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Post by rkozak201 on Mar 8, 2010 10:20:13 GMT -5
Defending AIFA champ Reading crushed by Erie in season opener
By Victor Fernandes
Reading Eagle correspondent
ERIE - The storm surge was sudden and overwhelming.
Reading arrived in sunny Erie on Sunday looking to build momentum for an AIFA title defense.
Instead, the Erie Storm rolled through the Express with its high-flying offense and surprisingly staunch defense for a 41-28 season-opening win at Tullio Arena.
"We knew we were going to get their best effort," Storm coach Shawn Liotta said of the Express. "But we were able to be smart with the ball and get defensive stops."
By the time the Storm's intensity began to dissipate a bit, Erie had scored 38 unanswered points to build a 32-point third-quarter lead.
The Express scored 21/2 minutes into the first quarter when Jeff Willis caught a 6-yard touchdown pass from Muhlenberg grad Rob Flowers, the reigning AIFA Most Valuable Player.
But Reading was held scoreless until well into the third quarter, when Erie had already sealed the victory.
"We played well," said Storm quarterback Rod Rutherford, a Pittsburgh grad who completed 21-of-32 passes for 216 yards and three touchdowns and ran for two more scores. "But we still have a lot of room for improvement. We've got a lot of high-character guys who want to improve. We want to get better in every phase of the game."
Like the on-field product, the Storm organization wants to provide Erie with winning football a year after the city's former AIFA team, the RiverRats, encountered more off-field controversy, namely regarding salaries and medical coverage, during an embarrassing 3-11 season.
"The organization is totally different, totally revamped," said receiver Trumaine Riley, who had eight receptions for 95 yards and the Storm's first two touchdowns of the season. His 20- and 13-yard scores came after Reading's three-play scoring drive to start the game.
Riley's first-quarter scores also sparked Erie's 38-point barrage that didn't end until Flowers connected with Reading High grad Carmelo Ocasio on a 2-yard score with 6:08 left in the third.
"We were able to put them in a hole," Liotta said.
The Storm was never threatened. Express coaches were unable to explain the lack of production from an offense that returned several players from the league's fifth-highest scoring team last season.
Worse, the coaches often couldn't speak to one another during the game because of faulty headsets.
Play-calling and making substitutions were a nightmare.
Execution on the field was just as bad. Reading had 194 yards of total offense - most of them during a futile second-half comeback attempt - and four turnovers.
Flowers finished with four TD passes and three interceptions. Ocasio led the Express with nine catches for 71 yards.
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Post by Gene on Mar 8, 2010 11:09:36 GMT -5
The Express didnt give their best effort. The most ridiculous play was the long td run by Storm QB Rutherford. So many missed tackles, no one even tried to wrap him up. Had he run any slower he woulda had birds nesting on his head. My travel buddy Ryan looked at me after that & said lets get going. We did shortly after since it was apparant we didnt come to play.
As far as my opinion on how good/bad Erie is i couldnt even really say cause we played so poorly. So for me the jury is still out on that one.
As far as the Express, they always get most of their losses out in the beginning of the season so hopefully they can get it together & start rebounding with a win this week in Richmond....
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Post by KING 7 on Mar 8, 2010 12:51:34 GMT -5
The Express didnt give their best effort. The most ridiculous play was the long td run by Storm QB Rutherford. So many missed tackles, no one even tried to wrap him up. Had he run any slower he woulda had birds nesting on his head. My travel buddy Ryan looked at me after that & said lets get going. We did shortly after since it was apparant we didnt come to play. As far as my opinion on how good/bad Erie is i couldnt even really say cause we played so poorly. So for me the jury is still out on that one. As far as the Express, they always get most of their losses out in the beginning of the season so hopefully they can get it together & start rebounding with a win this week in Richmond.... Reading just got out played no excuses the better team on that day won. It sure wasn't effort because those guys on reading didn't give up they were still playing hard down to the end. |
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Post by Gene on Mar 8, 2010 13:29:32 GMT -5
The Express didnt give their best effort. The most ridiculous play was the long td run by Storm QB Rutherford. So many missed tackles, no one even tried to wrap him up. Had he run any slower he woulda had birds nesting on his head. My travel buddy Ryan looked at me after that & said lets get going. We did shortly after since it was apparant we didnt come to play. As far as my opinion on how good/bad Erie is i couldnt even really say cause we played so poorly. So for me the jury is still out on that one. As far as the Express, they always get most of their losses out in the beginning of the season so hopefully they can get it together & start rebounding with a win this week in Richmond.... Reading just got out played no excuses the better team on that day won. It sure wasn't effort because those guys on reading didn't give up they were still playing hard down to the end. I never make excuses. Ive seen Reading play a bit more than you and am just giving my opinion as a fan. Trust me there was no effort. We'll see how good both teams really are a month or 2 into the season. |
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Post by rkozak201 on Mar 8, 2010 15:17:37 GMT -5
It is too early in the season with only playing one game to be disappointed. Reading has some work to do with a bunch of new players on the Offensive and Defensive line.
We may have to wait a few games until the team starts meshing. I can't wait for the home opener. It's been way too long of an off-season.
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Post by Gene on Mar 8, 2010 15:23:54 GMT -5
It is too early in the season with only playing one game to be disappointed. Reading has some work to do with a bunch of new players on the Offensive and Defensive line. We may have to wait a few games until the team starts meshing. I can't wait for the home opener. It's been way too long of an off-season. I have faith Ron. Just wish there was one positive that i could take away from the game. There just wasnt any. But as we go we lose a bit more in the beginning then go on long 7-8 game win streaks. I wont be complaining about anything this season since they won the Championship. Sunday night was just a poor showing and i know most of the players and coaches would agree. Just an off night. On a side note, did anyone listen to the webcast? How was it, how were the announcers and any issues with connections/reception stuff like that? |
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Post by ThatRadioGuy on Mar 8, 2010 17:13:40 GMT -5
Reading will get better...Whether it's with the current roster or bringing in replacements. You guys know what you're doing.
Doesn't take away any of the fun of this victory. 38 unanswered.....wow!
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Post by Gene on Mar 8, 2010 17:20:20 GMT -5
Reading will get better...Whether it's with the current roster or bringing in replacements. You guys know what you're doing. Doesn't take away any of the fun of this victory. 38 unanswered.....wow! Yep a win is a win and helps with momentum. Good divisionl/conference win for you guys. |
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Post by Standard Deviation on Mar 8, 2010 23:02:05 GMT -5
Hmmm, looks like the Reading Eagle is trying to supply an excuse:
"The Storm was never threatened. Express coaches were unable to explain the lack of production from an offense that returned several players from the league's fifth-highest scoring team last season.
Worse, the coaches often couldn't speak to one another during the game because of faulty headsets.
Play-calling and making substitutions were a nightmare."
So it was the headsets that kicke dthe defending champs asses......
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Post by Gene on Mar 8, 2010 23:13:30 GMT -5
Hmmm, looks like the Reading Eagle is trying to supply an excuse: "The Storm was never threatened. Express coaches were unable to explain the lack of production from an offense that returned several players from the league's fifth-highest scoring team last season. Worse, the coaches often couldn't speak to one another during the game because of faulty headsets. Play-calling and making substitutions were a nightmare." So it was the headsets that kicke dthe defending champs asses...... I didnt take it that way. losses happen. Always a reason all depends if your gonna take the reasons as excuses. Honestly i didnt see anything special about Erie. Anything would be an improvement over what you guys had last season. |
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Post by Standard Deviation on Mar 9, 2010 1:00:12 GMT -5
The Mantra from the Express is that they will get better once the new guys get used to playing with the Express Vets. Guess what, so will the Storm. This is a brand new team. Look at our 30 man roster, we have 2 that played in Carolina, 6 that played with the Rats, 6 that played in Wheeling, 4 that didnt play in any league at all, 2 that were hurt all of last year. Its not like we put a team on the field thats been playing for years. So maybe what you saw didnt impress you, but they are starting from scratch too.
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Post by Gene on Mar 9, 2010 2:46:18 GMT -5
The Mantra from the Express is that they will get better once the new guys get used to playing with the Express Vets. Guess what, so will the Storm. This is a brand new team. Look at our 30 man roster, we have 2 that played in Carolina, 6 that played with the Rats, 6 that played in Wheeling, 4 that didnt play in any league at all, 2 that were hurt all of last year. Its not like we put a team on the field thats been playing for years. So maybe what you saw didnt impress you, but they are starting from scratch too. I bookmarked this thread. We'll get back to it later in the season ;D |
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Post by ThatRadioGuy on Mar 9, 2010 7:47:16 GMT -5
This lineup features a lot of players that were part of the team that made the playoffs 2 years ago and got absolutely screwed out in Reading. To me that implies we were a team that should have gone to the Eastern Conference Championship that year and possibly even the AIFA Championship.
I have similar hopes for this year.
Our offense slowed up in the second half...hell it looked like ball control drives designed to run the clock down.
Flowers had no time to throw all day as our D was in his face.
But if that's nothing special....I'll take nothing special.
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Post by d'oh! on Mar 9, 2010 9:08:18 GMT -5
How about we just take it as the Storm is a good team. Just like Baltimore is a good team, and hopefully, more gelling will take place and Reading will be a good team. It would not surprise me the least if these three teams are the playoff teams at the end of the season.
B.
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Post by d'oh! on Mar 9, 2010 9:14:49 GMT -5
Gene, I caught the end of the broadcast, I didn't have too many issues. I wish there would be more players mentioned (like I don't think I heard who was involved with a tackle, or who applied the pressure etc)
I'm not 100% on if that was out of the ordinary, or for the entire game, but I got the feeling I couldn't always tell who was doing what while listening.
Overall though I thought it was fine.
On a side note wasn't all 14 games supposed to be on the radio? 1340 I take it? (it wasn't on 1340 Sunday) I even checked 102.5.
B.
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