes defended with 15
and finished the season with 33 total tackles. In 2000, played in all 11
contests at cornerback and was second on the team with eight passes
defended.
Parker's teammate, Dragons wide receiver/defensive back MIKE HORACEK (6-2,
200, Iowa State), was also named to the Mid-Season All-AFL Team.
THE GAME THIS WEEK: Parker, Horacek and the Dragons (5-2) travel to Ohio to
face the Columbus Destroyers (1-6) this Saturday, March 26 at Nationwide
Arena. Fans can catch the game live on FSN New York, FSN Ohio and NASN
(Europe).
2005 AFLWA MID-SEASON ALL-AFL TEAM
QB-Andy Kelly, New Orleans VooDoo
FB/LB-Frank Carter, Las Vegas Gladiators
WR/LB- Derek Lee, Georgia Force
WR/DB-Etu Molden, Chicago Rush
WR/DB-Mike Horacek, New York Dragons
OS-Siaha Burley, Arizona Rattlers
OL/DL-E.J. Burt, Orlando Predators
OL/DL-B.J. Cohen, New Orleans VooDoo
OL/DL-Rich Young, Colorado Crush
DS-Kevin Gaines, Georgia Force
DS-Billy Parker, New York Dragons
K-Remy Hamilton, Los Angeles Avengers
KR-Steve Smith, Philadelphia Soul
2005 AFLWA MID-SEASON AWARDS
Offensive Player of the Mid-Year: Andy Kelly, New Orleans VooDoo
Defensive Player of the Mid-Year: Frank Carter, Las Vegas Gladiators
Lineman of the Mid-Year: B.J. Cohen, New Orleans VooDoo
Ironman of the Mid-Year: Lawrence Samuels, Tampa Bay Storm
Rookie of the Mid-Year: Troy Bergeron, Georgia Force
Coach of the Mid-Year: Doug Plank, Georgia Force
Surprising Team: Georgia Force
Surprising Player: Clint Stoerner, Dallas Desperados
Disappointing Team: Arizona Rattlers
Disappointing Player: Sherdrick Bonner, Arizona Rattlers
Story of the Mid-Year: The struggles of the Arizona Rattlers
Strong team that will fade in the second half: New York Dragons
Weak team that will surge in the second half: Philadelphia Soul
Founded at the start of the 2004 season, the AFLWA is a national
organization made up of media members who cover the Arena Football League.
Mark Anderson of the Las Vegas Review-Journal is the AFLWA's founder and
executive director.
