ASI Panthers to play PIFL\'s Erie Explosion on April 26
March 12, 2015 - American Indoor Football (AIF)
ASI Panthers News Release
ASI Panthers Owner/Associate Head Coach Bill Mattis and Bill Stafford (Team Owner of the Erie Explosion) have reached an agreement for the two teams to battle on Sunday April 26, 2015 in the Erie Insurance Arena in Erie PA.
The contest helps the Erie team make up for the game they had lost previously when the Harrisburg Stampede (also of the PIFL) surprisingly folded operations.
The game will be considered a "non conference" game and will not count toward their respective league standings. The Panthers are members of the AIF while the Explosion play in the PIFL.
The date had been the Panthers only "bye week" of the season but now the team will not have a single week off from competition.
The teams are not strangers to each other as the Panthers (a semi pro team at the time) were soundly defeated last season by the Explosion. Much like this year, the Panthers made the trip to Erie to take on the Explosion last year too.
Panther Notes:
ASI Panthers season tickets are on sale! Fans can call the Santander Box Office at 610-898-7469 or they can order via the Panthers website at www.allstarincpanthers.com. Season tickets for the six home dates are just $90 for reserved seats and $60 for general admission. Single game tickets are only able to be purchased by going to the Santander Arena box office.
- The Panthers home opener is Saturday 4/4 vs the Buffalo Lightning at 6 PM. Before the home opener, the team plays a second road game at the York Capitals on Saturday 3/28 and is hoping lots of Panthers fans travel to York to see the team play.
Quotes:
Bill Mattis (ASI Associate Head Coach/Owner):
"We're good friends with the Erie organization and we're thrilled to go to Erie again. While the final score (last year) wasn't exactly what we were hoping for, we gained some valuable experience from the whole trip"
"We consider the Liotta brothers and Mr. Stafford to be our very close friends. I know Bernie (Panthers Head Coach Bernie Nowotarski) has tangled with them before too, so it should be lots of fun. We have nothing but the utmost respect for their entire organization and their extremely loyal fan base."
"They're a very talented team, there's no doubt about that. That whole PIFL league is going to be one war after another each weekend. I don't think there are any weak teams in that league. That being said, we know we've improved greatly since last season so we're hoping to get a little bit of revenge for the loss they pinned on us last year."
"I think it's great that both leagues can get together and play games against each other. I know our league Commissioner John Morris is looking forward to seeing how the AIF teams measure up to the PIFL teams, and we certainly are anxious to see too."
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American Indoor Football Stories from March 12, 2015
- ASI Panthers tab McCreery as Starting QB for opener - ASI Panthers
- ASI Panthers to play PIFL's Erie Explosion on April 26 - ASI Panthers
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