Erie Explosion Host Trenton Steel in Home Opener on Saturday, April 9

Published on April 8, 2011 under Southern Indoor Football League (SIFL)
Erie Explosion News Release


April 8, 2011 (Erie, PA) - The Erie Explosion of the SIFL will make their season debut at the Tullio Arena in Erie on Saturday night, April 9th, when they play host to their newest division rivals, the Trenton Steel, with kickoff scheduled for 7 PM. The Explosion return home after a grueling, but extremely successful, road trip which saw Erie win all three games to take quick command of the SIFL's Northeast division.

This weekend's game is a rematch of a wild hotly-contested affair played two weeks ago in Trenton won by the Explosion by the final score of 76-73. In that game, Erie quarterback Adam DiMichele set a SIFL league record and tied a franchise record with nine touchdown passes. In total, he completed 26 of 41 passes for 343 yards, also a franchise record, and was responsible for ten touchdowns including a 2-yard rushing score. Wide receiver Kevin Concepcion tied another franchise record with 13 catches totaling 122 yards with four scores. Tirone Morris and Trumaine Riley recorded two touchdown receptions apiece, and Ernest Jackson scored one. Morris added another touchdown on a 50-yard kickoff return. In defeat, Steel QB E.J. Nemeth was very productive, throwing for 290 yards and eight touchdowns, but was picked off twice by Erie CB Chris Johnson, including one that was returned 50 yards for a defensive score early in the fourth quarter.

During the road trip just completed, the Explosion won 46-25 at Harrisburg and 39-36 at Carolina behind stellar defensive play supporting their explosive but efficient offense. At 3-0, Erie is just one of four undefeated teams left in the SIFL and comes into the contest with a three-game lead in the SIFL's Northeast division. Trenton, in its inaugural season, sits at 0-3, but with each game decided by only three points, including a 59-56 road loss to Richmond, and a 56-53 heartbreaker at home to Fayetteville.

"There already has been some bad blood and words exchanged between our teams from our first game, so I'm expecting another exciting physical game in Erie. Already in their first season, Trenton has established themselves as one of the better scoring teams in our league and they've appeared to make some changes in defensive personnel and philosophy which we'll be watching closely. Our defense has made big plays in all three of our games so far, and I expect that to continue. Offensively, we've stayed away from turnovers for the most part, which is important and we continue to emphasize. Our playmakers can't be stopped by anybody other than ourselves, that's not a boast, it's a fact in my opinion. Adam DiMichele needs to continue making accurate throws, and our offensive line needs to give him time. If that happens, then Kevin Concepcion, Trumaine Riley, Ernest Jackson, and Tirone Morris will all put up huge receiving numbers. Our players and coaches are glad to be off the road for awhile, and we're all pumped to be home in front of our great fans at the Tullio Arena. We need to re-establish our homefield advantage in order to win a championship, and it starts with what we hope and need to be a large and loud crowd this Saturday night. I'm anxious to get it started up again." commented Explosion head coach Shawn Liotta, who begins his fourth season in Erie.

Erie's offense is led by quarterback DiMichele who has completed 51% of his passes for 771 yards and 19 touchdowns in three games with only two interceptions. Four Explosion wide receivers have scored touchdowns on the season, led by Kevin Concepcion who leads the team and is among the league leaders with 27 receptions, 287 yards, and seven touchdown catches. Trumaine Riley has recorded five scores among his 12 receptions, Ernest Jackson has four touchdown receptions, and Tirone Morris has also scored four times, including one on a 50-yard kickoff return. Linebacker Brenton Brady leads the Explosion defense in sacks with 3.5 and lineman Troy Blackwell has two. Chris Johnson leads the team with three interceptions and Eric Wicks has recorded two. Erie and Trenton are both currently in the top five in the SIFL in scoring, and Erie is third in the league in total yards of offense.

Trenton's offense is led by veteran quarterback E.J. Nemeth who has thrown for 698 yards and 15 touchdowns in three games. His favorite targets include Dan Huff (23 catches and 5 touchdowns), and Damon Harrison (15 receptions and six touchdowns). A name on Trenton's roster that might be familiar to college football fans is FB/LB Craig Heyward Jr., who is the son of former Pitt standout running back, the late Craig "Ironhead" Heyward, and the brother of Cameron Heyward, the standout defensive end from Ohio State expected to be a high selection in the upcoming NFL draft.

The game will be broadcast on a delayed basis on Monday night on the Image Sports Network in Erie, with long-time announcers Ray Riesdorph and Scott Wludyga calling all of the action for our viewers as the "Voices of the Erie Explosion".

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Southern Indoor Football League Stories from April 8, 2011


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