Post by Free Agent Fan on Feb 1, 2007 16:09:46 GMT -5
Published: January 31, 2007 11:55 pm
Riverhawks set out on title quest
BY SAMUEL LEGG
The Tribune-Democrat
The third time could be a charm.
With a new head coach and a more regional flavor on the roster, the Johnstown Riverhawks are looking for nothing less than an American Indoor Football Association championship during the franchise’s third season.
“It’s got to be a year – for the strength of the franchise itself – it’s got to be a year that the team on the field takes the next step,” Riverhawks first-year coach Steven G. Folmar said. “To be able to eliminate some of the past problems, we have to prove we have a top-of-the-line product on the field.”
Johnstown kicks off the AIFA season against defending league champion Canton (Ohio) at 7:05 p.m. Friday at Cambria County War Memorial Arena.
The first season for the Riverhawks ended with a promising 7-5 record following a semifinal loss at Richmond, Va., in the six-team Atlantic Indoor Football League.
Last season in the American Indoor Football League, the Riverhawks were 8-4 after a five-game win streak and primed for the postseason. But Johnstown faltered in back-to-back road games to close the season 8-6 and miss the playoffs.
Seventeen players on the current 20-man roster have ties – either high school or college – to western Pennsylvania, including former Greater Johnstown High School standout Quenteen Robinson.
Robinson is back for his third season as a player with the Riverhawks, and fifth year of professional indoor football after starring for Johnstown’s two former franchises, the J-Dogs and the Jackals.
“We’re going one game at a time,” said Robinson, who also serves as the team’s general manager. “We’ll be a lot more prepared. The system is definitely arena-style. Teams aren’t going to be able to know exactly what we’re doing.”
The league is permitting 30 players on a weekly roster, which must be submitted by Tuesday for any coming game.
The 20-man game-day roster – up from last year’s 18 – must be turned in to the league office no later than two hours prior to kickoff.
The Riverhawks will play an 18-week schedule – including four byes – with seven contests at War Memorial Arena and seven on the road.
This year’s home slate has the Riverhawks playing a pair of Friday-night contests on consecutive weeks to open the season. Johnstown’s remaining five home games are Saturday nights.
All home games are slated for a 7:05 p.m. start.
The schedule also includes two games against Southern Conference foes. Johnstown has a home tilt against Tallahassee (Fla.) in Week 14 and ends the season at Montgomery (Ala.), closing a three-game road swing.
Following the Canton opener, Johnstown hosts Huntington (W.Va.) on Feb. 9, expansion Pittsburgh on March 17, Reading on April 7, newcomer Danville (Ill.) on April 14, Erie on April 28 and expansion Tallahassee on May 5.
Road games include: Danville (Feb. 23), Erie (March 4), Huntington (March 24), Pittsburgh (March 30), Reading (May 12), Canton (May 18) and NIFL-renegade Montgomery (May 25).
Riverhawks set out on title quest
BY SAMUEL LEGG
The Tribune-Democrat
The third time could be a charm.
With a new head coach and a more regional flavor on the roster, the Johnstown Riverhawks are looking for nothing less than an American Indoor Football Association championship during the franchise’s third season.
“It’s got to be a year – for the strength of the franchise itself – it’s got to be a year that the team on the field takes the next step,” Riverhawks first-year coach Steven G. Folmar said. “To be able to eliminate some of the past problems, we have to prove we have a top-of-the-line product on the field.”
Johnstown kicks off the AIFA season against defending league champion Canton (Ohio) at 7:05 p.m. Friday at Cambria County War Memorial Arena.
The first season for the Riverhawks ended with a promising 7-5 record following a semifinal loss at Richmond, Va., in the six-team Atlantic Indoor Football League.
Last season in the American Indoor Football League, the Riverhawks were 8-4 after a five-game win streak and primed for the postseason. But Johnstown faltered in back-to-back road games to close the season 8-6 and miss the playoffs.
Seventeen players on the current 20-man roster have ties – either high school or college – to western Pennsylvania, including former Greater Johnstown High School standout Quenteen Robinson.
Robinson is back for his third season as a player with the Riverhawks, and fifth year of professional indoor football after starring for Johnstown’s two former franchises, the J-Dogs and the Jackals.
“We’re going one game at a time,” said Robinson, who also serves as the team’s general manager. “We’ll be a lot more prepared. The system is definitely arena-style. Teams aren’t going to be able to know exactly what we’re doing.”
The league is permitting 30 players on a weekly roster, which must be submitted by Tuesday for any coming game.
The 20-man game-day roster – up from last year’s 18 – must be turned in to the league office no later than two hours prior to kickoff.
The Riverhawks will play an 18-week schedule – including four byes – with seven contests at War Memorial Arena and seven on the road.
This year’s home slate has the Riverhawks playing a pair of Friday-night contests on consecutive weeks to open the season. Johnstown’s remaining five home games are Saturday nights.
All home games are slated for a 7:05 p.m. start.
The schedule also includes two games against Southern Conference foes. Johnstown has a home tilt against Tallahassee (Fla.) in Week 14 and ends the season at Montgomery (Ala.), closing a three-game road swing.
Following the Canton opener, Johnstown hosts Huntington (W.Va.) on Feb. 9, expansion Pittsburgh on March 17, Reading on April 7, newcomer Danville (Ill.) on April 14, Erie on April 28 and expansion Tallahassee on May 5.
Road games include: Danville (Feb. 23), Erie (March 4), Huntington (March 24), Pittsburgh (March 30), Reading (May 12), Canton (May 18) and NIFL-renegade Montgomery (May 25).