League-Leading Baltimore Mariners Set for Next Challenge

Published on March 20, 2010 under American Indoor Football Association (AIFA)
Baltimore Mariners News Release


BALTIMORE, MD (March 20, 2010) - While the Mariners have been steadily building their 2010 season resume: 2-0 record, league leaders in scoring offense (66 points per game) passing offense (212 yards a game), turnover margin (+6) and five other categories; their opponents have been largely unknown. This week will be no different, as for the third week in a row; they will be facing a team opening their season and an opponent that has undergone an off-season facelift.

This week's opponent, the Fayetteville Guard, which was originally founded in South Carolina in 2003, has one of the more extensive resumes in indoor football as they enter their eighth season of play. Since moving to Fayetteville in 2005 they have made the playoffs four of five seasons, appeared in two championship games, and won a national championship in 2007. This season, however, they are largely an unknown entity as new head coach Webbie Burnett, a ten-year veteran player in the Arena Football League, takes over the reigns of the Guard.

Mariners Head Coach Simpson sees the challenge in facing a team with a new coaching regime in place and in their first game of the season, "The Guard have a new coaching staff this season. Head Coach Webbie Burnett spent nine seasons playing for the Orlando Predators of the AFL and I am sure he will take his playing experience and use it to prepare his team. The question we face is how much will the system change from last season. This is the third team we've faced in a row who has opened their season against us."

After a tough struggle in Harrisburg in their season opener, when an interception by Jermaine Thaxton in the final minutes of the game secured a 55-48 win and a 68-23 blowout of the New Jersey Revolution last weekend, which saw the Mariners score a franchise record 51 points in the first half, Coach Simpson seeks continued hard effort and improvement from his squad. "I like the direction we are going but, we are not where we need to be yet. We will continue to focus on improving as a team. I don't believe that this is satisfied. It is too long of a season to get comfortable with our play. I expect them to continue to come out and play hard week in and week out."

The Mariners have built their 2-0 start on the strong and accurate arm of E.J. Nemeth, who leads the American Indoor Football Association (AIFA) with nine touchdown passes and as a unit, Baltimore tops the AIFA passing efficiency rankings. Running back Isaiah Grier and wide receiver Scorpio Brown also lead the AIFA with five touchdowns each. On the defensive side of the ball, after a lackluster effort in week one, the Mariners returned to their 2009 form, in which they led the AIFA in interceptions and ranked second in takeaways, as they forced seven turnovers, including a record-tying five interceptions by defensive back Armar Watson.

To run their record to 3-0 the Mariners must once again top a largely unknown team. If the last two week's are any indication, this Baltimore squad, which includes 18 returnees from last season's playoff squad and the addition of arena and indoor football veterans such as Desmond Maul, Mark Stout, and Thaxton, they are prepared to take whatever any opponent, known or unknown can throw at them.

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American Indoor Football Association Stories from March 20, 2010


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