Change of Plans, Stampede Head West
by J.P. Matti
May 19, 2006 - American Indoor Football Association (AIFA)
Steubenville Stampede
The roller coaster never quite hits a lull, before we're thrown screaming down another hill. This week, it's courtesy of a league scheduling issue (can their be any other kind?). Steubenville was originally scheduled to travel to Johnstown tomorrow morning for a game against the Riverhawks.
Reports yesterday and today confirm that the Syracuse Soldiers will not be making the trip to Troy, Ohio to take on Miami Valley. Because of that, Steubenville's road game has been swapped with Syracuse. The Stampede return to Troy tomorrow night.
Faced with an 0-10 record, and two losses to Miami Valley, the Stampede season is finally drawing to a close. After losing 73-28 earlier in Troy, a regrouped Stampede make a return. Led by Josh Krapf (St. John's Univ., NY) at Quarterback, the Stampede offense hopes to eliminate the miscues that plagued them their last trip. Namely the errant snaps and poor pass protection.
DeJoeve Platt will return to Troy as the backup QB and a utility wide receiver. Ryan Doran (Malone Col.) returns to the starting lineup this week. After spending several weeks on injured reserve, and playing against Canton, I had a chance to sit down and talk to Doran about what his thoughts were as he went over the wall to make a catch against Canton earlier this year. "I didn't know, I didn't think,"Doran said. "I just didn't want to land on something." He went on to add, "It's fun, though." Most people would ask for more than $75 to fall four feet on their back onto concrete. For Doran, it's about having fun.
Also returning to the Stampede will be DB Ben Johnson. Johnson will be making a return trip to Miami Valley, where he played his first game for the Stampede earlier this season. Another recent addition to the Stampede has been LB Kyle Minnifield. Since the team started the open tryouts after the home game against Syracuse, he has tried out, but didn't get to play for the team. He did get named to the roster in time for the Erie game on May 6th.
"I thought I'd be standing on the sidelines," said Minnifield. Turns out the former Indian Creek High player would get the call. "At 5, Paul [Williams, the GM] called, said I was starting at linebacker." Without an college football experience, just some time with the semi-pro Beaver County Warriors of Rochester, PA. Mentioning the his role in the May 6th game against Erie, Paul Williams said, "He did well."
On the coaching front, Todd Mazzaferro will return to being the offensive line coach and back out of the player roster.
After Saturday, the stampede are slated for two more road games before returning home on June 10th to host the AIFL Southern Division Florence Phantoms at St. John Arena. In between, are road games scheduled in Reading on 5/27 and in Syracuse on 6/2.
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American Indoor Football Association Stories from May 19, 2006
- Change of Plans, Stampede Head West - OSC Original by J.P. Matti
- Silverbacks Take On Steubenville on Saturday - Dayton Silverbacks
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