Post by rkozak201 on Jul 9, 2008 5:51:44 GMT -5
By Brian Rippey
Reading Eagle
Reading, PA - No longer plagued by injuries or legal problems, Reading Express wide receiver Carmelo Ocasio can concentrate on winning a football championship.
In his most trying of three seasons with the Express, Ocasio has missed a month due to a high ankle sprain and has been distracted by charges of disorderly conduct.
After receiving physical therapy to heal his ankle and making a no-contest plea to accept three months of probation, Ocasio appears to be playing his best. He had eight catches for 134 yards and two touchdowns in last week's American Indoor Football Association East Division championship win over Erie.
More importantly, Ocasio showed an improved ability to run after the catch, especially on a short pass he turned into a 36-yard touchdown reception in the final minute of the first half.
"This is the first game where I was flying around and didn't think of anything," Ocasio said. "I've been feeling great. This is the first game where I was able to get out there and run at 100 percent and make some moves."
Ocasio hopes that continues Saturday when the Express (11-4) hosts the Florence Phantoms (11-4) at 7 p.m. in the Sovereign Center in the Eastern Conference championship game.
The winner will host the AIFA championship game July 24.
Although the Express season opened in early March, Ocasio's actually began in April against the Phantoms.
Trying to play through the ankle injury, the 28-year-old Reading High grad was limited to four catches for 16 yards and no touchdowns in two games.
Those were tiny numbers for a guy who had 234 catches for 2,929 yards and 74 touchdowns in two seasons and was voted the league's Offensive Player of the Year in 2006.
Express coach Bernie Nowotarski decided to sit Ocasio until he was healthy. When Ocasio returned April 19 against Florence, he celebrated with six catches for 120 yards and three touchdowns.
It wasn't the only time Ocasio, who has 98 TD receptions in three years, has had to battle injuries.
In his first year with the Express, a hamstring injury prevented Ocasio from practicing at full speed for about half the season.
In addition to the nagging hamstring injury last year, Ocasio had a hand injury that required surgery shortly after Reading's loss to Lakeland June 23 in Florence, S.C., in the AIFA championship game.
"I have played three seasons where I haven't been healthy one season," Ocasio said. "I've still been able to come out and produce the way I've been producing. It's kind of scary not knowing what I could do if I had a whole season where I'm healthy."
Ocasio also can only wonder how different his life might be if not for one moment of indiscretion last June when he was accused of obstructing police officers from arresting a fugitive.
A felony charge of inciting a riot was later dropped due to lack of evidence. But the incident cost Ocasio, a father of three, his $41,500-a-year job as a supervisor in the Berks County Youth Center.
"I'm a different man now," said Ocasio, a Indiana (Pa.) University grad. "I've learned from stuff that happened in the past. I'm finally moving on with my life, taking care of my kids and doing what I've got to do for my family."
That probably won't include football after this season. Ocasio said he hopes he has two games left before he walks away from football for good.
"I just think it's time to retire," Ocasio said. "My body can't take this. I'm ready to settle down and spend quality time with my kids."
•Contact Brian Rippey at 610-371-5070 or brippey@readingeagle.com.
Reading Eagle
Reading, PA - No longer plagued by injuries or legal problems, Reading Express wide receiver Carmelo Ocasio can concentrate on winning a football championship.
In his most trying of three seasons with the Express, Ocasio has missed a month due to a high ankle sprain and has been distracted by charges of disorderly conduct.
After receiving physical therapy to heal his ankle and making a no-contest plea to accept three months of probation, Ocasio appears to be playing his best. He had eight catches for 134 yards and two touchdowns in last week's American Indoor Football Association East Division championship win over Erie.
More importantly, Ocasio showed an improved ability to run after the catch, especially on a short pass he turned into a 36-yard touchdown reception in the final minute of the first half.
"This is the first game where I was flying around and didn't think of anything," Ocasio said. "I've been feeling great. This is the first game where I was able to get out there and run at 100 percent and make some moves."
Ocasio hopes that continues Saturday when the Express (11-4) hosts the Florence Phantoms (11-4) at 7 p.m. in the Sovereign Center in the Eastern Conference championship game.
The winner will host the AIFA championship game July 24.
Although the Express season opened in early March, Ocasio's actually began in April against the Phantoms.
Trying to play through the ankle injury, the 28-year-old Reading High grad was limited to four catches for 16 yards and no touchdowns in two games.
Those were tiny numbers for a guy who had 234 catches for 2,929 yards and 74 touchdowns in two seasons and was voted the league's Offensive Player of the Year in 2006.
Express coach Bernie Nowotarski decided to sit Ocasio until he was healthy. When Ocasio returned April 19 against Florence, he celebrated with six catches for 120 yards and three touchdowns.
It wasn't the only time Ocasio, who has 98 TD receptions in three years, has had to battle injuries.
In his first year with the Express, a hamstring injury prevented Ocasio from practicing at full speed for about half the season.
In addition to the nagging hamstring injury last year, Ocasio had a hand injury that required surgery shortly after Reading's loss to Lakeland June 23 in Florence, S.C., in the AIFA championship game.
"I have played three seasons where I haven't been healthy one season," Ocasio said. "I've still been able to come out and produce the way I've been producing. It's kind of scary not knowing what I could do if I had a whole season where I'm healthy."
Ocasio also can only wonder how different his life might be if not for one moment of indiscretion last June when he was accused of obstructing police officers from arresting a fugitive.
A felony charge of inciting a riot was later dropped due to lack of evidence. But the incident cost Ocasio, a father of three, his $41,500-a-year job as a supervisor in the Berks County Youth Center.
"I'm a different man now," said Ocasio, a Indiana (Pa.) University grad. "I've learned from stuff that happened in the past. I'm finally moving on with my life, taking care of my kids and doing what I've got to do for my family."
That probably won't include football after this season. Ocasio said he hopes he has two games left before he walks away from football for good.
"I just think it's time to retire," Ocasio said. "My body can't take this. I'm ready to settle down and spend quality time with my kids."
•Contact Brian Rippey at 610-371-5070 or brippey@readingeagle.com.