Beckett.com AFL Collectible Player of the Week -- ArenaBowl XX
Matt D'Orazio, QB, Chicago Rush

        According to the "experts," Matt D'Orazio wasn't even supposed to be at ArenaBowl XX, much less winning its Offensive Player of the Game Award. But since he was, and since he did, he also took home the season's final Beckett.com AFL Collectible Player of the Week nod.
        To say the least, D'Orazio spearheaded one of the most improbable postseason runs in AFL history by leading the underdog Rush to four straight victories away from home. Clearly, though, he saved his best for last.
        In Sunday's riveting 69-61 triumph over Orlando in ArenaBowl XX, D'Orazio completed 26-of-36 passes (72.2 percent) for 250 yards and six touchdowns. He also ran for 13 yards and two more touchdowns. To be sure, it was a near-flawless performance from the journeyman veteran out of Ohio's Otterbein College, and a perfect ending to a Rush season that seemed all but lost after a 4-8 start.
        D'Orazio's athleticism and mobility -- which helped him finish fifth in the league in rushing during the regular season -- kept Orlando's fierce pass rush at bay all day, and bought D'Orazio enough time to make play . . . after play . . . after play. He helped build leads of 10-0 and 48-28, helped overcome deficits of 21-17 and 28-24 and calmly directed two touchdown drives in the final two minutes to fend off a furious Orlando rally.
        It was merely another in a long line of gritty playoff performances for D'Orazio and the Rush, whose four-game, miracle-month march to immortality -- featuring upset wins over Nashville, Colorado, San Jose and, finally, Orlando -- surprised just about everybody. Except D'Orazio

2006 Beckett.com AFL Collectible Player of the Week Recap
Week 1: John Dutton, QB, Colorado Crush
Week 2: Terrill Shaw, OS, Dallas Desperados
Week 3: Siaha Burley, OS, Utah Blaze
Week 4: Shane Stafford, QB, Tampa Bay Storm
Week 5: Joe Germaine, QB, Utah Blaze
Week 6: Bobby Sippio, WR/LB, Tampa Bay Storm
Week 7: James Roe, WR/LB, San Jose SaberCats
Week 8: Clint Dolezel, QB, Dallas Desperados
Week 9: Chris Jackson, OS, Georgia Force
Week 10: Ben Nelson, OS, San Jose SaberCats
Week 11: Randy Gatewood, WR/DB, Arizona Rattlers
Week 12: Damian Harrell, OS, Colorado Crush
Week 13: Bobby Sippio, OS, Chicago Rush
Week 14: Damian Harrell, OS, Colorado Crush
Week 15: Bobby Sippio, OS, Chicago Rush
Week 16: Clint Dolezel, QB, Dallas Desperados
Wild Card Round: Matt Nagy, QB, Georgia Force
Divisional Round: Ben Nelson, OS, San Jose SaberCats
Conference Championship Round: Bobby Sippio, OS, Chicago Rush
ArenaBowl XX: Matt D'Orazio, QB, Chicago Rush

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