Baltimore Completes 16-0 Season with Win in AIFA Title Game

BALTIMORE, MD (July 25, 2010) – Perfection. Many have strived for it, but few have achieved it. The Baltimore Mariners (16-0) became one of a few teams in professional football history and the first team in American Indoor Football Association (AIFA) history to complete a season undefeated and win a national championship, by defeating the Wyoming Cavalry 57-42 in front of 6,075 fans at 1st Mariner Arena.

The Mariners, a relative newcomer to indoor football, entered AIFA Bowl IV riding a 15-game win streak and after winning the first conference championship in franchise history in just three years in existence.  The Cavalry (14-2), in their 11th season, were appearing in their fifth league championship game and fourth straight title match. Despite the differing team histories, both squads were aiming for their first national championship.

Early in the game it looked like the Cavalry may finally bring a championship home to Casper, Wyoming.  Just 58 seconds into the game Wyoming quarterback Matt Strand hit wide receiver Jasonus Tillery with a 30-yard score. Strand also connected with Tillery on the two-point conversion to give Wyoming an 8-0 lead.

On Baltimore’s first drive quarterback E.J. Nemeth threw a rare interception to defensive back Emery Beckles. The Cavalry then took possession at their own 23. Just one play later Strand hit Dante Dudley in stride and following a Strand to Josh Schleusner two-point pass the Baltimore fans stood stunned with their team trailing 16-0 with 8:02 left in the first period of play.

After the Wyoming kickoff was booted out at midfield the Mariners started their second drive of the day at the 25. After two straight incompletions Nemeth found Scorpio Brown on a 25-yards scoring pass to pull the Mariners within 16-6.

BALTIMORE, MD (July 25, 2010) – Following is a look at the American Indoor Football Association’s AIFA Bowl IV, national championship match-up between the Baltimore Mariners and Wyoming Cavalry. The title game is slated for Sunday, July 25th at 4:00 PM at Baltimore’s 1st Mariner Arena.

Baltimore Mariners

Founded: 2008
Career Regular Season Record: 27-15
Career Playoff Record: 1-1
Total Career Record: 28-16
Head Coach: Chris Simpson

Last Outing: The Mariners (15-0) won their first playoff game in team history and also won the franchise’s first conference championship by harnessing the Harrisburg Stampede 63-15.

Profile: The Mariners have achieved every goal they set out to achieve when camp opened back in February. Now the big prize is left. On top of winning a national championship the Mariners can also be the first team in league history to do so undefeated.

Wyoming Cavalry

Founded: 2000
Career Regular Season Record: 90-58
Career Playoff Record: 6-7
Total Career Record: 96-65
Head Coach: Dan Maciejczak

July 21, 2010 – READING, PA:   The Reading Express is proud to announce that Assistant GM, and Offensive Coordinator, Chris Thompson has been named Head Coach for the 2011 Express season.  Chris served as interim Head Coach for the last four games of the 2010 season. 

Chris attended Bloomsburg University on a Football scholarship, where he continued to excel in his athletic success.  As quarterback and captain of Bloomsburg Football Team, Chris led the team in 2001 to the PSAC championship and a berth in the NCAA Playoffs.  Head Coach Danny Hale said, “Chris is a great leader and a true TEAM player.” 

Chris began his journey into Professional football in 2002.  He began to coach young quarterbacks throughout the state during SVS Sports Camps under Jim Cantafio and beside NFL player Chad Henne. He then became a full-time Assistant Coach for Lebanon Valley College where he coached quarterbacks and helped coordinate the offense.  He aided in coaching Lebanon Valley to a four win season for the first time in ten years and assisted in the development of Lebanon Valley College’s football program.  Head Coach Jim Monos said of Thompson, “He is a winner and he is dedicated and committed to everything he does.  He will win Championships as a coach”.   Coaching right out of college was more than an experience; it became the step into a higher level of football.  Chris took his football talent and experience and played Professional Arena Football in the AF2, AIFA, CIFL, AIFL, and NIFL for 5 years including, AF2 Fayetteville North Carolina, Cape Fear Wildcats 2004, Johnstown River Hawks 2005, Reading Express 2006 inaugural season, and the Chesapeake Tide, Maryland 2007.  Chris played under the tutelage of current AFL/AF2 coaches, Ollie Guidry and Chris Siegfried, and still holds a Reading Express Franchise record for longest touchdown pass at 49 yards.