Post by Gene on Apr 19, 2009 4:15:35 GMT -5
Second effort not good enough for Express in loss
4/19/2009
By Brian Rippey
Reading Eagle
As a backup quarterback for the Reading Express, E.J. Nemeth received little chance to show his talents.
Unfortunately for the Express and about 3,200 fans in the Sovereign Center Saturday night, Nemeth got a chance to show what he can do.
Returning to Reading to face a team he helped reach the 2007 American Indoor Football Association championship game, Nemeth threw four touchdowns passes to rally the Baltimore Mariners to a 40-36 victory over the Express.
The loss in a game Reading led 28-10 in the first half was the Express' first at home in the regular season since its inaugural season in 2006.
Nemeth completed 19-of-35 passes for 204 yards and put the Mariners (3-2) ahead to stay with a 32-yard touchdown pass to Aaron Yarbough with 11:58 left.
J.R. Cipra tacked on a field goal with 6:26 left before Reading's last possession ended at the Baltimore 9 with just less than two minutes left.
"It felt great coming back in here," Nemeth said. "These fans were great when I played here. They yell at the opposing team and I got a little of that tonight."
Nemeth served as the backup to Tom Stetzer, who started during the Express' first two seasons. Last season in search of a starting quarterback job, Nemeth traveled to Texas and Alaska.
"Unfortunately things didn't work out here," Nemeth said. "I just wanted an opportunity to shine. I'm happy to have it."
Nemeth's performance spoiled a big night for Express wide receiver Carmelo Ocasio, who had 14 catches for 149 yards and four touchdowns.
"That don't mean nothing now," Ocasio said. "Individual numbers don't mean anything to me.
"This year I'm dedicated to the team to try to get to the championship level. We're just not there right now offensively."
The Express (4-2) rolled in the first half as quarterback Rob Flowers threw four touchdown passes, three to Ocasio.
But Reading struggled offensively in the second half, when it scored just eight points, one an uno by kicker Erik Rockhold.
Baltimore took its first lead early in the fourth quarter when Cipra kicked the third of his four field goals to make it 30-29.
That lead lasted just one play when Ocasio hauled in a 30-yard touchdown pass from Flowers with 12:55 left. It was Reading's only big play of the second half.
"It was a very tough one," Ocasio said. "We had it going early. We just didn't make the plays we needed to."
Flowers completed 22-of-36 for 247 yards and five touchdowns. But he often misfired or had the ball bounce off receivers' hands in the second half when the Express struggled.
"I'm speechless," Express coach/general manager Bernie Nowotarski said. "I don't know what to say about the second half."
Reading looked like it would take a 28-10 halftime lead when a Nemeth pass sailed into the stands and horn sounded. But officials called both teams back just before they reached the locker room and put a second back on the clock. Cipra hit a 16-yard field goal.
"We still had the first half in hand," Nowotarski said. "All we had to do was go out and execute in the second half."
Contact Brian Rippey: 610-371-5070 or brippey@readingeagle.com.
readingeagle.com/article.aspx?id=134439
4/19/2009
By Brian Rippey
Reading Eagle
As a backup quarterback for the Reading Express, E.J. Nemeth received little chance to show his talents.
Unfortunately for the Express and about 3,200 fans in the Sovereign Center Saturday night, Nemeth got a chance to show what he can do.
Returning to Reading to face a team he helped reach the 2007 American Indoor Football Association championship game, Nemeth threw four touchdowns passes to rally the Baltimore Mariners to a 40-36 victory over the Express.
The loss in a game Reading led 28-10 in the first half was the Express' first at home in the regular season since its inaugural season in 2006.
Nemeth completed 19-of-35 passes for 204 yards and put the Mariners (3-2) ahead to stay with a 32-yard touchdown pass to Aaron Yarbough with 11:58 left.
J.R. Cipra tacked on a field goal with 6:26 left before Reading's last possession ended at the Baltimore 9 with just less than two minutes left.
"It felt great coming back in here," Nemeth said. "These fans were great when I played here. They yell at the opposing team and I got a little of that tonight."
Nemeth served as the backup to Tom Stetzer, who started during the Express' first two seasons. Last season in search of a starting quarterback job, Nemeth traveled to Texas and Alaska.
"Unfortunately things didn't work out here," Nemeth said. "I just wanted an opportunity to shine. I'm happy to have it."
Nemeth's performance spoiled a big night for Express wide receiver Carmelo Ocasio, who had 14 catches for 149 yards and four touchdowns.
"That don't mean nothing now," Ocasio said. "Individual numbers don't mean anything to me.
"This year I'm dedicated to the team to try to get to the championship level. We're just not there right now offensively."
The Express (4-2) rolled in the first half as quarterback Rob Flowers threw four touchdown passes, three to Ocasio.
But Reading struggled offensively in the second half, when it scored just eight points, one an uno by kicker Erik Rockhold.
Baltimore took its first lead early in the fourth quarter when Cipra kicked the third of his four field goals to make it 30-29.
That lead lasted just one play when Ocasio hauled in a 30-yard touchdown pass from Flowers with 12:55 left. It was Reading's only big play of the second half.
"It was a very tough one," Ocasio said. "We had it going early. We just didn't make the plays we needed to."
Flowers completed 22-of-36 for 247 yards and five touchdowns. But he often misfired or had the ball bounce off receivers' hands in the second half when the Express struggled.
"I'm speechless," Express coach/general manager Bernie Nowotarski said. "I don't know what to say about the second half."
Reading looked like it would take a 28-10 halftime lead when a Nemeth pass sailed into the stands and horn sounded. But officials called both teams back just before they reached the locker room and put a second back on the clock. Cipra hit a 16-yard field goal.
"We still had the first half in hand," Nowotarski said. "All we had to do was go out and execute in the second half."
Contact Brian Rippey: 610-371-5070 or brippey@readingeagle.com.
readingeagle.com/article.aspx?id=134439