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Baltimore Mariners Derail Reading Express 59-44

March 23, 2009 - American Indoor Football Association (AIFA)
Baltimore Mariners News Release


(Baltimore, MD) "Defense wins championships!" This was the phrase that passed through the lips of many overjoyed fans. And while this may have only been game two of the season, that would not silence the cheer and adulation from those who congregated on the turf as they mingled with the players and got their Mariners swag signed by the team. And while the players and coaches know it is entirely too early in the season to engage in talk of playoffs and eventually the big game, they did take a moment to enjoy the accolades that were bestowed upon them by their dedicated fan-base. When the lights were turned off in the arena, celebration time was officially over. With a short week to prepare for their first road game on Saturday, March 28th against the Harrisburg Stampede, the Baltimore Mariners (2-0) take no luxury in extended celebrations.

The Reading Express (1-1) has been a thorn in the side of the Mariners. Going into last night's game, the Mariners were 0-3 in franchise history against them. Last season, the Mariners lost two heartbreakers to Reading by a margin of nine points each. The team and the fans were tired of losing to the Express. In the first matchup of this season, Baltimore snapped the losing streak, convincingly with a 59-44 victory, falling just one point shy of tying their franchise high 60 points earned last week against Erie. The Mariners sit alone atop of the AIFA Northern Division as they prepare for their first road game.

The Reading Express won the coin toss but elected to defer until the second half. On the opening kickoff, Reading kicker Erik Rockhold split the uprights, earning an UNO and giving Reading the 1-0 lead coming out of the gate. It was a lead that would be short lived, and it was the last time in the game Reading would be in front of the Mariners. Baltimore took over on their 5 yard line and QB E.J. Nemeth threw three consecutive incomplete passes, setting up a 59-yd J.R. Cipra field goal attempt. Cipra's kick sailed to Reading's 8-yd line where Trent Jones returned to Reading's own 12 yard line. Reading's offense saw the field for one play, when QB Rob Flowers was sacked for a 4-yd loss, in turn coughing up the ball. Baltimore's Howard Battle jumped on the ball, and Baltimore took over on offense at the Reading 8-yd line. Two plays later, RB Isaiah Grier found a seam and plowed it in for a three yard touchdown. J.R. Cipra tacked on the extra point.

Reading's next possession ended as badly as their first, when QB Rob Flowers tried to hit WR Yardon Brantley downfield. The pass was picked off by DB Richard Johnson who returned it 23 yards to the Reading 9-yd line. A seven yard pass to WR Scorpio Brown set up another rushing TD from RB Isaiah Grier, putting Baltimore above Reading 14-1. Reading was finally able to put points up on the ensuing possession when Flowers ran the QB keeper from three yard out. Rockhold would hit the extra point and an UNO on the following kickoff, bringing the score to 14-9. Baltimore took over on their own 5-yd line and had difficulty moving the ball. After a 6-yd pass to Jamaal Stokes and a 9-yd gain from an Isaiah Grier run, Nemeth threw three incomplete passes, setting up a failed J.R. Cipra 45-yd field goal attempt.

The second quarter showed little improvement for Reading and Rob Flowers as they began their drive from their own 20-yd line. Flowers' first pass of the second quarter was picked off by DB Armar Watson at the 25 and returned two yards. Baltimore was unable to capitalize on the turnover, settling for a field goal attempt that sailed wide right. Reading took over on their own 10, where Flowers had one completion to WR Carmelo Ocasio for an eight yard gain. On the next play, Flowers attempted to hook up with Yardon Brantley on the deep pass, only to find DB Richard Johnson stepping in front of the pass and returning the interception twenty yards to Baltimore's 23-yd line. Baltimore moved the ball to Reading's 12 where Cipra chipped in a 27-yd field goal. Cipra earned an UNO on the following kickoff, putting the Mariners ahead of Reading 18-9. Cipra would put up another six points in field goals and Reading scored a touchdown on a 21yd Flowers pass to WR Ocasio to close out the first half 24-16, Baltimore.

Reading's additional twenty-eight points in the second half were not enough to overcome the amount of mistakes they made during the game. Baltimore would end the game by padding their score with an additional thirty five points, comfortably securing their second win in as many games. "This win was not about the offense" said Mariners' QB E.J. Nemeth. He added "Our defense kept us in this game. They are the heroes today. I owe them one." Defensive coordinator was not about to take all the credit for the win. "Look, we are a team. We won this one together. There are still a lot of things we need to work on, both defensively and offensively, but we are a machine and one part depends on the other part to make this machine run" said Gaunt.

Coach Jason Blackman was asked about the health of the team after such a physical game, and the impact the injuries will have on a short week. "This was a hard hitting game. I know our guys feel it, and I sure know Reading is feeling it. As far as injuries go, we got a little banged up, but we are going to be fine. All of our guys are ready to go on Saturday in Harrisburg. The team doctor looked at them and said they are good to go."

Baltimore hits the road for the first time this season as they drive up the road to take on the Harrisburg Stampede (0-1) on Saturday, March 28th at the Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex. Harrisburg will be well rested as they come off of a bye week. Kickoff is at 7:00PM.

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