Reading at Erie Game Preview - 6/7/08

Published on June 5, 2008 under American Indoor Football Association (AIFA)
Erie Explosion News Release


In one of the most important and highly anticipated matchups of the AIFA season, the Erie RiverRats will host the Reading Express this weekend in the first game of a home-and-home series to be played over the next two weekends. This game represents the second of three scheduled meetings between the teams this season, and both of these games will decide the North Division championship and home field advantage for the first round of the playoffs.

Last week, Erie bounced back from a difficult loss at Florence to defeat Canton at home by the score of 45-37. Reading had their five-game winning streak snapped at Huntington dropping a 51-40 decision to the Heroes.

In their first matchup played March 31 on a rare Monday night game, the ‘Rats suffered their first loss of the season dropping a tough 44-34 decision at the Tullio Arena in Erie. In his first home start for Erie, QB Jarrod Highberger completed 15 of 32 passes for 196 yards and 3 touchdowns, but threw a crucial interception on a broken play with three minutes to go in the game that was returned 50 yards by Reading DB Trenton Jones for a touchdown and a ten-point lead the Express would not surrender. Two controversial officials calls near the end of the game did not go Erie's way, and Reading prevailed.

On first and goal at the Reading 2-yard line, Erie RB Robert Hammer fumbled the football although it appeared that he had crossed the plane with the ball before it was fumbled and recovered by Erie's Brandon Jackson. However, the officials placed the football at the 1-yard line negating the apparent ‘Rats touchdown. On second down, Highberger appeared to have crossed the end line with the ball once again for an apparent Erie TD before he fumbled. However, this fumble was recovered by Reading and the officials ruled it a touchback, effectively ending Erie's comeback chances. A vigorous appeal by the coaching staff to the officials fell on deaf ears, and Reading killed the clock to seal their victory.

Since joining the ‘Rats in April, Erie's record is 6-1 with QB Rod Rutherford leading the offense, and this will be his first appearance against the Reading Express. In those seven games, Rutherford has completed 51% of his passes for 1308 yards and 19 touchdowns against 6 interceptions, and has accounted for an additional 12 touchdowns rushing. He is among the league leaders in total offense per game, total touchdowns, rushing yardage, and rushing touchdowns. His leading pass targets include Darmel Whitfield, with 56 catches and 13 touchdowns, and David Dinkins, with 36 receptions and 3 touchdowns.

The Erie offensive line of Levon Barlow, Jon Sitter, and Anthony Peluso has been solid in protecting Rutherford, but will be challenged by Reading's talented and physical front five, including LB Matt Sola and defensive linemen Brett Kolk, Corey Gipe, and Mike Schwebel.

Erie PK J.R. Cipra continues to be among the league leaders in several kicking categories, including PAT percentage (92%), field goals made per game (1.5), field goal accuracy (18-42), points scored (129), and kickoffs through the uprights (18 "unos").

Erie's defense is among the top three in the league in several categories including defensive touchdowns scored, fumbles recovered, quarterback sacks, opponent third down conversions. For ‘Rats players are among the league leaders in tackles, including LB Glenroy Watkins, LB Roosevelt Benjamin, DB Sam Reynolds, and DB Chris Blackshear. Watkins, in his first professional season, is second in the league with 9 sacks and 11 tackles for losses, and DL Phil Tillman is among the league leaders in forced fumbles.

WHAT'S AT STAKE: Erie (9-3) and Reading (8-3) have locked up playoff spots out of the North Division. Both teams are in a battle for state bragging rights and home field advantage in the playoffs.

Erie needs to win both games to clinch the division championship. If the ‘Rats drop one of the two games, it would need the Express to lose their last game against Baltimore in order to win the division as Reading would own the tiebreaker.

SCHEDULES AND RESULTS: Reading:

3/8/08 Baltimore 27 Reading 36 3/15/08 Reading 17 Carolina 49 3/31/08 Reading 44 Erie 34 4/5/08 Huntington 38 Reading 57 4/12/08 Reading 25 Columbus 50 4/19/08 Florence 30 Reading 66 4/25/08 Canton 7 Reading 36 5/10/08 Reading 67 Canton 54 5/17/08 Fayetteville 24 Reading 51 5/24/08 Baltimore 27 Reading 49 5/31/08 Reading 41 Huntington 50 6/7/08 Reading at Erie 6/14/08 Erie at Reading 6/23/08 Reading at Baltimore Erie:

3/9/08 Carolina 21 Erie 42 3/15/08 Erie 38 Canton 24 3/22/08 Erie 54 Columbus 48 3/31/08 Reading 44 Erie 34 4/11/08 Erie 24 Huntington 54 4/18/08 Baltimore 40 Erie 55 4/25/08 Erie 49 Baltimore 17 5/3/08 Canton 48 Erie 50 5/9/08 Huntington 43 at Erie 47 5/17/08 Erie 52 at Huntington 31 5/23/08 Erie 27 at Florence 57 5/31/08 Canton 37 at Erie 45 6/7/08 Reading at Erie 6/14/08 Erie at Reading

TEAM STATISTICS COMPARISON:

Scoring per Game Rushing Yardage per Game Touchdowns Rushing Passing Yardage per Game Touchdowns Passing Interceptions Fumbles Lost Penalties Sacks Reading (Team-Opp) 44.5-35.3 22.6-17.9 18-8 149.6-180.5 37-34 11-17 4-8 51-76 22-9 Erie (Team-Opp) 43.1-38.7 19.8-34.4 19-17 172.2-162.8 34-39 19-17 11-15 57-80 31-21

AIFA STANDINGS (through May 31, 2008): NORTH: Erie 9-3 Reading 8-3 Baltimore 3-8 Canton 1-10 EAST: Florence 7-4 Huntington 6-5 Carolina 5-6 Fayetteville 3-7 SOUTH: Mississippi 10-1 Columbus 8-3 Augusta 6-5 Florida 0-11 WEST: Wyoming 9-1 Arizona 8-2 New Mexico 2-8 Utah 1-9

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American Indoor Football Association Stories from June 5, 2008


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