Saturday March 6 2010, San Francisco CA: Fans at the Cow Palace were wowed Saturday night as the San Jose Wolves dominated with a 48 – 16 win over the Ogden Knights in the Wolves inaugural preseason game. This game marks the return of indoor/arena football to the Bay Area and brings bay area fans hope that the Wolves domination continues into the season, something that they have sorely missed.
“Preseason games are unheard of at this level and we are happy to have been able to show bay area fans what they can expect this coming season, as an expansion franchise starting strong was important. We gave the fans a great show.” commented General Manager, Bennie King “We have built a team that can compete at the highest levels and are looking forward to a record season”
Ticketed attendance was significantly above expectations for a preseason game despite the fact that it was scheduled on the same day and time of a local NHL match. The Wolves next scheduled game is the Saturday March 20th Regular season opener against the Alaska Arctic Predators.
Mariners Halt Harrisburg Stampede 55-48
Baltimore Earns First Win of 2010 Campaign Powered by Six TDs by Nemeth
HARRISBURG, PA (March 6, 2010) – A couple of standouts from last season and two new team members vaulted the Baltimore Mariners to a 55-48 win over the Harrisburg Stampede in their 2010 season opener at the Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex on Saturday Night.
Baltimore quarterback E.J. Nemeth making his 16th consecutive start for the Mariners enjoyed his best game in a Baltimore uniform connecting on 19 of 25 passes for 258 yards, four touchdown tosses, and no interceptions for a QB rating of 157.08. The New Jersey native also added two rushing scores and 16 yards on the ground. The recipient of three of his scoring strikes was Scorpio Brown, Baltimore’s all-time leader in touchdown receptions (with 22), who totaled five catches for 66 yards.
Two newcomers, defensive lineman Melik Brown and defensive back Jermaine Thaxton, both members of the Stampede last season, made their presence felt in their new uniforms. Brown, a former North Carolina Tar Heel, was constantly in the Stampede backfield and registered 4.5 tackles, 2.5 sacks, and 2.5 tackles for a loss. After leading the American Indoor Football Association (AIFA) with 42 interceptions the Mariners defensive backfield stayed quiet most of the night, but Thaxton sealed the 55-48 victory with an interception deep in Mariners territory with just 2:23 remaining in the contest.
HARRISBURG – On Saturday, the well-established warriors from the Inner Harbor will make a drive approximately two hours North to take on one of their biggest rivals, the Harrisburg Stampede. With the Baltimore Mariners bringing their high-powered offense to the Farm Show Arena, it is sure to be a grueling battle for Interstate 83 from the opening kickoff at 7:30 pm. Tickets are still available and start as low as $10 for groups and can be purchased on game day starting at 2 pm at the box office of the Farm Show Arena.
Coach Ramon Robinson of the Stampede said, “Blood boils when you bring guys from this close to play against each other. Some of these guys are former players, friends and teammates, but it won’t matter as soon as the teams suit up for this war in the trenches on Saturday.”
Harrisburg looks to build around its defense, which was second in the league last year, with some new looks under center. By adding key pieces to a solid team that was in most games last season, Harrisburg looks to push for one of the possible playoff spots as it kicks off its second season.
However, Baltimore comes into this game with a chip on their shoulder, as they dropped a close game at the ‘Show last season. John Morris, owner of the Stampede, stated, “This game really shows off the interstate rivalry providing a great atmosphere for fans of all ages. Baltimore always brings up their crazy fans, the Mariner Maniacs, and it really shows off how important this game is to both teams, let alone as the season opener for both teams.”
After Playoff Loss in 2009, Baltimore Mariners Seek Championship Win in 2010
BALTIMORE, MD (March 5, 2010) – The first playoff berth in franchise history, a 6-1 record at 1st Mariner Arena, and five players named to the All-Pro team. These were just a few of the highlights from the Baltimore Mariners’ successful 2009 season. On July 2, 2009 all those accomplishments came crashing down as the Mariners were stunned by a 50-20 loss to the Reading Express in the first round of the playoffs; a team they had beaten twice during the season. The playoff loss stung the organization and almost immediately the front office, coaching staff, and players began paving a path to the 2010 American Indoor Football Association (AIFA) championship game in Baltimore. The first trip on that road to redemption is north up I-83, where the Mariners will take on a familiar foe, the Harrisburg Stampede.
When the Mariners take on Harrisburg at the Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex this Saturday March 6th at 7:30 PM, Mariners Head Coach Chris Simpson hopes to build on the solid base the team built in training camp, “We want to win this game and establish ourselves on the road for the remainder of the season. We always want to add building blocks to the foundation set during training camp. There will not be anything fancy from us. Just sound, fundamental football is what we want to see from this first game.”
The 2010 squad will have many familiar faces to Mariners fans, but General Manager and Director of Player Personnel Greg Justice had a busy off-season fortifying Baltimore’s offensive and defensive attacks. On the offensive side of the ball seven of eight starters are back with Quarterback E.J. Nemeth, All-Pro Running Back Isaiah Grier, the team’s top three wide-outs Scorpio Brown, Jamaal Stokes, and Aaron Yarbough, and two-thirds of the starting line in Gus Kosmakos and Jeff Tyler. Matt Folke is also back as the #2 QB and J.R. Cipra, the leading kicker in the AIFA in 2009 with 191 points, will be back for his seventh professional season.
The American Indoor Football Association has entered into an agreement with PALMGARD® International, Inc. to be an “Official Glove Supplier of the AIFA”. Under the agreement Palmgard® would produce a customized line of football gloves for the AIFA and its member teams. In addition the agreement gives Palmgard® the ability to test market potential new products in its glove line with AIFA players in a professional setting. Palmgard® currently offers gloves for the following positions – wide receiver, runningback, linebacker, lineman as well as a line for coaches and its products are sold online at retailers like Sports Authority, Footlocker, Dicks Sporting Goods, Champs and Modell’s Sporting Goods.
AIFA players will also be used in an upcoming marketing campaign to showcase the Palmgard® product line through print, television and web presence. The “Palmgard Catch of the Game” will be a regular segment in the nationally televised “2010 AIFA Game of the Week”
John Morris, Co-Owner of the AIFA, is excited about the partnership with Palmgard® and the many opportunities it presents the AIFA. Morris noted that Palmgard® is recognized as a leader in the sports glove industry that supplies over 70 professional and collegiate football teams across the nation. With the addition of Palmgard the AIFA has added another proven equipment partner for its member teams.
PALMGARD® International, Inc. is a Maryland Corporation organized in 1988 by Mr. Charles H. Webster to manufacture, sell and distribute the PALMGARD® Glove line throughout the United States and foreign markets. Charles Webster knew it was essential that the materials used for his gloves provide performance, comfort, flexibility, and durability. The new GRIP-TACK II™ palm material used in the receiver glove provides the highest level of performance and durability on the market.
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