Post by rkozak201 on Jul 1, 2008 6:09:55 GMT -5
Reading Eagle: Ben Hasty
Reading's Rob Flowers (5), who began the year as the No. 2 quarterback, has blossomed since becoming the starter.
By Brian Rippey
Reading Eagle
Reading, PA - What's wrong with the Reading Express?
That question was whispered around the Sovereign Center nearly four months ago when the Express struggled to a nine-point win over the Baltimore Mariners in its season opener.
The volume picked up when the Express was drubbed 49-17 by Carolina in its first road game and only quieted a little when the Express held on to defeat Arizona in an exhibition game and pulled out a 44-34 win in Erie.
Perhaps a victim of its own success during its first two indoor football seasons, the Express had fans a little restless when the then-undefeated Huntington Heroes took a 28-20 halftime lead April 5 in the Sovereign Center.
This definitely wasn't the Express team that advanced to the conference championship game during its inaugural season in 2006 and lost in the 2007 American Indoor Football Association championship game.
But fortunes have a way of changing quickly in indoor football.
Behind the leadership of quarterback Rob Flowers, the Express regrouped to outscore the Heroes 37-10 in the second half and stamp itself as a title contender again this season with a 57-38 win.
Although things haven't gone perfectly smooth since, the Express (10-4) will enjoy homefield advantage throughout the AIFA playoffs. The Express, winner of 18 straight in the Sovereign Center, can capture the title with three more wins at home, starting with the North Division championship game against Erie (10-4) Thursday at 7 p.m.
"We're looking forward to playing at home," Flowers said. "We all like to sleep in our own beds at night."
Flowers, a Muhlenberg High and Kutztown University grad, just wanted to play when the season started. As the Express looked to replace two-year starting quarterback Tom Stetzer, Flowers opened the season No. 2 behind former Albright standtout John Port.
Since earning the starting nod in late March, Flowers has experienced his share of ups and downs. But most of his struggles, including 11 of his 14 interceptions, have come on the road.
A threat as a runner and passer, Flowers has played his best football late in the season and in the Sovereign Center, where Reading routed Erie 66-26 June 14.
He finished the regular season with 49 TD passes and 21 on the ground.
Flowers threw for five touchdowns and ran for four in Reading's second win over Erie in three games. Flowers helped the Express nail down its third straight division title by throwing for four touchdowns and running for two in a win at Baltimore June 23.
The 40-point victory over Erie came just one week after the Express lost on the road to the RiverRats to suffer back-to-back losses for the first time.
But after the decisive win over Erie that has the AIFA championship running through Reading, hardly anyone is asking what's wrong with the Express now.
"We feel we are 40 points better than that team," Express linebacker Matt Sola said. "We're going to try to put it on them again even worse."