Preview: Erie Hosts Harrisburg On Sunday, March 14

Published on March 13, 2010 under American Indoor Football Association (AIFA)
Erie Explosion News Release


(Erie, PA) - The Erie Storm of the American Indoor Football Association will get a visit from their in-state rivals, the Harrisburg Stampede, on Sunday, March 14, at the Tullio Arena with kickoff scheduled for 2:00 PM.

Tickets for this and all six remaining home games are available now at the Tullio Arena box office (452-4857) and at all Ticketmaster outlets. All Erie Storm fans in attendance are invited to come onto the field following all home games to meet, take pictures with, and get autographs from Erie Storm players and coaches.

Erie (1-0) comes into the game with momentum after defeating the defending AIFA champion Reading Express in convincing fashion last Sunday, by the score of 41-28 in the return of Head Coach Shawn Liotta to the Erie sidelines. After allowing the opening score, the Storm defense took control of the game and did not allow a single point in over two quarters, by which time Erie had the game well under control. In six possessions during that time, the Storm took advantage of a missed field goal and three Express turnovers, including a fumble and two interceptions, and forced the Reading offense to turn the ball over twice on downs.

Erie DB Trent Jones, playing his first game against his former Express teammates, was responsible for two of the Storm's three interceptions of Reading quarterback and former league MVP Rob Flowers, with Chris Blackshear recording the other. Erie's defensive front was a disruptive force all game, getting sacks from linemen Troy Blackwell and Phil Tillman.

Storm QB Rod Rutherford was productive in his return to Erie, completing 21 of 35 passes for 230 yards and three touchdowns with no interceptions, and added two rushing scores. Trumaine Riley had seven catches for 87 yards and two touchdowns, David Dinkins recorded seven receptions in his return to Erie, and Darmel Whitfield added five catches, one for a touchdown. Erie PK Nick Terracina was perfect in his professional debut, converting on all five PAT kick attempts and both his field goal attempts, from 24 and 30 yards. For their efforts, Rutherford was named AIFA Vidswap.com Offensive Player of the Week, and Terracina was named Special Teams Player of the Week.

Harrisburg (0-1) lost its season debut last week at home to the Baltimore Mariners in a back-and-forth high-scoring affair by the score of 55-48. The Stampede are coached by Ramon Robinson and feature indoor football veteran Kelvin Robinson at quarterback and Eugene Goodman at running back. Against Baltimore, Robinson completed 15 of 22 passes for 252 yards and 3 touchdowns. His favorite target was WR Keith Stokes who caught 9 passes for 130 yards. In 2009, Goodman was among the league's leading rushers with 344 yards and 12 rushing touchdowns, and was selected to the AIFA All-Star squad.

Harrisburg took the season series from Erie in 2009 two games to one. This game marks the second matchup between coaches Liotta and Robinson, with Liotta's squad having won the first matchup, a 42-21 victory by Erie in its 2008 home opener against Robinson's former team, the Carolina Speed.

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