Post by Gene on Apr 12, 2009 1:21:38 GMT -5
www.readingeagle.com/article.aspx?id=133458
4/12/09
By Brian Rippey
Reading Eagle
Oh brother!
James Bryant and Sam Bryant were reunited on the football field Saturday night in the Sovereign Center. If it was the last game together for the former Reading High standouts, it certainly was memorable.
Sam intercepted three passes and James delivered a couple crushing hits to help the Reading Express roll to a 47-13 American Indoor Football Association victory over the winless Erie River Rats.
"I wanted to play with him real bad," said Sam, who graduated from Reading High in 2002, two years head of James. "I haven't played with him for so long. It's always great to have him on the field with me."
The reunion was especially good for the Express (4-1), which did not allow a touchdown to the Erie offense. The River Rats (0-4) scored their only points on returns of a fumble and an interception.
Offensively, Rob Flowers threw a franchise record-tying seven touchdown passes, two each to Carmelo Ocasio and Dan Kelly. Flowers passed for 308 yards and Ocasio, another Reading High grad, caught 10 passes for 145 yards.
But the focus for much of the night was on the Bryant family reunion.
James delivered the hit of the game when he knocked John Kuttema into the dashboard short of a first down in the first quarter. Instead of judging the defense's performance based on the results, James focused on how it made him feel.
"It's really a joy to be able to come home and play with him (Sam)," James said. "We've been apart for a while. We've grown together in these times of being away, but I'm glad to be home here to play with him again."
The Bryants last played together in the 2001 season for the Red Knights. Sam went to the University of Pittsburgh. Two years later, James decided to attend the University of Miami, then transferred to Louisville for his final collegiate season last fall.
Although James has aspirations of being taken in the NFL draft or signing as a free agent, he wanted one last shot to play with his older brother.
"He called me and said he wanted to play while he was going to be home for a little bit before the draft," Sam said.
James entered on Reading's second defensive series at linebacker and quickly created a buzz.
"That's what the crowd came out here for," James said. "I was always a heavy hitter. I was going to come here and lay the wood regardless."
Sam dazzled with his pass coverage.
"I didn't show him up," Sam said. "He always elevates my game."
In typical brotherly fashion, James jokingly paid Sam a backhanded compliment.
"He should have had five (interceptions)," James said. "But I'm glad I came out here and got a chance to play with him. Hats off to him. I hope he continues to play well."
But James isn't ready to commit to playing for the Express. He said he's uncertain if he will be back for Saturday's game in the Sovereign Center against Baltimore.
"We'll see what happens," James said. "We don't want to get hurt because we have a bright future in the NFL."
Contact Brian Rippey: 610-371-5070 or brippey@readingeagle.com.
4/12/09
By Brian Rippey
Reading Eagle
Oh brother!
James Bryant and Sam Bryant were reunited on the football field Saturday night in the Sovereign Center. If it was the last game together for the former Reading High standouts, it certainly was memorable.
Sam intercepted three passes and James delivered a couple crushing hits to help the Reading Express roll to a 47-13 American Indoor Football Association victory over the winless Erie River Rats.
"I wanted to play with him real bad," said Sam, who graduated from Reading High in 2002, two years head of James. "I haven't played with him for so long. It's always great to have him on the field with me."
The reunion was especially good for the Express (4-1), which did not allow a touchdown to the Erie offense. The River Rats (0-4) scored their only points on returns of a fumble and an interception.
Offensively, Rob Flowers threw a franchise record-tying seven touchdown passes, two each to Carmelo Ocasio and Dan Kelly. Flowers passed for 308 yards and Ocasio, another Reading High grad, caught 10 passes for 145 yards.
But the focus for much of the night was on the Bryant family reunion.
James delivered the hit of the game when he knocked John Kuttema into the dashboard short of a first down in the first quarter. Instead of judging the defense's performance based on the results, James focused on how it made him feel.
"It's really a joy to be able to come home and play with him (Sam)," James said. "We've been apart for a while. We've grown together in these times of being away, but I'm glad to be home here to play with him again."
The Bryants last played together in the 2001 season for the Red Knights. Sam went to the University of Pittsburgh. Two years later, James decided to attend the University of Miami, then transferred to Louisville for his final collegiate season last fall.
Although James has aspirations of being taken in the NFL draft or signing as a free agent, he wanted one last shot to play with his older brother.
"He called me and said he wanted to play while he was going to be home for a little bit before the draft," Sam said.
James entered on Reading's second defensive series at linebacker and quickly created a buzz.
"That's what the crowd came out here for," James said. "I was always a heavy hitter. I was going to come here and lay the wood regardless."
Sam dazzled with his pass coverage.
"I didn't show him up," Sam said. "He always elevates my game."
In typical brotherly fashion, James jokingly paid Sam a backhanded compliment.
"He should have had five (interceptions)," James said. "But I'm glad I came out here and got a chance to play with him. Hats off to him. I hope he continues to play well."
But James isn't ready to commit to playing for the Express. He said he's uncertain if he will be back for Saturday's game in the Sovereign Center against Baltimore.
"We'll see what happens," James said. "We don't want to get hurt because we have a bright future in the NFL."
Contact Brian Rippey: 610-371-5070 or brippey@readingeagle.com.
