LAS VEGAS (AFLWA) – The state of Texas dominated the mid-season awards, as voted on by members of the Arena Football League Writers Association (AFLWA).

Most of the top honors belonged to the Dallas Desperados, who at 7-1 own the league's best record. Wide receiver/defensive back Will Pettis was named the top ironman, quarterback Clint Dolezel the top offensive player, Colston Weatherington the top lineman, and Will McClay the top coach.

Not to be outdone, the Austin Wranglers were represented by specialist Damon Mason as the top defensive player and offensive specialist Derrick Lewis as the top rookie. Also, the Wranglers (6-2) were named the AFL's most surprising team.

Pettis is 10th in receiving in the AFL, having made 51 receptions for 696 yards with 16 touchdowns. He also has five interceptions, which is tied for fourth.

Dolezel was a key offseason signing who has been the biggest spark to the Desperados' success. He has completed 69.2 percent of his passes for 2,430 yards with 56 touchdowns and just three interceptions. The yardage and touchdowns figures lead the league.

Weatherington has a league-leading five sacks, and actually has provided Dallas with some offense, catching seven passes for 36 yards and a touchdown.

McClay, in his third season as the coach, guided the Desperados to an 8-7-1 record last season. Having missed the playoffs in 2005, they are in an excellent position to lock up the No. 1 seed in the National Conference.

As for Austin, Mason was chosen the best defensive player at the midway point after intercepting a league-high eight passes. His 45 tackles are tied for 11th.

Lewis has done it on the offensive end, making 60 catches for 707 yards and eight touchdowns.

Those two players have helped the Wranglers become the AFL's most surprising team. They went 6-10 last season.
Los Angeles Avengers rookie quarterback Sonny Cumbie was chosen the most surprising player. He has passed for 1,164 yards and 20 touchdowns with three interceptions in four starts, and has led the Avengers (3-5) to back-to-back victories.

The Georgia Force, which is 4-4, was selected the most disappointing team. Georgia went 11-5 last season, the AFL's best record, and appeared in the ArenaBowl before losing to the Colorado Crush.

Philadelphia Soul quarterback Tony Graziani, the AFL's highest-paid player, also was named its most disappointing. The Soul is 4-4, and Graziani's 98.5 rating ranks 15th.

Voters thought the top story has been the mediocre play of the Western Division. The Arizona Rattlers lead the division with just a 4-4 record, and the other four teams are 3-5.

The Nashville Kats (5-3) were chosen as the club that would fade in the second half after a strong start. Nashville has lost two of its past three games.

Surging Arizona is expected to continue. The Rattlers, who have won three in a row and four of five, were selected as the team that would play a hot second half.

2006 AFLWA Mid-Season Awards:
Ironman: Will Pettis, Dallas Desperados
Offensive Player: Clint Dolezel, Dallas Desperados
Defensive Player: Damon Mason, Austin Wranglers
Lineman: Colston Weatherington, Dallas Desperados
Rookie: Derrick Lewis, Austin Wranglers
Coach: Will McClay, Dallas Desperados
Surprising Team: Austin Wranglers
Surprising Player: Sonny Cumbie, Los Angeles Avengers
Disappointing Team: Georgia Force
Disappointing Player: Tony Graziani, Philadelphia Soul
Story: Mediocre play in the Western Division
Team that will fade: Nashville Kats
Team that will surge: Arizona Rattlers

The AFLWA, founded at the start of the 2004 season, 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.