Stampede Hope Some Stability, Shake-up Combine for Win
April 15, 2011 - Southern Indoor Football League (SIFL)
Harrisburg Stampede News Release
HARRISBURG, PA (April 15, 2011) - An 0-4 start could keep a coach up at night, but the Harrisburg Stampede is hopeful that a combination of some stability in the starting line-up, some fresh faces in key positions, and an important game against an old foe can generate the team's first win.
An early season roster carousel started by injuries and poor performance have not produced the type of stability and cohesive a football team thrives on, but Harrisburg Stampede General Manager and Head Coach Bernie Nowotarski has seen his team start to gel resulting in 13 of 16 starters making multiple trips to the same starting position.
On offense after a career high 296 yards last weekend quarterback Andre Coles is slated to make his second straight start and six of the seven remaining starters will be making at least their fourth start this season.
At RB Eugene Goodman has been a staple for three seasons and wide receivers Collis Martin and John Sharbaugh have become fixtures for the Stampede. On the line Dennis Cooper will be making his fifth start at center and Kobie Howell and Mark Stout will be lining up for their fourth straight start after being injected into the first team in week two.
The defense has also started to solidify as lineman Cory Groover and Alfred Dubose, linebackers Will Hines and Jermaine Thaxton, and defensive back Richard Johnson will also be making their fifth start of the season.
Still in search of the winning combination Nowotarski has penciled wide receiver Takory Burkett, a speedy 5'10, 160 pound receiver from North Carolina Tech into the starting lineup for the first time.
The defense has seen one of the defensive end positions and two of the DB spots become revolving doors this season. An injury to Fearon Wright forced him out of the line-up against Richmond two weeks ago, but local product, Brian Sanks, a 6'1", 275 pound lineman from Harrisburg's Bishop McDevitt High School and Syracuse University will make his second straight start on the D-Line.
All-Pro defensive back Archie Smith, who has been starting all season at wide receiver, returns to the starting defensive backfield, in hopes of invigorating a pass defense that ranks 15th in the 16-team Southern Indoor Football League (SIFL).
Damien Dowell will also be getting his first start at defensive back. While Richard Johnson has been solid at the one DB position, with the starts of Smith and Dowell, six players have now filled the other two defensive back positions this season.
The good news for Stampede fans is despite the team's early season trials and tribulations in three seasons they have dominated the Erie-Harrisburg series, winning six of eight.
Also with a win tonight they would pull to within two games of division leading Erie with two match-ups against the Explosion remaining on the schedule and six division games overall left to play.
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Southern Indoor Football League Stories from April 15, 2011
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- Stampede Hope Some Stability, Shake-up Combine for Win - Harrisburg Stampede
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