Post by marinersmedia on Jun 6, 2010 9:23:18 GMT -5
Six Interceptions Drive Baltimore Record to 11-0, Mariners Secure 1st Round Bye
BALTIMORE, MD (June 5, 2010) – Sparked by a relentless defense, which snared six interceptions, including two which were returned for touchdowns, the Baltimore Mariners defeated the Erie Storm 51-34 and clinched the American Indoor Football Association (AIFA) Eastern Conference regular season championship. With the win Baltimore (11-0) secured a first round bye in the AIFA playoffs and the Mariners will host the Eastern Conference championship on July 10th at 1st Mariner Arena.
Despite running their record to 10-0 the Mariners still needed a win last night to clinch the regular season championship. Standing in their way was the Erie Storm (7-5); the only Eastern Conference opponent they had not met and defeated this season.
Baltimore scored first on a uno from J.R. Cipra on the opening kickoff to provide Baltimore with a 1-0 lead. Erie quarterback Rod Rutherford then orchestrated a ten-play, 45-yard drive capped by a Rutherford one-yard plunge at the 8:45 mark of the first period to give Erie a 7-1 lead.
Erie’s score marked the first time the Mariners had trailed in the first half at 1st Mariner Arena this season and only the second time all year that they did not hold the lead at their home arena.
After a 46-yard kickoff return by the Mariners’ Armar Watson delivered Baltimore the ball at the Erie seven, quarterback E.J. Nemeth quickly responded with a two-play drive ending with his five-yard TD toss to Isaiah Grier; Grier’s league leading 28th touchdown of the season. Following the Cipra extra point and another uno Baltimore held a 9-7 lead.
After Erie took possession at their own five yard line, on the Storm’s first play of the drive Rutherford threw his first interception of the night. Watson grabbed a pass intended for Erie receiver Tim Smith at the Storm 21. Baltimore could not take advantage of the turnover as their drive quickly stalled after several incomplete passes and a sack for a 10-yard loss of Nemeth. Cipra then attempted a 41-yard field goal, which sailed left and Erie took over at their own 10.
Just two plays later Rutherford hit Eugene Baker with a 31-yard score to give Erie its last lead of the night 14-9. The first quarter ended with the Mariners mid-drive and Erie holding the lead.
Two plays into the second quarter Nemeth connected with Damon Harrison on a five-yard scoring toss to boost the Baltimore lead to 16-14; a lead they would hold the rest of the night.
Erie appeared ready to take their third lead of the night, but on a first and goal from the Baltimore seven, Richard Johnson picked off a Rutherford pass in the end zone and returned it the length of the field for the touchdown and a 23-14 edge.
Rutherford then led Erie on the longest drive of the night, a 13-play, 26-yard drive. The drive came to an abrupt end when Jermaine Thaxton reeled in a Rutherford pass in the end zone and returned it 38 yards to the Erie 12 before tossing it to Adam Goloboski. The Mariners linebacker then covered the remaining 12 yards for the score and a 30-14 Baltimore lead; a score that would stand until halftime.
After a uno on the opening kickoff of the second half by Erie’s Nick Terracina cut the Baltimore advantage to 30-15, Nemeth tossed a rare interception, only his seventh of the season. Erie linebacker Tommie Weatherspoon returned the ball 10-yards for the score and the Storm reduced the Mariners lead to 30-22.
As has been their pattern all year, when their leads have been threatened, the Mariners struck quickly. On the first play of the drive Nemeth hit Yarbough on a 44-yard scoring pass to extend the Mariners lead to 37-22.
Erie responded again, this time with a seven-play, 30-yard drive and Rutherford pushed in from the one for six points. Following a fumbled snap on the extra point the score stood at Baltimore 37 Erie 28.
Nemeth then compiled a six-play, 30-yard drive highlighted by 19 rushing yards from Grier, including a two-yard score, to increase the Mariners margin to 44-28.
The ensuing Storm drive was ended by Johnson’s second interception of the night and the third period finished with the Mariners up 44 to 28.
The fourth quarter started with the team’s exchanging miscues as both teams tossed interceptions and Baltimore missed a field goal. Erie back-up quarterback A.J. Roque got the teams back on track hitting Rick Cerro on a 15-yard TD pass to pull Erie within 44-34, following a botched extra point attempt, with 3:05 left in the game.
After a failed onside kick attempt, Baltimore took possession at the Erie nine. Four plays later Grier darted in from the Storm two to give Baltimore its final victory margin of 51-34.
On the night Grier had 35 rushing and 14 receiving yards along with two rushing and one receiving score. His league leading totals now stand at 23 rushing touchdown and 30 total scores.
Nemeth had a conservative night with 7 of 16 passing for 81 yards, but still had three touchdown tosses and now has 42 for the season.
On the defensive side of the ball the Mariners racked up six interceptions, 165 return yards on picks, and two scores. Thaxton increased his Mariners’ leading tackle total to 37 with eight solo takedowns and also had an interception. Richard Johnson had two picks, including the 50-yard score and three tackles. Watson, Desmond Maul, and Melik Brown also added interceptions.
With the win the Mariners clinched the first regular season conference championship in team history and now has secured the first football conference championship game in Baltimore since 1970. They also still have the opportunity to be the first undefeated team in AIFA history with three games remaining on the regular season schedule.
The Mariners travel to Erie for a 2:00 PM match-up on Sunday June 13th before finishing their season in Baltimore with games against the New Jersey Revolution on Saturday, June 19th at 7:00 PM and against the defending champions, the Reading Express on June 26th at 7:00 PM.
- John Wolfe
For more information about the Baltimore Mariners go to www.baltimoremariners.com.
BALTIMORE, MD (June 5, 2010) – Sparked by a relentless defense, which snared six interceptions, including two which were returned for touchdowns, the Baltimore Mariners defeated the Erie Storm 51-34 and clinched the American Indoor Football Association (AIFA) Eastern Conference regular season championship. With the win Baltimore (11-0) secured a first round bye in the AIFA playoffs and the Mariners will host the Eastern Conference championship on July 10th at 1st Mariner Arena.
Despite running their record to 10-0 the Mariners still needed a win last night to clinch the regular season championship. Standing in their way was the Erie Storm (7-5); the only Eastern Conference opponent they had not met and defeated this season.
Baltimore scored first on a uno from J.R. Cipra on the opening kickoff to provide Baltimore with a 1-0 lead. Erie quarterback Rod Rutherford then orchestrated a ten-play, 45-yard drive capped by a Rutherford one-yard plunge at the 8:45 mark of the first period to give Erie a 7-1 lead.
Erie’s score marked the first time the Mariners had trailed in the first half at 1st Mariner Arena this season and only the second time all year that they did not hold the lead at their home arena.
After a 46-yard kickoff return by the Mariners’ Armar Watson delivered Baltimore the ball at the Erie seven, quarterback E.J. Nemeth quickly responded with a two-play drive ending with his five-yard TD toss to Isaiah Grier; Grier’s league leading 28th touchdown of the season. Following the Cipra extra point and another uno Baltimore held a 9-7 lead.
After Erie took possession at their own five yard line, on the Storm’s first play of the drive Rutherford threw his first interception of the night. Watson grabbed a pass intended for Erie receiver Tim Smith at the Storm 21. Baltimore could not take advantage of the turnover as their drive quickly stalled after several incomplete passes and a sack for a 10-yard loss of Nemeth. Cipra then attempted a 41-yard field goal, which sailed left and Erie took over at their own 10.
Just two plays later Rutherford hit Eugene Baker with a 31-yard score to give Erie its last lead of the night 14-9. The first quarter ended with the Mariners mid-drive and Erie holding the lead.
Two plays into the second quarter Nemeth connected with Damon Harrison on a five-yard scoring toss to boost the Baltimore lead to 16-14; a lead they would hold the rest of the night.
Erie appeared ready to take their third lead of the night, but on a first and goal from the Baltimore seven, Richard Johnson picked off a Rutherford pass in the end zone and returned it the length of the field for the touchdown and a 23-14 edge.
Rutherford then led Erie on the longest drive of the night, a 13-play, 26-yard drive. The drive came to an abrupt end when Jermaine Thaxton reeled in a Rutherford pass in the end zone and returned it 38 yards to the Erie 12 before tossing it to Adam Goloboski. The Mariners linebacker then covered the remaining 12 yards for the score and a 30-14 Baltimore lead; a score that would stand until halftime.
After a uno on the opening kickoff of the second half by Erie’s Nick Terracina cut the Baltimore advantage to 30-15, Nemeth tossed a rare interception, only his seventh of the season. Erie linebacker Tommie Weatherspoon returned the ball 10-yards for the score and the Storm reduced the Mariners lead to 30-22.
As has been their pattern all year, when their leads have been threatened, the Mariners struck quickly. On the first play of the drive Nemeth hit Yarbough on a 44-yard scoring pass to extend the Mariners lead to 37-22.
Erie responded again, this time with a seven-play, 30-yard drive and Rutherford pushed in from the one for six points. Following a fumbled snap on the extra point the score stood at Baltimore 37 Erie 28.
Nemeth then compiled a six-play, 30-yard drive highlighted by 19 rushing yards from Grier, including a two-yard score, to increase the Mariners margin to 44-28.
The ensuing Storm drive was ended by Johnson’s second interception of the night and the third period finished with the Mariners up 44 to 28.
The fourth quarter started with the team’s exchanging miscues as both teams tossed interceptions and Baltimore missed a field goal. Erie back-up quarterback A.J. Roque got the teams back on track hitting Rick Cerro on a 15-yard TD pass to pull Erie within 44-34, following a botched extra point attempt, with 3:05 left in the game.
After a failed onside kick attempt, Baltimore took possession at the Erie nine. Four plays later Grier darted in from the Storm two to give Baltimore its final victory margin of 51-34.
On the night Grier had 35 rushing and 14 receiving yards along with two rushing and one receiving score. His league leading totals now stand at 23 rushing touchdown and 30 total scores.
Nemeth had a conservative night with 7 of 16 passing for 81 yards, but still had three touchdown tosses and now has 42 for the season.
On the defensive side of the ball the Mariners racked up six interceptions, 165 return yards on picks, and two scores. Thaxton increased his Mariners’ leading tackle total to 37 with eight solo takedowns and also had an interception. Richard Johnson had two picks, including the 50-yard score and three tackles. Watson, Desmond Maul, and Melik Brown also added interceptions.
With the win the Mariners clinched the first regular season conference championship in team history and now has secured the first football conference championship game in Baltimore since 1970. They also still have the opportunity to be the first undefeated team in AIFA history with three games remaining on the regular season schedule.
The Mariners travel to Erie for a 2:00 PM match-up on Sunday June 13th before finishing their season in Baltimore with games against the New Jersey Revolution on Saturday, June 19th at 7:00 PM and against the defending champions, the Reading Express on June 26th at 7:00 PM.
- John Wolfe
For more information about the Baltimore Mariners go to www.baltimoremariners.com.