A near sellout crowd pushed the home team Venom to victory on Saturday, with a 54-25 win over the Yakima Valley Warriors. The Venom boasted a veteran offense against the youthful Warriors defense that saw all-star QB Ronnie Simpson knocked from the game. The Warriors defense was left on the field and could only hold ground so many times in this offensive minded arena game.

The Venom had to work down the field patiently and was very effective as the game went on. The Warriors despite 2 blown coverage’s played hard and delivered some crushing hits. The Warriors offense struggled early until QB Jason Williams hit Reggie Ellis with a 45 yard TD. The Warriors ground attack started to work in the 2nd half as Don Chapman Rushed for 2 touchdowns. The Warriors next

The Warriors home opener is April 3 Saturday night 7:15 pm at the Sun Dome.

Visit www.yakimavalleywarriors.com for more information or call the Warrior office at 509-249-1110.

Go Warriors!

BALTIMORE, MD (March 21, 2010) – With a punishing defense that collected six sacks and seven turnovers and held the Fayetteville Guard to only 69 yards of total offense, the Baltimore Mariners became the first team in American Indoor Football Association (AIFA) history to notch a shutout in defeating Fayetteville 59-0. Leading the way for the Mariners defense were Armar Watson with interception and kickoff returns for scores, Adam Goloboski who had 2.5 sacks, 2.5 tackles for a loss, and a safety, Brian Bradford who had two interceptions, and Richard Johnson who totaled three takeaways (two interceptions and one fumble recovery).  On the offensive side of the ball, running back Isaiah Grier crossed the goal line with three rushing scores and also had one touchdown reception. “Overall this was our best effort of the season. Offense, defense and special teams all performed well. They were a good team; we came out and were ready to perform in all phases of the game,” said Mariners Head Coach Chris Simpson.

Just one minute and ten seconds into the game Mariners defensive back Armar Watson forced a fumble by Fayetteville’s Ty Pettergru and it was quickly recovered by fellow DB Richard Johnson. Baltimore then took over on its own 14. Quarterback E.J. Nemeth led the Mariners on a nine-play, 36-yard drive capped by a two-yard touchdown dash by Grier. Baltimore kicker J.R. Cipra added the extra point and a uno on the ensuing kickoff to spot Baltimore to an 8-0 lead at the 7:58 mark of the 1st quarter.  After another Guard drive was ended by a Mariners takeaway, this time a seven-yard interception return by linebacker Brian Bradford, Nemeth hit wide receiver Scorpio Brown on a 23-yard scoring toss to run the margin to 15-0.  A third straight Fayetteville drive was stopped by a Mariner interception, as Johnson reeled in a Nick Gildersleeve pass. The first quarter ended with Baltimore leading 15-0 and driving for another score.

Just ten seconds into the second quarter of play, Nemeth connected with Grier on a seven-yard scoring pass to increase the Mariners lead to 22-0.  Fayetteville finally completed a driver without a turnover, but Guard kicker Rob Averitt missed a 31-yard field goal attempt and Baltimore took over possession at its own ten. The Guard held the Mariners offense for the first time, but Cipra booted a 54-yard field goal to move Baltimore’s edge to 25-0. Following another three and out Averitt missed again, this time from 55 yards, and Baltimore started their next drive at its own ten. Once gain provided the ball by his defense, Nemeth then negotiated a nine-play, 29-yard drive, but Cipra missed on a 36-yard field goal attempt. The first half of play ended with Fayetteville mid-drive and Coach Simpson’s club holding a 25-0 advantage.

The Mariners continued to punish the Guard special teams as Armar Watson took the second half kickoff back 48 yards for a touchdown and Baltimore’s margin grew to 32-0. On Fayetteville’s first down of the second half Richard Johnson nabbed his second interception of the night and third takeaway. Cipra then capped a six play drive with a 28-yard field goal. With Fayetteville taking over once again following a Mariners score, Baltimore halted another Guard drive and Johnson returned a missed 50-yard field goal attempt 19 yards to the Baltimore 17. Isaiah Grier finished off another extensive drive with a one-yard touchdown plunge to increase Baltimore’s lead to 42-0; the score at the end of the third period.

Fayetteville continued their drive to open the fourth quarter, but once again the Mariners ball hawking defense flustered the Fayetteville QB as Brian Bradford picked off Gildersleeve and returned the ball to the Guard two.  On the very next play Grier waltzed in for another score and a 49-0 Mariners margin. The story remained the same on the next drive as Gildersleeve was forced to fumble by lineman Melik Brown and defensive back Jermaine Thaxton gobbled up the loose ball.

At the end of a three play drive, the Mariners finally committed their first turnover as Mariners back-up QB Matt Folke was intercepted by Fayetteville’s J.R. Hair.  Fayetteville’s brief glimpse at fortune did not last long, as Watson picked off another Gildersleeve pass and returned it 17 yards for the score. Following the extra point and a uno on the kickoff by Cipra, Baltimore’s lead mounted to 57-0.  With just one minute to go, Fayetteville brought in reserve quarterback Jordan Reisman, who was promptly treated to two Mariners sacks. The second, by Goloboski, resulted in a safety as he brought Reisman down in the end zone giving the Mariners the final 59-0 edge and the AIFA’s first shutout in the league’s four year history.

The list of standouts on the Mariners defensive team was long. Thaxton led all Mariners with four tackles and also added a fumble recovery.  Brown totaled 2.5 tackles for a loss, 1.5 sacks, and had 1 forced fumble. Goloboski compiled 2.5 sacks, 2.5 tackles for a loss, and recorded a safety. Fearon Wright harassed the Guard offense for two tackles for a loss, two sacks, and also forced a fumble.  Watson (one), Bradford (two), and Johnson (two) all grabbed interceptions and Johnson recorded a fumble recovery.

On offense Nemeth completed 13 of 25 passes for 106 yards and two touchdown passes, while Aaron Yarbough led all receivers with seven receptions for 43 yards. In addition to his four touchdowns Grier had 37 yards rushing and seven yards receiving.  On special teams, J.R. Cipra totaled 15 points with two field goals (54, 28), six PATs, and two unos.

The Mariners will look to run their record to 4-0 when they take on the Richmond Raiders at 1st Mariner Arena on Sunday, March 28th at 4:00 PM. Baltimore currently holds a half game lead over the Harrisburg Stampede (2-1).

For more information about the Baltimore Mariners go to www.baltimoremariners.com.

To Improve to 3-0 Mariners Must Again Defeat Team Making 2010 Debut after Facelift

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 face 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.”

Nationally Syndicated Show Reaches Out to Mariners for Help with Troubled Baltimore Teens

BALTIMORE, MD (March 17, 2010) – When a Baltimore mother afraid her twin 16-year old boys would continue toward a life filled with drugs, arrests, and a mindset of not living past the age of 20 she contacted The Steve Wilkos Show for help. In search of role models for the boys; men who had seen the darker side of growing up in the inner city, but had overcome obstacles to build successful careers, The Steve Wilkos Show reached out to the Baltimore Mariners for mentors.

After the initial contact between the Mariners and Wilkos Show staffs, plans quickly rolled into place. The Mariners identified running back Isaiah Grier and linebacker/defensive end Fearon Wright to be mentors to the troubled teens. Grier had seen the ills of drug abuse in his family and had lost family members to gang violence, including a brother just over a year ago. Despite this he went on to star at the University of Rhode Island where he was a Buck Buchanan Award Finalist, an award given for the top 1-AA defender in the nation, is playing his fifth season of professional football, and has started a program to help troubled inner city youths through academics and sports. Born in Jamaica, Wright faced a childhood where he walked around the streets barefoot and ate out of pots, not plates. At 13 he moved to the tough inner city streets of Jersey City, New Jersey. He faced numerous obstacles in his life, including being stabbed in an altercation. He too, went on to star for the Rhode Island Rams, was a free agent signee of the Minnesota Vikings, and after one season was forced from the NFL due to a shoulder injury in 2001. He battled back to play three seasons of professional indoor football and regularly speaks to groups, sharing his experiences.

Bay Area Football Fans Get Ready. Arena Football is Back.  And it’s Only on KOFY, Only on Sundays!

San Francisco, Calif. - March 17, 2010 - KOFY TV20-Cable 13 is on hand to usher in a new era for avid football fans in the Bay Area. The Granite Broadcasting-owned television station today announced plans to air the region’s latest sports attraction the San Jose Wolves’ riveting home games on Sunday afternoons at 3:00 p.m. PT.

The San Jose Wolves are new members of the Western Conference of the American Indoor Football Association (AIFA), a professional indoor football league that was formed in 2006. The Wolves, owned by Ryan Petersen and coached by Bennie King, will begin play this month, joining the 14-team AIFA league for its fourth season, which lasts through June. The San Jose Wolves are preparing for their season opener against the Alaska Arctic Predators on Saturday, March 20th at the Cow Palace, located in Daly City, California. The game will be broadcast on KOFY on Sunday, March 21st.

“The excitement that the San Jose Wolves have already generated locally makes the new football franchise attractive programming for KOFY TV's lineup,” stated KOFY TV 20/Cable 13’s President and General Manager, Craig Coane. “These games mark the return of indoor/arena football to the Bay Area and, as our first official sports offering, we look forward to capturing the thrill of Wolves action for our viewers.”

Baltimore, MD (March 17, 2010) - The American Indoor Football Association is pleased to announce the VidSwap.com AIFA Players of the Week for the second week of regular season play. Each week three AIFA players are selected for their outstanding performance on offense, defense and special teams. One hundred-twenty players competed for top honors this past weekend, all from the Eastern Conference.

Offensive Player of the Week: EJ Nemeth, QB #15, Baltimore Mariners
Nemeth and the entire Baltimore Mariners squad were impressive in their home opener as they routed the New Jersey Revolution 68-23. Nemeth recorded the best performance by completing 12-20 passes for 165 yards, 1 interception, and 5 touchdowns, including a 42 yard touchdown pass to Jamal Stokes late in the second quarter. Sunday’s win put the Mariners at the top of the East Conference standings with a perfect 2-0 record.

Defensive Player of the Week: Armar Watson, DB #5, Baltimore Mariners
Watson had an exceptional game against the New Jersey Revolution as he had 5 interceptions. The first interception came on New Jersey’s first possession with just 1:50 elapsed time in the first quarter – an interception that was returned for a 45 yard touchdown, putting the Mariners up 13-0, and setting the pace for a tough defensive attack from Baltimore. The Mariners host the Fayetteville Guard next Sunday. This will be the Guard’s first game of the season.

Special Teams Player of the Week: Scott Derrick, K #12, Harrisburg Stampede
The Harrisburg Stampede rode into Tullio Arena in Erie, PA with one goal in mind – knock off the team that beat the Reading Express, the defending AIFA Champions. They did just that.  Derrick posted an almost perfect performance by kicking 2-2 field goals (33 and 23 yards) and 5-6 PAT’s, contributing 11 points in the Stampede’s 41-34 victory over the Erie Storm. The Stampede (1-1) travel to Reading (1-1) next Sunday to take on the defending AIFA Champs.

The San Jose Wolves members of the American Indoor Football Association’s Western Conference are preparing for their Regular Season opener verse the Arctic Predators March 20th 2010 at the Cow Palace at 7pm. The Wolves are coming off an impressive debut as an organization with a 48 – 16 win over the Ogden Knights in a pre season matchup.” The game was a great success as an organization we were able to unveil our product to the bay area and I think fans were surprised at what they saw on the field and with the overall in game experience” said GM Bennie King. The Wolves come into the AIFA with high expectations on the field and off. The team will be the only indoor football team playing in the state of California this year.” We have a large responsibility to maintain the level of play that fans of this area our used to with indoor football we are more than capable of doing so” said King. The Wolves boast a roster of talent that King feels will allow the wolves to compete for a championship this year.” We have done a good job at getting guys in here who can flat out play we feel the pieces our here to win the AIFA Championship we just need to execute “said King. From King’s previous track record with championships in his last two previous stops (Lakeland Thunderbolts 2007, Florence Phantoms 2008) the mentality of winning is understandable. The Bay Area’s last Arena Football team was the San Jose Sabercats in the now defunct AFL. “We are looking forward to this Saturday and continuing off the success of our pre season game” said King.

March 21st Game to Feature Special Commemorative Decals, Giveaways, and More

BALTIMORE, MD (March 16, 2010) – When the Baltimore Mariners take the field against the Fayetteville Guard on Sunday, March 21st at 4:00 PM at 1st Mariner Arena, they will also be showing their support for Breast Cancer Awareness.  This special night will feature a commemorative decal worn by the Mariners, reduced pricing for women wearing pink to the game to show their support for breast cancer awareness, and a portion of the game’s proceeds will be donated to Susan G. Komen for the Cure.

The Mariners will wear pink ribbon decals, provided by Susan G. Komen for the Cure, on their helmets and the society will also provide a special giveaway. The Mariners will also offer $15 tickets (plus a $2 arena fee) for only $10 (plus fee) to any women wearing pink. These tickets may be purchased on game day at the Arena Box Office.

Also to help celebrate this special night, the Baltimore Nighthawks, who are members of the Independent Women’s Football League, will take part in a skills challenge against fans selected from the audience at halftime. For more information on the Nighthawks, visit http://www.mybaltimorenighthawks.com.

Mariners Run their Record to 2-0 with Record Performances

BALTIMORE, MD (March 14, 2010) – The Revolution made the trip from New Jersey for their American Indoor Football Association (AIFA) debut, but the Baltimore Mariners proved to be inhospitable to their guests as they pounded the Revos 68-23 behind a record-tying five interceptions by defensive back Armar Watson and five touchdown passes from quarterback E.J. Nemeth.

Just 1:25 into the game the Mariners jumped to a 7-0 lead with a 35-yard touchdown strike from Nemeth to wide receiver Scorpio Brown. Baltimore then grew their 1st quarter lead to 21-0 following a 45-yard interception for a score by Watson and a 12-yard touchdown run by running back Isaiah Grier. New Jersey kicker Craig Pinto nailed a 21-yard field goal to close the quarter with Baltimore leading 21-3.

The Mariners continued to pound the Revolution with a 30-point outburst in the second period. Nemeth tossed three more scoring passes hitting Brown, Jamaal Stokes, and Aaron Yarbough for touchdown receptions of 33, 42, and 7 yards respectively. Grier also added his second touchdown dash of the day, a 2-yarder, and kicker J.R. Cipra booted two unos (by splitting the uprights on kickoffs) to give the Mariners a franchise record 51 points in the first half. New Jersey could only muster a 32-yard touchdown pass from Jay Hawes to Zikoma Richards in the quarter and Baltimore held a resounding 51-10 lead at the half.