Reading Express
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| Reading Express | |
 |
|
| Founded | 2006 |
| League | American Indoor Football Association |
| Team History | Reading Express 2006-present |
| Arena | Sovereign Center |
|---|---|
| Based in | Reading, Pennsylvania |
| Team Colors | blue, silver |
| Head Coach | Bernie Nowotarski |
| Championships | 0 |
| Division Titles | 2 (2006 regular season, 2007 season/playoffs) |
| Dancers | Smokin' Hot Steam Team |
| Mascot | Loco |
The Reading Express are a professional indoor football team based out of Reading, Pennsylvania. They are a member of the American Indoor Football Association, having begun play in 2006. They play their home games at the Sovereign Center.
On Sunday, March 26, 2006, the Express won the AIFL's very first overtime game 41-38 against the Johnstown Riverhawks on the road, as kicker Erik Rockhold booted the game-winning 45-yard field goal.
On Friday, May 12, 2006, the Express managed to knock the Erie Freeze out of the #1 spot in the conference by getting revenge 59-48.
At the end of their inaugural year, the Express held the highest record in the AIFL's Northern Conference, at 12-2. This, however, was padded by two games against amateur outdoor franchises-- the Cumberland Cardinals and a team known as the Philadelphia Scorpions, both of which were blowouts.
In the opening round of the 2006 AIFL Playoffs, the Express managed to knock out the fourth-seeded Huntington Heroes with a 56-23 victory. In the Northern Conference championship game, they faced the second-seeded Canton Legends for the Northern Conference title and a chance to participate in the American Bowl. Unfortunately, the Express got derailed as they got shut out in the second half and fell 44-24. Even though they fell one game shy of the league championship, it wasn't a total loss. WR Carmelo Ocasio was named the 2006 Northern Conference Offensive MVP.[1].
In the 2007 season, the Express built on their success in the previous season, finishing a league-best 14-2 in the regular season, defeating the Pittsburgh RiverRats 42-24 in the first round, and defeating the Canton Legends 66-51 to claim the Northern Conference Championship and earn a trip to AIFA Championship Bowl I at the Florence Civic Center. Unfortunately, the Express got derailed yet again, losing to the Lakeland Thunderbolts 54-49.
Contents |
[edit] Season-By-Season
Note: W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties
| Season | W | L | T | Finish | Playoff results |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reading Express (AIFL) | |||||
| 2006 | 12 | 2 | 0 | 1st Northern | Lost NC Championship (Canton) |
| Reading Express (AIFA) | |||||
| 2007 | 14 | 2 | 0 | 1st Northern | Lost Championship Bowl I (Lakeland) |
| *2008 | 8 | 4 | 0 | 2nd EC Northern | -- |
| Totals | 37 | 10 | 0 | (including playoffs) | |
* = Current Standing
[edit] 2007 Season Schedule
| Date | Opponent | Home/Away | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| February 18 | Pittsburgh RiverRats | Away | Won 35-28 |
| February 25 | Erie Freeze | Home | Won 46-38 |
| March 3 | Tallahassee Titans | Away | Lost 37-47 |
| March 10 | Baltimore Blackbirds | Home | Won 78-6 |
| March 16 | Erie Freeze | Away | Won 50-35 |
| March 23 | Canton Legends | Away | Won 50-19 |
| March 31 | Huntington Heroes | Home | Won 48-18 |
| April 7 | Johnstown Riverhawks | Away | Won 55-33 |
| April 14 | Canton Legends | Home | Won 63-56 |
| April 21 | Danville Demolition | Away | Won 56-42 |
| April 28 | Montgomery Bears | Home | Won 73-57 |
| May 6 | Pittsburgh RiverRats | Home | Won 57-40 |
| May 12 | Johnstown Riverhawks | Home | Won 76-16 |
| May 19 | Huntington Heroes | Away | Lost 29-42 |
| May 21 | Baltimore Blackbirds | Away | Won 58-32 |
| June 2 | Danville Demolition | Home | Won 83-41 |
| June 9 | Pittsburgh RiverRats (Playoffs) | Home | Won 42-24 |
| June 16 | Canton Legends (Playoffs) | Home | Won 66-51 |
| June 23 | Lakeland Thunderbolts (Championship Bowl I) | Neutral (Florence) | Lost 49-54 |
[edit] 2008 Season Schedule
| Date | Opponent | Home/Away | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| March 8 | Baltimore Mariners | Home | Won 36-27 |
| March 15 | Carolina Speed | Away | Lost 17-49 |
| March 22 | Arizona Adrenaline (Exhibition) | Home | |
| March 29 | Erie RiverRats | Away | |
| April 5 | Huntington Heroes | Home | |
| April 12 | Columbus Lions | Away | |
| April 19 | Florence Phantoms | Home | |
| April 25 | Canton Legends | Home | |
| May 10 | Canton Legends | Away | |
| May 17 | Fayetteville Guard | Home | |
| May 24 | Baltimore Mariners | Home | |
| May 31 | Huntington Heroes | Away | |
| June 7 | Erie RiverRats | Away | |
| June 14 | Erie RiverRats | Home | |
| June 23 | Baltimore Mariners | Away |
[edit] External links
- Official Site of the Reading Express
- Express' 2006 Season & Results
- Official Site of the Reading Express Smokin' Hot Steam Team
- Express's 2007 Season
- Express's 2008 Season
| American Indoor Football Association | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Eastern Conference | North Division | East Division | |
| Baltimore Mariners | Carolina Speed | ||
| Canton Legends | Fayetteville Guard | ||
| Erie RiverRats | Florence Phantoms | ||
| Reading Express | Huntington Heroes | ||
| Western Conference | South Division | West Division | |
| Augusta Colts | Arizona Adrenaline | ||
| Columbus Lions | New Mexico Wildcats | ||
| Florida Stingrays | Utah Saints | ||
| Mississippi Mudcats | Wyoming Cavalry | ||
| AIFA Championship Bowl | Indoor football | Arena football | |||
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