Post by rkozak201 on Mar 9, 2008 3:39:25 GMT -5
Reading Eagle: Ben Hasty
Reading Express quarterback John Port throws a pass during
Reading's home opener Saturday night.
Albright grad John Port throws for three touchdowns to lead Reading over Baltimore in front of a big crowd.
By Don Stewart
Reading Eagle
Reading, PA - John Port made what he called “a rookie mistake” in the second quarter Saturday night.
Under pressure, he tried to force a play downfield. Richard Johnson found himself in perfect position to make the pick and run it back 32 yards, giving Baltimore a seven-point lead over the Reading Express.
“I forgot we were wearing blue jerseys,” Port joked. “Their jerseys kind of look like ours.”
The Albright grad quickly forgot about the misfire. On his team’s next drive, he had a pair of completions on a quick scoring drive finished off by Jason Henley’s 5-yard drive into the end zone.
Henley’s touchdown began a run of 20 unanswered points for the Express, which rallied to sink the Mariners 36-27 in its AIFA season opener in front of a team-record 6,800 fans at the Sovereign Center.
“John didn’t get the things that he did at Albright and the records he set by being a bad quarterback,” Reading coach Bernie Nowotarski said. “He hasn’t played arena ball. He’s going to get used to it.
“He made a mistake, but he came right back. That’s all we can ask him to do is improve each week, improve each play. He did what we asked him to do; he played a nice game.”
Port completed 25-of-42 passes for 192 yards in his arena debut. He threw for three TDs, including a pivotal 38-yard bomb to Shawn Foxworth on the first play of the second half that gave the Express a 10-point lead.
“It was a little ugly,” Port said of his performance. “But the only thing that matters is a win. The defense played unbelievable. The offensive line played awesome, the receivers were good. I have to learn this game a little bit more. Next week will be a little bit different.”
Nowotarski said he decided on Port an hour before Saturday’s kickoff. The three-way quarterback derby included former Muhlenberg and Kutztown University star Rob Flowers and former Lebanon Valley QB Dan Kelly.
Nowotarski wouldn’t rule out bottling up Port in future games in favor of Flowers.
“I think at any given time, there’s certain things that Rob does that we want to bring in,” he said. “There’s certain things that John does that we want. We’ll work them back and forth, and we’ll see what happens.”
Last year’s AIFA runner-up, the Express opened the season with a loaded roster and high hopes for a league title.
Baltimore stunned them early, though, as Kevin Scott hit Mike Orihel on the first play of the game for a 45-yard score. Reading came back with consecutive touchdowns as Port hit Foxworth and Tavis Laws.
Reading went up 33-20 on the 20 unanswered points following Johnson’s interception return before Baltimore cut it to six on a Jason Crawford 1-yard run early in the fourth quarter.
The Express, which held Baltimore to just 139 total yards, put it away on Erik Rockhold’s 43-yard field goal with 5:43 to play.
“I absolutely couldn’t be happier (with the turnout),” said Nowotarski, who doubles as the general manager. “I hope it’s like this at every game. I know our players love it. I think the fans had a great time.
“It’s indoor football in Reading: You couldn’t ask for anything more than that.”
•Contact Don Stewart at 610-371-5065 or dstewart@readingeagle.com.
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