Post by marinersmedia on Jul 30, 2010 6:21:45 GMT -5
Thanks to all the AIFAFans for their support this season and also the occasional back and forth - John
Baltimore Completes Rare Undefeated Title Season before Record Crowd
BALTIMORE, MD (July 30, 2010) – In February 2010 Baltimore Mariners’ General Manager Greg Justice and team owners Kevin Fash and Dwayne Wells sat in the 1st Mariner Arena press box high above the arena’s 300 level seats. Justice recalled, “I said to them ‘one day this year or next we will fill the lower bowl and sit here looking down on our team winning a championship in front of a packed house.’ When I said that I meant it, but knew it would not be easy; or if it would ever be attained. But I believed in it. On Sunday, I spent the beginning of the fourth quarter doing just that, in the 300 level, watching my Mariner family winning a championship in front of a packed house. Mission completed, tears of joy flowed. Now on to next year! And, I cannot wait!”
What Justice saw from his high perch on Sunday was the Mariners rallying from behind in front of a record crowd of 6,075 to defeat the Wyoming Cavalry 57-42 to take the American Indoor Football Association’s (AIFA) national championship. In doing so, the 16-0 Mariners completed an amazing run, which saw them set records on all sides of the ball and also become one of the elite few in American professional football to complete a season as undefeated champions.
The Mariners’ journey to a perfect 2010 season started on March 6th on the road against their I-83 rivals, the Harrisburg Stampede. Despite the gap in their overall records in 2009 the Mariners (9-5) and Stampede (4-10) had three close battles; with a total margin of victory of 16 points. In 2010 Baltimore and Harrisburg picked up where they left off. With the Mariners clinging to a 55-48 lead with 2:33 left in the game former Stampede player and new Mariner Jermaine Thaxton picked off a Kelvin Robinson pass at the Baltimore one to secure the Mariners’ victory.
Baltimore then returned home for a successful three-game home stand to finish out their March schedule. After taking a 51-10 halftime lead the Mariners went on to defeat the expansion New Jersey Revolution 61-23 as quarterback E.J. Nemeth threw five touchdown passes and defensive back Armar Watson tied a league record with five interceptions. The following week Baltimore fans got their first indication the 2010 season may be a special one.
In a sport that is usually known for offense, the Mariners defense led by Defensive Coordinator Steve Gaunt completed the first shutout in AIFA history by defeating the Fayetteville Guard 59-0. In a stifling performance the Mariners gave up only 69 yards, recorded six sacks, and registered seven takeaways.
The following weekend against Richmond the defense also came up big. Holding a 49-45 lead and facing a fourth and goal from the one, Mariners’ linebacker Adam Goloboski and defensive end Fearon Wright stuffed Raiders’ quarterback Robbie Jenkins with 54 seconds on the clock for no gain. The Mariners were now 4-0 and heading out on the road for most of two months.
As the Mariners prepared for five of six games on the road Head Coach Chris Simpson noted, “We must win on the road to establish ourselves atop the East. We must control our own fate. What other teams do versus another team cannot be our concern. To be a championship caliber team, you have to prove it on the road.”
And prove it they did as the Mariners continued their win streak. The Revolution, which ended up the 2010 season winless, gave Baltimore a scare in the first half by trailing only 26-20. However, riding a career-high seven touchdown passes from Nemeth the Mariners cruised to a 61-27 win.
Despite their 5-0 record the Mariners still had something to prove in AIFA-circles and did so by walloping the defending champion Express, in Reading, 51-27. Melik Brown led another strong defensive effort with 1.5 sacks and Brian Bradford, Richard Johnson, and Jermaine Thaxton pulled in interceptions.
After a strong display against Reading, the Mariners’ offense and defense contributed to Baltimore achieving new scoring heights in a 91-19 win over the Fayetteville Guard. The Mariners tied a league record with 59 points in the first half and set a new Mariners’ standard with 91 points. Linebacker Adam Goloboski led the scoring parade with three scores including two interception returns for touchdowns within nine seconds and defensive lineman Daniel Orlebar had a career best eight tackles, four tackles for a loss, and three sacks. Offensive Coordinator Mike Moyseenko’s offense was also highly productive scoring four times on the ground and four through the air.
The Mariners returned to Baltimore for a one-game home stand on May 2nd and again proved they were the team to beat in the Eastern Conference by halting the Harrisburg Stampede 51-17. In this game Nemeth took to the ground with three rushing scores and defensive back Desmond Maul recorded three interceptions.
With an 8-0 record in hand the Mariners hit the road again for a two-game trip. In a 63-34 win over the Fayetteville Guard the passing game was operating on all cylinders as Nemeth tossed six scores, including three each to Scorpio Brown and Aaron Yarbough, and receiver Jamaal Stokes tallied 155 receiving yards on 11 catches.
Baltimore then ran its 2010 road record to 6-0 with a convincing 57-39 victory over the Richmond Raiders. In a homecoming of sorts, Newport News, Virginia native Scorpio Brown tallied four touchdown receptions. The win also clinched the Mariners second straight playoff berth.
Standing at 10-0 the Mariners had now defeated every team in the Eastern Conference at least once, but had yet to face the Erie Storm. The Storm also entered the contest in Baltimore riding a three-game win streak and having won six of seven.
Again the Mariners combination of a strong offense and stifling defense proved too much for another foe as Nemeth tossed touchdown passes to Isaiah Grier, Damon Harrison, and Yarbough and Grier added two rushing scores. The defense ruled the night with six interceptions, including a 50-yard return for a score by Richard Johnson and a 12-yard interception return touchdown by Goloboski.
The win also secured the Eastern Conference regular season championship for the Mariners and an all-important first round bye. Now Coach Simpson’s club headed to Erie for another match-up.
With six lead changes, the Mariners and Storm took part in arguably one of the AIFA’s most intense games of the season. In what developed into a special teams and defensive battle, the Mariners’ J.R. Cipra and Erie’s Shon Rowser both booted three field goals while the Baltimore and Storm defenses rose to the occasion as the Mariners held Erie to just 127 yards, while Erie stifled Baltimore and held the Mariners to only 110 yards.
With just four seconds to go in the game Storm QB A.J. Roque found Darmel Whitfield for a score and a 37-36 Erie lead. Following a kickoff out of the end zone, Baltimore took possession on their 20. Coach Simpson called for veteran kicker J.R. Cipra and as time expired Cipra’s 47-yard kick sailed through the uprights for a 39-37 Baltimore win and the Mariners’ unbeaten streak would continue.
After the nail-biter against Erie the Mariners offense re-grouped and pounded the 0-13 New Jersey Revolution 84-6 at 1st Mariner and set a new team margin of victory record. E.J. Nemeth connected for three scoring strikes and also rushed for two scores, while back-up QB Matt Folke also contributed two touchdown passes. Yarbough finished with three TD receptions and Scorpio Brown with two. Defensively the Mariners totaled four sacks, including 2.5 from Orlebar, and four interceptions, with two by Maul.
With one game left on the regular season schedule the Mariners sought to become the first team in AIFA history to finish a regular season unbeaten. Their final opponent of the season, the Express, was playing for their playoff lives needing a win over the Mariners to clinch the Eastern Conference’s final playoff spot.
After a tight first quarter, in which the Mariners led 7-5, Baltimore blew the game open in the second period with four Nemeth touchdown passes. On the day Nemeth connected on five scores, including two each to Scorpio Brown and Harrison. The defense again tormented an opposing quarterback as Rob Flowers was taken down for five sacks, including three from Goloboski.
Now with their 14-0 record intact the Mariners awaited the results of the first round of the AIFA playoffs, which Harrisburg won over the Storm 52-48.
On July 10th the 12-3 Stampede came to Baltimore for the AIFA Eastern Conference Championship. Despite Baltimore leading the series four game to one, four of the contests had been tight and most expected another tough battle for the Eastern title. The Mariners quickly put those notions to rest as they jumped to a 40-7 halftime lead and went on to cruise to a 63-15 win.
Nemeth connected on five touchdown passes and J.R. Cipra led the scoring barrage with 19 points including three field goals and three unos. Richard Johnson, who was also forced into ironman duty at running back after an early injury to Grier, led the defense with five tackles and two interceptions.
While the Mariners were defeating the Stampede the Wyoming Cavalry (14-1) were upending the San Jose Wolves 57-37 for their third straight Western Conference Championship setting the match-up for AIFA Bowl IV.
On Sunday, July 25th with former Baltimore Colts great and Hall of Fame legend Lenny Moore acting as the Mariners’ honorary captain, including an introduction with the team, a record crowd of 6,075 in attendance at 1st Mariner Arena were quickly on their feet.
Just 6:58 into the national championship game they were stunned as the Cavalry behind quarterback Matt Strand quickly jumped to a 16-0 lead. Like they had all season the Mariners battled back and had whittled the lead to 24-17 by halftime and with a dominating third period, in which they outscored the Cavs 22-6, the Mariners held a 39-30 lead at the end of the third quarter. Refusing to give way to the Mariners, Wyoming also battled back, and with just 7:09 left in the game the scoreboard read Baltimore 43 Wyoming 42.
Still on its feet the crowd relaxed some after a Grier two-yard touchdown run gave Baltimore a 50-42 edge with 4:35 remaining in the title game. Strand again tried to rally the Cavalry, but a Scorpio Brown touchdown sandwiched by two Mariner picks, one at 1:21 by Richard Johnson and one by Armar Watson with 21 seconds left, sealed Wyoming’s fate and secured the 57-42 win for the Mariners.
Offensively the 2010 Mariners were sparked by record setting performance on the ground and through the air. Isaiah Grier set a new Mariners record, and also led the AIFA in rushing with 565 yards. He also led the league in rushing touchdowns (30) and total touchdowns with 37. His rushing touchdown total was also a league record.
Nemeth established new team marks with 52 touchdown passes and 2,333 passing yards. In relief duty Matt Folke tossed two touchdowns and ran for one more. Clearing holes for Grier and protecting Nemeth were an offensive line of Gus Kosmakos, Mark Stout, and Jeff Tyler, which allowed only eight sacks all season.
Jamaal Stokes led the Mariners in receptions and receiving yards, for the second season in a row, this season with 699 yards on 65 catches. He also added six touchdown receptions. Scorpio Brown set a new Mariners’ record with 22 touchdown receptions and Aaron Yarbough had his best season as a professional totaling 55 receptions, 683 yards, and 12 scores. Rookie Damon Harrison also contributed six touchdowns.
A number of players contributed to the defensive squad’s success. The Mariners’ defensive front totaled 38 tackles for a loss and 29.5 sacks with Melik Brown (16.5/12.5), Daniel Orlebar (12/9), and Fearon Wright (8.5/7.5) leading the way. Adam Foley saw substantial duty on the defensive line.
The Mariner linebackers also racked up big numbers. Adam Goloboski piled up 35.5 tackles, 13 tackles for a loss, and 9.5 sacks. Brian Bradford totaled 33 tackles, three sacks, and four interceptions.
Once again the Mariners defensive backfield was a key part of Baltimore’s league leading 57 takeaways. Armar Watson led the AIFA in interceptions for the second year in a row with 13. Richard Johnson (8), Desmond Maul (7), and Jermaine Thaxton (6) racked up impressive INT numbers. DB David Smith was a late addition to the squad, but added a veteran presence and one interception in two games.
The Mariners also excelled on special teams. For the third year in a row kicker J.R. Cipra led the league in kicking points and also topped the AIFA in PATs (100), field goals (17), and unos (21). Watson finished third in the league with a 24.2 yard kick return average.
Rookies Rich Beverly (Delaware), Andre Campbell (Elon), Dennis Cooper (Cheney), and Mike Williams (Salisbury) also made their pro debuts for the Mariners in 2010.
Coach Simpson commented, “When you have several individuals fight and sacrifice for one common goal, it is amazing what we were able to accomplish. To win the championship is one thing. To do it
without a blemish on our record is entirely different. There are not many teams out there at any level of professional sports that have done that.”
With their victory the Mariners clinched the first championship in the team’s brief three-year history, became the first team in AIFA annals to finish a season as undefeated champions, and became only the ninth team in over 170 seasons of American professional arena, indoor and outdoor football history to complete a perfect championship season.
As General Manager Justice said, “Mission Accomplished!”
- John Wolfe
For more information about the Baltimore Mariners go to www.baltimoremariners.com.
Baltimore Completes Rare Undefeated Title Season before Record Crowd
BALTIMORE, MD (July 30, 2010) – In February 2010 Baltimore Mariners’ General Manager Greg Justice and team owners Kevin Fash and Dwayne Wells sat in the 1st Mariner Arena press box high above the arena’s 300 level seats. Justice recalled, “I said to them ‘one day this year or next we will fill the lower bowl and sit here looking down on our team winning a championship in front of a packed house.’ When I said that I meant it, but knew it would not be easy; or if it would ever be attained. But I believed in it. On Sunday, I spent the beginning of the fourth quarter doing just that, in the 300 level, watching my Mariner family winning a championship in front of a packed house. Mission completed, tears of joy flowed. Now on to next year! And, I cannot wait!”
What Justice saw from his high perch on Sunday was the Mariners rallying from behind in front of a record crowd of 6,075 to defeat the Wyoming Cavalry 57-42 to take the American Indoor Football Association’s (AIFA) national championship. In doing so, the 16-0 Mariners completed an amazing run, which saw them set records on all sides of the ball and also become one of the elite few in American professional football to complete a season as undefeated champions.
The Mariners’ journey to a perfect 2010 season started on March 6th on the road against their I-83 rivals, the Harrisburg Stampede. Despite the gap in their overall records in 2009 the Mariners (9-5) and Stampede (4-10) had three close battles; with a total margin of victory of 16 points. In 2010 Baltimore and Harrisburg picked up where they left off. With the Mariners clinging to a 55-48 lead with 2:33 left in the game former Stampede player and new Mariner Jermaine Thaxton picked off a Kelvin Robinson pass at the Baltimore one to secure the Mariners’ victory.
Baltimore then returned home for a successful three-game home stand to finish out their March schedule. After taking a 51-10 halftime lead the Mariners went on to defeat the expansion New Jersey Revolution 61-23 as quarterback E.J. Nemeth threw five touchdown passes and defensive back Armar Watson tied a league record with five interceptions. The following week Baltimore fans got their first indication the 2010 season may be a special one.
In a sport that is usually known for offense, the Mariners defense led by Defensive Coordinator Steve Gaunt completed the first shutout in AIFA history by defeating the Fayetteville Guard 59-0. In a stifling performance the Mariners gave up only 69 yards, recorded six sacks, and registered seven takeaways.
The following weekend against Richmond the defense also came up big. Holding a 49-45 lead and facing a fourth and goal from the one, Mariners’ linebacker Adam Goloboski and defensive end Fearon Wright stuffed Raiders’ quarterback Robbie Jenkins with 54 seconds on the clock for no gain. The Mariners were now 4-0 and heading out on the road for most of two months.
As the Mariners prepared for five of six games on the road Head Coach Chris Simpson noted, “We must win on the road to establish ourselves atop the East. We must control our own fate. What other teams do versus another team cannot be our concern. To be a championship caliber team, you have to prove it on the road.”
And prove it they did as the Mariners continued their win streak. The Revolution, which ended up the 2010 season winless, gave Baltimore a scare in the first half by trailing only 26-20. However, riding a career-high seven touchdown passes from Nemeth the Mariners cruised to a 61-27 win.
Despite their 5-0 record the Mariners still had something to prove in AIFA-circles and did so by walloping the defending champion Express, in Reading, 51-27. Melik Brown led another strong defensive effort with 1.5 sacks and Brian Bradford, Richard Johnson, and Jermaine Thaxton pulled in interceptions.
After a strong display against Reading, the Mariners’ offense and defense contributed to Baltimore achieving new scoring heights in a 91-19 win over the Fayetteville Guard. The Mariners tied a league record with 59 points in the first half and set a new Mariners’ standard with 91 points. Linebacker Adam Goloboski led the scoring parade with three scores including two interception returns for touchdowns within nine seconds and defensive lineman Daniel Orlebar had a career best eight tackles, four tackles for a loss, and three sacks. Offensive Coordinator Mike Moyseenko’s offense was also highly productive scoring four times on the ground and four through the air.
The Mariners returned to Baltimore for a one-game home stand on May 2nd and again proved they were the team to beat in the Eastern Conference by halting the Harrisburg Stampede 51-17. In this game Nemeth took to the ground with three rushing scores and defensive back Desmond Maul recorded three interceptions.
With an 8-0 record in hand the Mariners hit the road again for a two-game trip. In a 63-34 win over the Fayetteville Guard the passing game was operating on all cylinders as Nemeth tossed six scores, including three each to Scorpio Brown and Aaron Yarbough, and receiver Jamaal Stokes tallied 155 receiving yards on 11 catches.
Baltimore then ran its 2010 road record to 6-0 with a convincing 57-39 victory over the Richmond Raiders. In a homecoming of sorts, Newport News, Virginia native Scorpio Brown tallied four touchdown receptions. The win also clinched the Mariners second straight playoff berth.
Standing at 10-0 the Mariners had now defeated every team in the Eastern Conference at least once, but had yet to face the Erie Storm. The Storm also entered the contest in Baltimore riding a three-game win streak and having won six of seven.
Again the Mariners combination of a strong offense and stifling defense proved too much for another foe as Nemeth tossed touchdown passes to Isaiah Grier, Damon Harrison, and Yarbough and Grier added two rushing scores. The defense ruled the night with six interceptions, including a 50-yard return for a score by Richard Johnson and a 12-yard interception return touchdown by Goloboski.
The win also secured the Eastern Conference regular season championship for the Mariners and an all-important first round bye. Now Coach Simpson’s club headed to Erie for another match-up.
With six lead changes, the Mariners and Storm took part in arguably one of the AIFA’s most intense games of the season. In what developed into a special teams and defensive battle, the Mariners’ J.R. Cipra and Erie’s Shon Rowser both booted three field goals while the Baltimore and Storm defenses rose to the occasion as the Mariners held Erie to just 127 yards, while Erie stifled Baltimore and held the Mariners to only 110 yards.
With just four seconds to go in the game Storm QB A.J. Roque found Darmel Whitfield for a score and a 37-36 Erie lead. Following a kickoff out of the end zone, Baltimore took possession on their 20. Coach Simpson called for veteran kicker J.R. Cipra and as time expired Cipra’s 47-yard kick sailed through the uprights for a 39-37 Baltimore win and the Mariners’ unbeaten streak would continue.
After the nail-biter against Erie the Mariners offense re-grouped and pounded the 0-13 New Jersey Revolution 84-6 at 1st Mariner and set a new team margin of victory record. E.J. Nemeth connected for three scoring strikes and also rushed for two scores, while back-up QB Matt Folke also contributed two touchdown passes. Yarbough finished with three TD receptions and Scorpio Brown with two. Defensively the Mariners totaled four sacks, including 2.5 from Orlebar, and four interceptions, with two by Maul.
With one game left on the regular season schedule the Mariners sought to become the first team in AIFA history to finish a regular season unbeaten. Their final opponent of the season, the Express, was playing for their playoff lives needing a win over the Mariners to clinch the Eastern Conference’s final playoff spot.
After a tight first quarter, in which the Mariners led 7-5, Baltimore blew the game open in the second period with four Nemeth touchdown passes. On the day Nemeth connected on five scores, including two each to Scorpio Brown and Harrison. The defense again tormented an opposing quarterback as Rob Flowers was taken down for five sacks, including three from Goloboski.
Now with their 14-0 record intact the Mariners awaited the results of the first round of the AIFA playoffs, which Harrisburg won over the Storm 52-48.
On July 10th the 12-3 Stampede came to Baltimore for the AIFA Eastern Conference Championship. Despite Baltimore leading the series four game to one, four of the contests had been tight and most expected another tough battle for the Eastern title. The Mariners quickly put those notions to rest as they jumped to a 40-7 halftime lead and went on to cruise to a 63-15 win.
Nemeth connected on five touchdown passes and J.R. Cipra led the scoring barrage with 19 points including three field goals and three unos. Richard Johnson, who was also forced into ironman duty at running back after an early injury to Grier, led the defense with five tackles and two interceptions.
While the Mariners were defeating the Stampede the Wyoming Cavalry (14-1) were upending the San Jose Wolves 57-37 for their third straight Western Conference Championship setting the match-up for AIFA Bowl IV.
On Sunday, July 25th with former Baltimore Colts great and Hall of Fame legend Lenny Moore acting as the Mariners’ honorary captain, including an introduction with the team, a record crowd of 6,075 in attendance at 1st Mariner Arena were quickly on their feet.
Just 6:58 into the national championship game they were stunned as the Cavalry behind quarterback Matt Strand quickly jumped to a 16-0 lead. Like they had all season the Mariners battled back and had whittled the lead to 24-17 by halftime and with a dominating third period, in which they outscored the Cavs 22-6, the Mariners held a 39-30 lead at the end of the third quarter. Refusing to give way to the Mariners, Wyoming also battled back, and with just 7:09 left in the game the scoreboard read Baltimore 43 Wyoming 42.
Still on its feet the crowd relaxed some after a Grier two-yard touchdown run gave Baltimore a 50-42 edge with 4:35 remaining in the title game. Strand again tried to rally the Cavalry, but a Scorpio Brown touchdown sandwiched by two Mariner picks, one at 1:21 by Richard Johnson and one by Armar Watson with 21 seconds left, sealed Wyoming’s fate and secured the 57-42 win for the Mariners.
Offensively the 2010 Mariners were sparked by record setting performance on the ground and through the air. Isaiah Grier set a new Mariners record, and also led the AIFA in rushing with 565 yards. He also led the league in rushing touchdowns (30) and total touchdowns with 37. His rushing touchdown total was also a league record.
Nemeth established new team marks with 52 touchdown passes and 2,333 passing yards. In relief duty Matt Folke tossed two touchdowns and ran for one more. Clearing holes for Grier and protecting Nemeth were an offensive line of Gus Kosmakos, Mark Stout, and Jeff Tyler, which allowed only eight sacks all season.
Jamaal Stokes led the Mariners in receptions and receiving yards, for the second season in a row, this season with 699 yards on 65 catches. He also added six touchdown receptions. Scorpio Brown set a new Mariners’ record with 22 touchdown receptions and Aaron Yarbough had his best season as a professional totaling 55 receptions, 683 yards, and 12 scores. Rookie Damon Harrison also contributed six touchdowns.
A number of players contributed to the defensive squad’s success. The Mariners’ defensive front totaled 38 tackles for a loss and 29.5 sacks with Melik Brown (16.5/12.5), Daniel Orlebar (12/9), and Fearon Wright (8.5/7.5) leading the way. Adam Foley saw substantial duty on the defensive line.
The Mariner linebackers also racked up big numbers. Adam Goloboski piled up 35.5 tackles, 13 tackles for a loss, and 9.5 sacks. Brian Bradford totaled 33 tackles, three sacks, and four interceptions.
Once again the Mariners defensive backfield was a key part of Baltimore’s league leading 57 takeaways. Armar Watson led the AIFA in interceptions for the second year in a row with 13. Richard Johnson (8), Desmond Maul (7), and Jermaine Thaxton (6) racked up impressive INT numbers. DB David Smith was a late addition to the squad, but added a veteran presence and one interception in two games.
The Mariners also excelled on special teams. For the third year in a row kicker J.R. Cipra led the league in kicking points and also topped the AIFA in PATs (100), field goals (17), and unos (21). Watson finished third in the league with a 24.2 yard kick return average.
Rookies Rich Beverly (Delaware), Andre Campbell (Elon), Dennis Cooper (Cheney), and Mike Williams (Salisbury) also made their pro debuts for the Mariners in 2010.
Coach Simpson commented, “When you have several individuals fight and sacrifice for one common goal, it is amazing what we were able to accomplish. To win the championship is one thing. To do it
without a blemish on our record is entirely different. There are not many teams out there at any level of professional sports that have done that.”
With their victory the Mariners clinched the first championship in the team’s brief three-year history, became the first team in AIFA annals to finish a season as undefeated champions, and became only the ninth team in over 170 seasons of American professional arena, indoor and outdoor football history to complete a perfect championship season.
As General Manager Justice said, “Mission Accomplished!”
- John Wolfe
For more information about the Baltimore Mariners go to www.baltimoremariners.com.