Post by rkozak201 on Jun 7, 2008 6:19:20 GMT -5
The Reading Express needs a road win down the stretch to be home for the playoffs.
By Brian Rippey
Reading Eagle
There’s no place like home for the Reading Express.
But in order to earn home-field advantage for the American Indoor Football Association playoffs, the Express will have to win at least one game on the road, a place where it has struggled much of the season.
Reading needs to win two of its last three games to ensure it will be in the friendly confines of the Sovereign Center for all of its playoff games, including the AIFA title game.
The Express (8-3) is perfect at home this season and has won 17 games without a loss in the Sovereign Center in the past two seasons.
“I know we’re in the playoffs, but we’d like to stay at home,” Express coach/general manager Bernie Nowotarski said. “Any time you can eliminate a nine-hour bus ride or more, stay in your own bed and practice in your own home, it’s a bonus.”
The Express will take a shorter trip to play North Division leader Erie (9-3) tonight in the first game of a home-and-home series. One of the Express’ two road wins this season was in Erie March 31.
Since the Express already has a win over the RiverRats, it needs to only split the next two games to own the tiebreaker.
Reading can clinch the division title next Saturday at home by sweeping the RiverRats or Monday, June 23, with a win in Baltimore if it splits its two games with Erie.
“As important as this game is, there is life after this game in the return of them coming to our arena,” Nowotarski said. “Winning it puts them in a hole.”
Reading allowed Erie to regain the division lead when it was upset in Huntington, W. Va., last Saturday. It was Reading’s third road loss this season.
“I feel we’re prepared on the road as well as anybody,” Nowotarski said. “I don’t understand what brings the flatness out on our road trips.”
•Contact Brian Rippey at 610-371-5070 or brippey@readingeagle.com.
By Brian Rippey
Reading Eagle
There’s no place like home for the Reading Express.
But in order to earn home-field advantage for the American Indoor Football Association playoffs, the Express will have to win at least one game on the road, a place where it has struggled much of the season.
Reading needs to win two of its last three games to ensure it will be in the friendly confines of the Sovereign Center for all of its playoff games, including the AIFA title game.
The Express (8-3) is perfect at home this season and has won 17 games without a loss in the Sovereign Center in the past two seasons.
“I know we’re in the playoffs, but we’d like to stay at home,” Express coach/general manager Bernie Nowotarski said. “Any time you can eliminate a nine-hour bus ride or more, stay in your own bed and practice in your own home, it’s a bonus.”
The Express will take a shorter trip to play North Division leader Erie (9-3) tonight in the first game of a home-and-home series. One of the Express’ two road wins this season was in Erie March 31.
Since the Express already has a win over the RiverRats, it needs to only split the next two games to own the tiebreaker.
Reading can clinch the division title next Saturday at home by sweeping the RiverRats or Monday, June 23, with a win in Baltimore if it splits its two games with Erie.
“As important as this game is, there is life after this game in the return of them coming to our arena,” Nowotarski said. “Winning it puts them in a hole.”
Reading allowed Erie to regain the division lead when it was upset in Huntington, W. Va., last Saturday. It was Reading’s third road loss this season.
“I feel we’re prepared on the road as well as anybody,” Nowotarski said. “I don’t understand what brings the flatness out on our road trips.”
•Contact Brian Rippey at 610-371-5070 or brippey@readingeagle.com.
