2011 Erie Explosion season

2011 Erie Explosion season
2011 Erie Explosion season
Owner	Bill Stafford
General manager	Shawn Liotta
Head coach	Shawn Liotta
Home field	Louis J. Tullio Arena
Results
Record	9-3
Division place	1st
Playoff finish	Lost Eastern Conference Round 1 (vs. Albany Panthers) 68-43
	← 2010; Erie Explosion; 2012 →;

The 2011 Erie Explosion season was the 5th season for the Southern Indoor Football League (SIFL) franchise.

On December 3, 2010, the team announced its new identity as the Erie Explosion, including a new logo, but retaining the same color scheme as the Storm previously had. After dealing with the legalities of the previous name, the ownership of the Explosion have secured the legal trademark of the new name, ensuring that this will be the last re-brand in the foreseeable future.^[1] The Erie Explosion was also one of 6 AIFA teams which were merged with the Southern Indoor Football League (SIFL) prior to the 2011 season.^[2] The Explosion announced the signing of Quarterback, Adam DiMichele,^[3] along with former local Erie Strong Vincent star, Maurice Williams,^[4] and college star receiver David Ball.

On May 21, 2011, the Explosion set a single-game franchise record, including an unofficial indoor football record, for the most points scored in a 138-0 blowout win over the Fayetteville Force after the Force was forced to restock its team with scrubs in an ownership change.^[5] The margin of victory is the third-highest in all of professional football, and the highest in over 100 years: only the 1903 Massillon Tigers (who won a game 148-0) and 1904 Watertown Red & Black (who won a game 142-0) have had wider margins of victory.

The Explosion finished the season with a 9–4 record, winning the Northeast Division, but were defeated 68–43 by the Albany Panthers in the first round of the playoffs.^[6] Despite the playoff loss, DiMichele was named SIFL MVP, finishing the season with 91 touchdown passes.^[7]

Roster

2011 Erie Explosion roster

Quarterbacks

13 Adam DiMichele

Running backs

99 Bob Hammer

Wide receivers

-- David Ball
1 Kevin Concepcion
6 Terry Jackson
8 Tirone Morris
-- Maurice Williams

Offensive linemen

62 Joe Blanks
-- Mike Fazio
-- Ron Idoko

Defensive linemen

-- Andre Mathis
-- Jerrickus Speights

Linebackers

2 Roosevelt Benjamin

Defensive backs

11 Sam Reynolds
3 Lenny Wicks

Kickers

currently vacant

Injured reserve

currently vacant

Exempt list

currently vacant

Practice squad

currently vacant

rookies in italics
Roster updated February 19, 2013
15 Active, 0 Inactive, 0 PS

Schedule

Regular season

Date	Opponent	Home/Away	Result
March 20	Harrisburg Stampede	Away	Won 46-25
March 26	Trenton Steel	Away	Won 76-73
April 1	Carolina Speed	Away	Won 39-36
April 9	Trenton Steel	Home	Lost 62-65
April 15	Harrisburg Stampede	Home	Won 89-35
April 23	Richmond Raiders	Home	Won 74-54
April 30	Harrisburg Stampede	Away	Lost 40-41
May 7	Richmond Raiders	Away	Won 65-50
May 13	Trenton Steel	Home	Won 90-79
May 21	Fayetteville Force	Home	Won 138-0
May 26	Trenton Steel	Away	Lost 78-53
June 4	Harrisburg Stampede	Home	Won 71-32

Postseason

Date	Opponent	Home/Away	Result
June 18	Albany Panthers	Away	Lost 43-68

Standings

Team	Overall			Division
Team	Wins	Losses	Percentage	Wins	Losses	Percentage
Eastern Conference
Northeast Division
Erie Explosion	9	3	0.750	5	3	0.625
Trenton Steel	8	4	0.667	6	2	0.750
Harrisburg Stampede	2	10	0.167	1	7	0.125
Mid-Atlantic Division
Richmond Raiders*	6	6	0.500	3	1	0.750
Carolina Speed	3	9	0.250	2	2	0.250
Fayetteville Force	3	9	0.250	1	3	0.250
South Division
Columbus Lions	11	1	0.917	5	1	0.833
Albany Panthers	9	2	0.818	4	2	0.667
Alabama Hammers	3	8	0.273	0	6	0.000
Western Conference
Gulf Division
Louisiana Swashbucklers	8	4	0.667	1	0	1.000
Mobile Bay Tarpons**	2	3	0.500	0	1	0.000
Lafayette Wildcatters***	0	12	0.000	0	12	0.000
Southwest Division
Houston Stallions	12	0	1.000	8	0	1.000
Corpus Christi Hammerheads	7	5	0.583	3	4	0.429
Rio Grande Valley Magic	6	6	0.500	3	6	0.333
Abilene Ruff Riders	4	8	0.333	1	6	0.143

Green indicates clinched playoff berth
Purple indicates division champion
Grey indicates best league record
* = Failed to make the playoffs despite winning division
** = Folded five games into their season.
*** = Suspended operations prior to the season due to lack of Worker's Compensation Insurance^[8]

References

^ "Erie football team named Explosion". www.goerie.com. CyberInk LP and the Erie Times-News. December 3, 2010. Retrieved December 26, 2013.
^ "Erie's indoor football now in SIFL". www.goerie.com. CyberInk LP and the Erie Times-News. November 16, 2010. Retrieved December 27, 2013.
^ "Erie Explosion Sign QB Adam DiMichele for 2011". www.oursportscentral.com. OurSports Central. December 17, 2010. Retrieved December 27, 2013.
^ "Maurice Williams Back in the Game with Erie Explosion". www.oursportscentral.com. OurSports Central. January 17, 2011. Retrieved December 27, 2013.
^ Duane Rankin (May 22, 2011). "Erie Explosion set record in 138-0 win". www.goerie.com. CyberInk LP and the Erie Times-News. Retrieved December 26, 2013.
^ Duane Rankin (June 23, 2011). "Erie Explosion's record season ended in disappointment". www.goerie.com. CyberInk LP and the Erie Times-News. Retrieved December 27, 2013.
^ "Erie Explosion QB named indoor league MVP". www.goerie.com. CyberInk LP and the Erie Times-News. July 9, 2011. Retrieved December 27, 2013.
^ "Press Release on Canceled Season". Archived from the original on 2014-12-17. Retrieved 2013-12-26.