Post by Gene on May 25, 2008 6:40:17 GMT -5
5/25/2008
Brantley chips in to spark Express
Central Catholic grad Yardon Brantley scores his first TD of the season, helping Reading clinch a playoff spot.
By Brian Rippey
Reading Eagle
Yardon Brantley had a lot of hopes and dreams when he joined the Reading Express.
The former Central Catholic star came home to help the Express compete for the American Indoor Football Association championship.
He also returned to show how much he’s improved during stops at Duquesne University, the Philadelphia Soul of the Arena Football League and the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Pioneers of the afl2.
But a broken shoulder prevented him from strutting his stuff in all but two games. In his brief playing time, Brantley made some key catches but failed to get into the end zone.
“It’s not something I talked about because we’re winning,” Brantley said. “But it’s tough to play and not be included in all the scoring.”
Brantley finally dented the scoring column Saturday night when the Express defeated the Baltimore Mariners 49-27 in the Sovereign Center to clinch its third straight playoff berth.
Brantley hauled in a 14-yard touchdown pass from Rob Flowers midway through the first quarter to help the Express open a 14-0 lead.
“We told him (Brantley) we were going to get him one tonight, so we got him one,” Flowers said. “He’s just got to move forward from here.”
The Express (8-2) led throughout but didn’t clinch the win over the pesky Mariners (2-8) until the defense came up with a fourth-down stop to protect a 15-point lead with just under three minutes left.
The victory, coupled with Erie’s 57-27 loss to Florence Friday night puts the Express in first place in the AIFA North Division with two games left against Erie in June.
“We’re starting to come together,” said Flowers, who threw for five touchdowns and ran for another. “My teammates have a lot of expectations for me. I have to fulfill those expectations.”
Brantley also came to Reading with great expectations, hoping to put an Express team over the top a year after it lost in the AIFA championship game.
But an injury in his second game derailed those plans until the last two weeks. He caught six passes for 51 yards against the Mariners a week after making four receptions for 41 yards in a win over Fayetteville.
“It’s all coming back right at the right time, right for the playoff push,” Brantley said. “This is what we dreamed of when we signed up.”
Several other players were involved in an Express offense that had five touchdowns scored by five different players in the first half.
Jason Henley opened the scoring with a 2-yard run before Brantley reached the end zone and Flowers ran 3 yards for a score.
Shawn Foxworth made an acrobatic leaping grab on a 29-yard touchdown pass and Carmelo Ocasio caught an 8-yard TD pass in the final minute of the first half for a 35-13 Reading lead.
Flowers threw one more TD pass each to Foxworth and Ocasio in the second half.
Foxworth and Ocasio also missed time because of injuries but have been together with Brantley the past two weeks.
“It’s a pleasure having those guys out there,” Flowers said. “We’re starting to mesh; we’re starting to get it together. Hopefully come playoff time we’ll be ready to go.”
•Contact Brian Rippey at 610-371-5070 or brippey@readingeagle.com
Brantley chips in to spark Express
Central Catholic grad Yardon Brantley scores his first TD of the season, helping Reading clinch a playoff spot.
By Brian Rippey
Reading Eagle
Yardon Brantley had a lot of hopes and dreams when he joined the Reading Express.
The former Central Catholic star came home to help the Express compete for the American Indoor Football Association championship.
He also returned to show how much he’s improved during stops at Duquesne University, the Philadelphia Soul of the Arena Football League and the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Pioneers of the afl2.
But a broken shoulder prevented him from strutting his stuff in all but two games. In his brief playing time, Brantley made some key catches but failed to get into the end zone.
“It’s not something I talked about because we’re winning,” Brantley said. “But it’s tough to play and not be included in all the scoring.”
Brantley finally dented the scoring column Saturday night when the Express defeated the Baltimore Mariners 49-27 in the Sovereign Center to clinch its third straight playoff berth.
Brantley hauled in a 14-yard touchdown pass from Rob Flowers midway through the first quarter to help the Express open a 14-0 lead.
“We told him (Brantley) we were going to get him one tonight, so we got him one,” Flowers said. “He’s just got to move forward from here.”
The Express (8-2) led throughout but didn’t clinch the win over the pesky Mariners (2-8) until the defense came up with a fourth-down stop to protect a 15-point lead with just under three minutes left.
The victory, coupled with Erie’s 57-27 loss to Florence Friday night puts the Express in first place in the AIFA North Division with two games left against Erie in June.
“We’re starting to come together,” said Flowers, who threw for five touchdowns and ran for another. “My teammates have a lot of expectations for me. I have to fulfill those expectations.”
Brantley also came to Reading with great expectations, hoping to put an Express team over the top a year after it lost in the AIFA championship game.
But an injury in his second game derailed those plans until the last two weeks. He caught six passes for 51 yards against the Mariners a week after making four receptions for 41 yards in a win over Fayetteville.
“It’s all coming back right at the right time, right for the playoff push,” Brantley said. “This is what we dreamed of when we signed up.”
Several other players were involved in an Express offense that had five touchdowns scored by five different players in the first half.
Jason Henley opened the scoring with a 2-yard run before Brantley reached the end zone and Flowers ran 3 yards for a score.
Shawn Foxworth made an acrobatic leaping grab on a 29-yard touchdown pass and Carmelo Ocasio caught an 8-yard TD pass in the final minute of the first half for a 35-13 Reading lead.
Flowers threw one more TD pass each to Foxworth and Ocasio in the second half.
Foxworth and Ocasio also missed time because of injuries but have been together with Brantley the past two weeks.
“It’s a pleasure having those guys out there,” Flowers said. “We’re starting to mesh; we’re starting to get it together. Hopefully come playoff time we’ll be ready to go.”
•Contact Brian Rippey at 610-371-5070 or brippey@readingeagle.com
