Post by Gene on Apr 17, 2010 23:42:07 GMT -5
4/18/10
By Brian Rippey
Reading Eagle
Baltimore Mariners running back Isaiah Grier hasn't forgotten his roots.
Grier started his professional indoor football career in Reading during the Express' first season in 2006. He helped Reading advance to the American Indoor Football Association championship game the following season.
Saturday night, Grier and his teammates - many of them former Express players - made themselves at home in the Sovereign Center, handing the Express one of its most lopsided losses in team history.
Grier rushed for three touchdowns as the undefeated Mariners rolled by the defending AIFA champion Express 51-27, handing Reading just its third regular season home loss in four years.
"Reading is a special place," Grier said. "It's a home away from home. It's where I got my start."
Mariners quarterback E.J. Nemeth never got a start in Reading, serving as the Express' backup quarterback during the 2007 season. Although he didn't have great numbers, he threw for two touchdowns and managed the game for Mariners (6-0).
Express quarterback Rob Flowers continued his struggles following an MVP season that brought a title to Reading. Flowers threw three interceptions, including two in the second quarter when the Mariners pulled away.
Flowers has been intercepted 16 times in six games after throwing just 15 in 17 games last season. He has only shown flashes of the quarterback who set franchise records for completion percentage, passing yards and TD passes in a season.
"I'm certainly concerned," Express coach Bernie Nowotarski said. "When you watch film there are turnovers that are Rob's fault and there are turnovers that happen for other reasons.
"Rob's an athlete and tries to make things happen. He'll be the first to tell you that some of those are his, and I'll be the first to tell you that some of those aren't his."
Flowers and the Express (3-3) got off to a perfect start. Reading received the opening kickoff and took a 7-0 lead on a 1-yard TD pass from Flowers to Jeff Willis.
The Express defense limited Baltimore to a 30-yard field goal by J.R. Cipra to hold a 7-3 lead after one quarter.
Aided by two interceptions by Flowers, the Mariners erupted for 27 second-quarter points to take control. The turning point was when Brian Bradford intercepted a Flowers pass and raced toward the end zone.
Flowers hit Bradford hard around the 5-yard line and forced a fumble. After the balled eluded a couple of players, Bradford was able to fall on it in the back of the end zone for a touchdown.
Flowers' second interception led to Cipra's third field goal before a 25-yard pass from Nemeth to Damon Harrison gave Baltimore a 23-7 cushion.
Grier took over with a 2-yard touchdown run in the final seconds of the first half to give Baltimore a 30-14 halftime lead and capped the opening drive of the second half with a 10-yard TD run to make it 37-14.
"I don't know if we've ever been handled like this," Express linebacker Matt Sola said. "It goes without saying that this is very frustrating."
Contact Brian Rippey: 610-371-5070 or brippey@readingeagle.com.
Source: readingeagle.com/article.aspx?id=213612
By Brian Rippey
Reading Eagle
Baltimore Mariners running back Isaiah Grier hasn't forgotten his roots.
Grier started his professional indoor football career in Reading during the Express' first season in 2006. He helped Reading advance to the American Indoor Football Association championship game the following season.
Saturday night, Grier and his teammates - many of them former Express players - made themselves at home in the Sovereign Center, handing the Express one of its most lopsided losses in team history.
Grier rushed for three touchdowns as the undefeated Mariners rolled by the defending AIFA champion Express 51-27, handing Reading just its third regular season home loss in four years.
"Reading is a special place," Grier said. "It's a home away from home. It's where I got my start."
Mariners quarterback E.J. Nemeth never got a start in Reading, serving as the Express' backup quarterback during the 2007 season. Although he didn't have great numbers, he threw for two touchdowns and managed the game for Mariners (6-0).
Express quarterback Rob Flowers continued his struggles following an MVP season that brought a title to Reading. Flowers threw three interceptions, including two in the second quarter when the Mariners pulled away.
Flowers has been intercepted 16 times in six games after throwing just 15 in 17 games last season. He has only shown flashes of the quarterback who set franchise records for completion percentage, passing yards and TD passes in a season.
"I'm certainly concerned," Express coach Bernie Nowotarski said. "When you watch film there are turnovers that are Rob's fault and there are turnovers that happen for other reasons.
"Rob's an athlete and tries to make things happen. He'll be the first to tell you that some of those are his, and I'll be the first to tell you that some of those aren't his."
Flowers and the Express (3-3) got off to a perfect start. Reading received the opening kickoff and took a 7-0 lead on a 1-yard TD pass from Flowers to Jeff Willis.
The Express defense limited Baltimore to a 30-yard field goal by J.R. Cipra to hold a 7-3 lead after one quarter.
Aided by two interceptions by Flowers, the Mariners erupted for 27 second-quarter points to take control. The turning point was when Brian Bradford intercepted a Flowers pass and raced toward the end zone.
Flowers hit Bradford hard around the 5-yard line and forced a fumble. After the balled eluded a couple of players, Bradford was able to fall on it in the back of the end zone for a touchdown.
Flowers' second interception led to Cipra's third field goal before a 25-yard pass from Nemeth to Damon Harrison gave Baltimore a 23-7 cushion.
Grier took over with a 2-yard touchdown run in the final seconds of the first half to give Baltimore a 30-14 halftime lead and capped the opening drive of the second half with a 10-yard TD run to make it 37-14.
"I don't know if we've ever been handled like this," Express linebacker Matt Sola said. "It goes without saying that this is very frustrating."
Contact Brian Rippey: 610-371-5070 or brippey@readingeagle.com.
Source: readingeagle.com/article.aspx?id=213612
