Post by Gene on Apr 10, 2010 4:12:26 GMT -5
4/10/2010
By Brian Rippey
Reading Eagle
It would be understandable if Reading Express players were looking ahead to next week's showdown with the Baltimore Mariners.
The Mariners lead the Express by two games in the American Indoor Football Association East Division. A loss to Baltimore would pretty much derail the Express' hopes for a fifth straight division title.
But before that crucial game, the Express has a date with the Richmond Raiders at 7 tonight in the Sovereign Center.
Richmond (2-2), Express coach/general manager Bernie Nowotarski cautioned, is a team Reading (2-2) can't afford to overlook.
The Raiders and Express enter the game tied for third place behind Baltimore and Harrisburg. The top three teams in the division qualify for the playoffs.
"If you take an expansion team lightly you'll find yourself in the loss column," Nowotarski said. "They're a good team."
The Raiders have improved since Reading earned a 56-42 win March 13 in Richmond. Since then, Richmond has defeated New Jersey and Fayetteville with a four-point loss at Baltimore mixed in.
"They're a scrappy team," Nowotarski said. "They're young; they're inexperienced; they're getting better."
The Raiders are led by quarterback Mike Jenkins, who has thrown 17 touchdown passes and only two interceptions.
The Express, coming off a championship season, has struggled with turnovers and penalties.
Quarterback Rob Flowers has thrown 15 TD passes and 10 interceptions. The Express also has lost four fumbles and been penalized nearly eight times per game.
The Express will again be without wide receiver Carmelo Ocasio, who is serving the second game of a three-game suspension.
Also, linebacker Matt Millard could be out for a month or more with a broken thumb and will be replaced by first-year player Justin Colon.
Contact Brian Rippey: 610-371-5070 or brippey@readingeagle.com.
Source: readingeagle.com/article.aspx?id=211832
By Brian Rippey
Reading Eagle
It would be understandable if Reading Express players were looking ahead to next week's showdown with the Baltimore Mariners.
The Mariners lead the Express by two games in the American Indoor Football Association East Division. A loss to Baltimore would pretty much derail the Express' hopes for a fifth straight division title.
But before that crucial game, the Express has a date with the Richmond Raiders at 7 tonight in the Sovereign Center.
Richmond (2-2), Express coach/general manager Bernie Nowotarski cautioned, is a team Reading (2-2) can't afford to overlook.
The Raiders and Express enter the game tied for third place behind Baltimore and Harrisburg. The top three teams in the division qualify for the playoffs.
"If you take an expansion team lightly you'll find yourself in the loss column," Nowotarski said. "They're a good team."
The Raiders have improved since Reading earned a 56-42 win March 13 in Richmond. Since then, Richmond has defeated New Jersey and Fayetteville with a four-point loss at Baltimore mixed in.
"They're a scrappy team," Nowotarski said. "They're young; they're inexperienced; they're getting better."
The Raiders are led by quarterback Mike Jenkins, who has thrown 17 touchdown passes and only two interceptions.
The Express, coming off a championship season, has struggled with turnovers and penalties.
Quarterback Rob Flowers has thrown 15 TD passes and 10 interceptions. The Express also has lost four fumbles and been penalized nearly eight times per game.
The Express will again be without wide receiver Carmelo Ocasio, who is serving the second game of a three-game suspension.
Also, linebacker Matt Millard could be out for a month or more with a broken thumb and will be replaced by first-year player Justin Colon.
Contact Brian Rippey: 610-371-5070 or brippey@readingeagle.com.
Source: readingeagle.com/article.aspx?id=211832
