Silverbacks Make CIFL Playoffs After 3-19 Record in 2008-2009
June 17, 2010 - Continental Indoor Football League (CIFL)
Dayton Silverbacks News Release
The Miami Valley Silverbacks, established in 2006, coming off a 0-10 season in 2009 and after going 3-19 in the past two seasons will make their second playoff appearance in team history.
Head Coach Brian Wells seems to have a knack for turning programs around. For the 2007-2008 seasons the Kings Comets (semi-pro) were 5-16. Wells took the team over for the final game in 2008 and has gone 12-2 since and won the Mid-Continental Football League Championship and led them to the National Championship (lost 21-20) in Miami, FL in January, 2010. The 2010 Silverbacks were a travel team, playing all their games on the road.
To say the team has faced adversity is an understatement. On the heels of losing 17 strait games as an organization (0-3 to start the CIFL season), Wells called to change. The first wave of change was at the QB position, moving WR Kyenes Mincy to QB proved to be the initial breath of fresh air the team needed as he led the team to their first victory and was named CIFL player of the week (April 17th vs. Chicago Cardinals).
After a heart-breaking loss to the then undefeated Commandos (58-50) the Silverbacks dropped two more (vs. Marion and Ft. Wayne). Wells then decided to shake things up and signed several players that have now become core components to their current win streak. LB Larry Byndon and DB Tommy Sewell were coaches on the staff that played for Wells with the Kings Comets were persuaded to suit up. 19 year old WR Isaiah Cheatam, OL/DL Josh Ellison, DL Luke Scarborough (signed after release from Commandos) and all-purpose kicker Jason Cunningham were also added to the roster and have been keys in the team's success. Recent emergence of DB Antonio Carver and WR Aric Evans (6 TD receptions) along with leading receiver Daniel Stover coming off injured reserve will provide the Silverbacks with depth at the skill positions.
The Silverbacks still have adversity to face with starting QB Kyenes Mincy being knocked out in the first quarter of their final game vs. Chicago with a severe shoulder injury. DB Chris Stanford, who had not played QB since high school (Princeton), stepped in for the injured Mincy and went 7 for 7 with five TD passes while leading the Silverbacks to victory and securing their playoff birth.
Stanford and his fellow rag-tag group will head to the Cincinnati Gardens Friday, June 18th to face the top seeded Cincinnati Commandos; kickoff is at 8PM with tickets are $12 and $17 with free parking and $1 beers!
Continental Indoor Football League Stories from June 17, 2010
- Silverbacks Make CIFL Playoffs After 3-19 Record in 2008-2009 - Dayton Silverbacks
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