Erie Freeze topple Richmond in AIFL home opener
April 25, 2005 - American Indoor Football Association (AIFA)
Erie Freeze News Release
(April 23, 2005 â Erie, PA) The Erie Freeze scored a point before the first tick of the clock expired, and used some opportune defensive play late in the fourth quarter to earn a hard fought 55-45 victory over the Richmond Bandits in the team's Atlantic Indoor Football League home opener in Tuillio Arena.
A crowd of 4, 187 was treated to an "Indoor Football Event" from start to finish in a contest billed as a possible preview of the AIFL championship game. Before many of the patrons were able to find a seat, Erie Kicker J.R. "Don't call me Garry" Cipra booted the opening kickoff through the uprights for a 1-0 Erie lead before one second elapsed.
Head Coach Mike Esposito answered questions as to why the implementation of the unique scoring system, "When we sat down to develop league rules, we wanted to come up with a system to award the good kickers. Why take the foot out of football? We're lucky enough to have a talented kicker in Garry, but the other side of the equation holds a lot of risk. If your kicker misses, the ball comes out to the 20 yard line and we only play on a 50-yard field."
The talented Bandits answered the special teams point with a major score of their own. Richmond quarterback Will Burch found receiver Marcel Willis with a 29-yard bomb. Bobby Phillips plowed in for the two-point conversion to give Richmond an 8-1 lead with 12:15 remaining in the first quarter.
The Freeze took advantage of some great field position that culminated in a four-yard David Dinkins touchdown run. Cipra's extra point attempt was true for the 8-8 tie. Cipra would give the Freeze the lead when he booted another kickoff through the uprights for a 9-8 Freeze lead.
The Bandits marched down the field once again, and this time Burch found Redd Thompson for a 12-yard hook up to propel Richmond back in front. Phillips added another two-pointer for the 16-9 Bandits' lead.
Rik Richard's Bandits are developing into an AIFL powerhouse, and the team's defense may already be in Indoor Football's upper echelon. Early in the game, the Bandits forced the Freeze into field goal situations that ultimately were the difference in the game's outcome.
Esposito remarked, "Special teams and ball control were a difference. Garry kicked double digit points for us and we out gained Richmond on the ground 52 yards to -4. Fifty yards in an Indoor Football game is like having a 100 yard rusher outdoors. In effect, that stat right there gave us the time of possession advantage 31:32 to 26:55 and when your team is trying to close out a win in the last two minutes, that's huge."
Richmond held the Erie offense, but Cipra's 35-yard boot closed the gap to 16-12 Richmond at the end of the first quarter.
Cipra got the Freeze back the ball by recovering his own onside kick, but the Bandits squashed the Freeze momentum holding the Erie offense deep in Richmond territory. Cipra nailed a 25-yard field goal but the Bandits still lead 16-15 with 12:47 left in the first half.
Richmond's Burch, who left the game due to injury late in the first half, finished his stint in the game with a not too shabby 10-16 for 138 yards in passing. Burch would fire his third touchdown of the contest when he connected with DeAndre Green through the middle of the Erie secondary with a 31-yard touchdown reception. The PAT attempt failed leaving the score with a 22-15 Richmond advantage.
There is an old football adage that states, "Offensive sells tickets, but defense wins championships." If that is indeed the case in Erie in 2005, linebacker Roosevelt Benjamin can look forward to playing and winning in front of sell out crowds in Downtown Erie.
Benjamin, the 6'3", 225 pounder from Clarion University, provided what may have proved to be a decisive blow in the contest. A hearty pass rush forced Richmond's Burch up in the pocket where he was met by the vociferous Benjamin. Benjamin's hit knocked Burch out of the remainder of the game and provided a spark for both the Freeze and their frenzied home followers.
Erie's Jon Frazier, who rushed for 25 yards on the night, scampered into the end zone for another Erie major tally. Cipra's PAT was true to tie the game at 22-22.
The Freeze, with an masterful use of time management, was able to manufacture another possession in the half's final minute with a turnover on downs with new quarterback Robbie Jenkins in the game on his first series.
Dinkins couldn't connect with Josh Liddell on a near touchdown pass, and with the clock ticking down, Erie turned to Cipra to salvage some points on the drive. Cipra pulled the 34-yarder inches wide on the 10-foot wide uprights to leave the score tied at 22 at the half.
Richmond started the 3rd quarter, literally, on the right foot. The Bandits sent a knuckleball kickoff bounding through the Erie return squad that proved fortuitous for Richmond. Erie was unable to advance the ball out of its own end zone to record a 1-point "rouge" for Richmond to give the Bandits the 23-22 lead.
Undaunted, the Freeze put together a 4 play, 45 yard drive that culminated with a 4-yard Dinkins touchdown run. The PAT failed but Erie lead 28-23.
Both defenses solidified in the 3rd quarter forcing turnover on downs situations and an opportunity for some fine special teams play for the Bandits. The Bandits held the Freeze to a long field goal attempt fell short in the Richmond end zone and that's all Virginia Tech's Mike Davis needed.
Davis sliced through the Erie coverage team and high stepped into the Erie end zone for a highlight reel 55-yard touchdown return. Richmond's score gave the Bandits back the lead for the final time by a score of 29-28.
Indoor Football is usually billed as a high flying, high scoring, passing game. Esposito's Freeze is about as close to "Smash Mouth" football as you're going to see at any level or League in this country. The Freeze relied on its men in the trenches, the "Huskies" if you will, to control the ball the clock.
The Freeze's first drive of the fourth quarter reached fruition when Dinkins picked up his third rushing touchdown of the game. Dinkins outraced the Richmond defense to the end zone from 8-yards out and with Cipra's kick gave the lead back to the Freeze 35-29.
On Richmond's ensuing drive, Almoners Boyles forced and recovered a fumble to give the ball back to the Erie offense at the Richmond 12 yard line. After a time consuming dissection, the 5 play drive ended with Dinkins picking up touchdown number four from 1-yard out. With Cipra's kick, Erie moved to a 42-29 advantage with 8:55 remaining.
One thing that fans in the AIFL will learn this year is to never count the Richmond Bandits out of any game. Richmond's backup quarterback Robbie Jenkins found his comfort level and his play immediately paid dividends for the Bandits. Jenkins finished the game 9-19 with 134 yards and picked up a touchdown on a 2-yard pass to Marcus Richardson. Phillips earned another 2-point conversion as Richmond closed the gap to 42-37.
If any thought of a Richmond comeback danced in the heads of the Erie faithful, the "Double D" combination of Dinkins to Donte Pimpleton quickly quelled those notions. On the next drive, Dinkins dropped back and found Pimpleton who outraced the Bandits' secondary to the end zone for a 24-yard touchdown. Pimpleton, from Western Kentucky University, finished the night with seven receptions for 117 yards. The bomb brought the crowd to its feet and the scoreboard to a 48-37 Freeze advantage.
In Indoor Football no lead is safe. The Erie defense did its best to dispel any fears. Boyles, Benjamin, and Eddie Robinson combined for four sacks on the night, and on Richmond's next drive their presence forced the night's biggest turnover. The defense put Jenkins under duress and Erie benefited courtesy of Rashawn Hall. The 5'11" Kent State product stepped in front of Jenkins's rushed throw and scampered 35 unimpeded yards for an Erie touchdown. Cipra's kick gave Erie its 55th point, but Richmond still had its mind on a comeback.
Cipra's booming kickoff missed its mark and gave the Bandits great field position at their own 20-yard line. Three plays and 30-yards later, Richmond closed the gap on a Phillips 2-yard touchdown to make the score 55-45 Erie.
The Freeze gobbled up the onsides kick attempt and ran out the clock to increase the team's early season record to 2-0 good for first place in the Atlantic Indoor Football League.
Dinkins added in the post game remarks, "This (Richmond) is a real team. We gave everything we could to come out with a victory. We needed to earn this one and it's not going to be easy since we have to meet these guys again later in the year."
Coach Esposito was quick to dish out the praise for the victory, "This victory wasn't just a team effort, it was a tremendous job done by every level of the organization from the Arena operations people to the game day staff. Most of all, I would like to thank the fans that showed up tonight. They came on faith, and I hope they see that we put a real football field on the team representing Erie."
Esposito added, "I've had the opportunity to coach at all levels of football all around this country. There were times tonight when I would have sworn that our 4,000 crowd was 10,000 with the amount of noise they were making. That's why Erie is such a great place to place a team. Our fans are so knowledgeable about the game of football that they gave us a distinct advantage. When they (Richmond) had to put in the second string quarterback, our crowd reacted like sharks to blood in the water. They made so much noise; I know it affected their calls. Heck, you can't promote or manufacture that aspect of the game. That's in someone's heart!"
The Freeze hit the road on Saturday, April 30 when they travel to Canton to take on the Legends.
The Freeze return to Erie on May 14 for a 7 PM contest against the Johnstown Riverhawks. Tickets are available at the Arena box office or calling (814) 454-0200 and season ticket packages are still available.
American Indoor Football Association Stories from April 25, 2005
- Erie Freeze topple Richmond in AIFL home opener - Erie Freeze
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