Post by rkozak201 on Jun 14, 2008 13:08:40 GMT -5
Reading, which has lost two straight, faces first-place Erie tonight.
By Brian Rippey
Reading Eagle
The first two-game losing streak in franchise history hasn’t knocked the Reading Express off track.
The Express is still focused on winning its third straight division title and earning home field advantage throughout the American Indoor Football Association playoffs.
To accomplish that, the Express (8-4) needs to win its last two games, starting at 7 tonight in the Sovereign Center against first-place Erie (10-3).
The Express suffered a 51-32 loss to the RiverRats last Saturday in Erie after being upset on the road by the Huntington Heroes the previous week.
“Losing those two games is something different, a unique experience for us, especially for those of us who have been here for three years,” said wide receiver Shawn Foxworth. “But it’s not something we can’t overcome. The expectations this week are big.”
The Express hopes a return to the Sovereign Center, where it is undefeated this year and has won 17 straight, will be the perfect cure.
Reading can still win the AIFA North title with a win tonight and a victory Monday, June 23, at Baltimore over a Mariners team it has defeated twice this season. The Express would own the tiebreaker over Erie by virtue of winning the first game in Erie March 31.
“There’s some areas that need to be addressed, and we’re going to work on them and get better,” said defensive lineman Brett Kolk, the team leader with 8.5 sacks. “Obviously we know how to do it. We had a five-game winning streak.”
That streak helped the Express clinch its third straight playoff berth. But a loss in either of the last two games will mean Reading must open the playoffs on the road, where it has won just twice in six games.
“Everyone knows in sports when you have home field or home court, you’re going to have an advantage,” Kolk said. “When you’re at home, you should play well.”
Quarterback Rob Flowers has played well at home but struggled in each of the last two games away from the Sovereign Center. Last week he was intercepted four times after throwing two picks in the loss to Huntington.
Overall, Flowers has thrown 40 touchdown passes and 13 interceptions while completing 51.6 percent of his passes. He also has run for 331 yards and 15 touchdowns.
Foxworth leads the Express with 63 catches and 637 receiving yards but had just four catches for 36 yards last week.
“We know we have the talent to win; we just haven’t played Express football the last couple of games,” Foxworth said. “We need to somehow turn that around. We still control our own destiny. I think the mood of the team is positive. We have a great opportunity.”
•Contact Brian Rippey at 610-371-5070 or brippey@readingeagle.com.
By Brian Rippey
Reading Eagle
The first two-game losing streak in franchise history hasn’t knocked the Reading Express off track.
The Express is still focused on winning its third straight division title and earning home field advantage throughout the American Indoor Football Association playoffs.
To accomplish that, the Express (8-4) needs to win its last two games, starting at 7 tonight in the Sovereign Center against first-place Erie (10-3).
The Express suffered a 51-32 loss to the RiverRats last Saturday in Erie after being upset on the road by the Huntington Heroes the previous week.
“Losing those two games is something different, a unique experience for us, especially for those of us who have been here for three years,” said wide receiver Shawn Foxworth. “But it’s not something we can’t overcome. The expectations this week are big.”
The Express hopes a return to the Sovereign Center, where it is undefeated this year and has won 17 straight, will be the perfect cure.
Reading can still win the AIFA North title with a win tonight and a victory Monday, June 23, at Baltimore over a Mariners team it has defeated twice this season. The Express would own the tiebreaker over Erie by virtue of winning the first game in Erie March 31.
“There’s some areas that need to be addressed, and we’re going to work on them and get better,” said defensive lineman Brett Kolk, the team leader with 8.5 sacks. “Obviously we know how to do it. We had a five-game winning streak.”
That streak helped the Express clinch its third straight playoff berth. But a loss in either of the last two games will mean Reading must open the playoffs on the road, where it has won just twice in six games.
“Everyone knows in sports when you have home field or home court, you’re going to have an advantage,” Kolk said. “When you’re at home, you should play well.”
Quarterback Rob Flowers has played well at home but struggled in each of the last two games away from the Sovereign Center. Last week he was intercepted four times after throwing two picks in the loss to Huntington.
Overall, Flowers has thrown 40 touchdown passes and 13 interceptions while completing 51.6 percent of his passes. He also has run for 331 yards and 15 touchdowns.
Foxworth leads the Express with 63 catches and 637 receiving yards but had just four catches for 36 yards last week.
“We know we have the talent to win; we just haven’t played Express football the last couple of games,” Foxworth said. “We need to somehow turn that around. We still control our own destiny. I think the mood of the team is positive. We have a great opportunity.”
•Contact Brian Rippey at 610-371-5070 or brippey@readingeagle.com.