Freeze Win Inaugural Game at Johnstown

April 19, 2005 - American Indoor Football Association (AIFA)
Erie Freeze News Release


The Erie Freeze put a damper on the Johnstown Riverhawks' first game in the Atlantic Indoor Football League on Saturday night at Cambria County War Memorial Arena.

Freeze quarterback David Dinkins passed for three scores and ran for another three to lead the Freeze past the Riverhawks, 48-27.

"Too bad we came up short," Johnstown native Quenteen Robinson said. "It was a kind of love-hate type situation. It was good to see the crowd come support us, but bad that we came up a little short."

Erie got on the board first when Johnstown failed to bring the opening kickoff out of the end zone, giving the Freeze a 1-0 lead and setting the tone for the night. "We got in a hole early and had trouble digging out of it," Riverhawks coach Brian Basile said.

Dinkins hit Donte Pimpleton, a 6-foot-2, 210-pound wideout, in stride on the Freeze's first play from scrimmage. "They've got a great quarterback in Dinkins," Basile said. "He can really do a lot. We had trouble containing him. And when we would contain him, he was taking advantage of us in the secondary, with the pass."

Garry Cipra's point-after kick was blocked. Cipra then made a 37-yard field goal to boost Erie's lead to 10-0, before Erie's Micah Riley picked off a Chris Thompson pass at his 5-yard line and returned it to the Riverhawks' 5. Dinkins then went around the left side on the first for the score. Cipra booted the PAT for a 17-0 lead with 14:22 left in the second quarter. "Any time that you are on the road, you've got to come out and throw the first punch," Erie coach Mike Esposito said.

Johnstown finally got on the board with less than 1 minute showing before halftime. Quenteen Robinson took a pitch from Rector, then hit a wide-open Steve Vagedes for a 30-yard touchdown pass. "We needed a gimmick play at the time," Vagedes said. "I was just worried about catching it becuase there was nobody around me. It gave us some good momentum going into half." Vagedes caught the two-point conversion from Rector to pull the Riverhawks to within 3 at 17-14.

All the momentum was lost as Erie scored immediately thanks to Dinkins' runs. Dinkins capped the drive with a 1-yard rush around the left end.

But the Riverhawks struck back just as fast. Rector hit Marko Thomas with a 16-yard scoring strike in the right side of the end zone. Jason Cherry's kick was deflected, pulling Johnstown within four points.

But Erie increased its lead back to 10. Cipra added a 26-yard field goal to close the third-quarter scoring, then with just 1 minute off the fourth-quarter clock, Dinkins completed a 35-yard score to Pimpleton and Cipra's kick made it 34-20 Erie.

Robinson then caught a 35-yard bomb from Rector. Jason Cherry added his first PAT of the night to get back to within seven.

But the lead jumped back to 14 again when Dinkins hit Pimpleton on a crossing pattern. The PAT was good by Cipra, who then booted the kickoff through the uprights - good for a point and a 42-27 lead. Erie tacked on a final touchdown when Dinkins scrambled to the left and scored from 10-yards out.

The Freeze will host Richmond (1-0) this Saturday night at the Erie Civic Center. "Coach Richards is a hell of a coach with a hell of group of great players there in Richmond, we will work as hard as we can this week to play with these guys," Esposito stated on Sunday morning. Kickoff is slated for 7:18 pm at the Erie Civic Center. Fans are encouraged to show up for one of the neatest things downtown Erie has to offer this year, the Freeze Pre-game party. These numerous events will start at 4:00 pm and last until 6:50.

Freeze 48, Riverhawks 27

Erie 10 7 10 21 -- 48

Johnstown 0 14 6 7 -- 27

First quarter

E-Johnstown failed to get out of end zone.

E-Donte Pimpleton 27 pass from David Dinkins. Kick blocked.

E-Garry Cipra 37 field goal.

Second quarter

E-Dinkins 7 run. Cipra kick.

J-Quenteen Robinson 5 run. Kick blocked.

J-Steve Vagedes 25 pass from Robinson. Eric Rector pass to Vagedes.

Third quarter

E-Dinkins 1 run. Cipra kick.

J-Marko Thomas 16 pass from Rector. Kick no good.

E-Cipra 32 field goal.

Fourh quarter

E-Pimpleton 35 pass from Dinkins. Cipra kick.

J-Robinson 35 pass from Rector. Jason Cherry kick.

E-Pimpleton 30 pass from Dinkins. Cipra kick.

E-Cipra kick through goal post.

E-Dinkins 10 run. Kick no good.

The Atlantic Indoor Football League is the hottest new professional football league. For more information, visit ww.aiflonline.com, contact the league office at (330) 453-2860 or contact Joey Josephs, Director of Media Relations, by phone at (321) 356-5379 or by e-mail at jjosephs@aiflonline.com.



American Indoor Football Association Stories from April 19, 2005


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