Post by fwp on Jan 24, 2010 10:10:31 GMT -5
www2.timesdispatch.com/rtd/sports/professional/professional_football/article/AIFA24_20100123-234803/319822/
Music blared from the loudspeakers. Fireworks sparkled in the end zone. Cheerleaders strutted behind both goal posts. The Henrico High School band performed at halftime.
Somewhere within all that noise and entertainment was a football game. An indoor football game, to be exact.
The high-scoring sport made its return to the Coliseum last night after a four-year absence when the expansion Richmond Raiders took on a team of all-stars from the American Indoor Football Association in an exhibition.
There was plenty of excitement on and off the field for an appreciative crowd of 4,721, who watched the Raiders hold on for a 49-45 victory in their debut.
"The energy in here is just tremendous," Mike Frazier, co-owner of the local franchise, said at halftime.
"Not only are there a lot of activities for the kids and their families, but it's an exciting, fast-moving sports game. The whole point is to make this great for families and add to the vibrancy of downtown."
That's why Robert Wilson was watching from the upper level. That and the fact his nephew, Frederick Wilson, is trying out for the Raiders as a wide receiver.
"It's football," said Wilson. "The field is narrow and there's a lot of hitting. I'll be back."
The indoor field is half the size (50 yards) of a regular field, and there are other significant differences, like eight men on a side, smaller uprights and a running clock during possessions.
"It's Richmond sports," said Anthony Caramucci, who attended the game with his son, Tony, 6, and his friend, Preston, 5.
"We lose the Diamond [Richmond Braves baseball team] and hockey, so I guess this is what we have. We go to anything Richmond sports to get the kids out. They've enjoyed it, especially all the noise."
The noise level reached one of its highest peaks when former Hopewell High standout Maurice Thorn returned a third-quarter kickoff the length of the field for a touchdown that gave Richmond a 37-31 lead.
The All-Stars had just taken a 31-30 edge on a fumble recovery for a TD, so Thorn's contribution was badly needed by the home team.
"I just found a seam," said Thorn, who was a member of Hopewell's state Group AAA, Division 5 championship team in 2003. Thorn appeared to be stopped near midfield but pulled out of the grasp of tacklers and sprinted the rest of the way.
"One of my players pushed me through the pile. Once I got my legs back, I turned it on and got six. We got the momentum back. This was exciting. It's real quick. I thought I could adjust to it, and I'm looking forward to the season. I loved the crowd."
The Raiders will have plenty of time to make more adjustments, since the regular season doesn't begin until March 13 at the Coliseum against defending AIFA champion Reading.
But coach Mike Siani liked what he saw from his club last night, especially considering they only had three practice sessions to get ready.
"I'm extremely, extremely proud of my guys," Siani said. "Before the game, they were just a bunch of players that we put together. Now they're a team."
Richmond wide receiver Keith Holiday, who played college ball at North Carolina A&T, received a concussion when he absorbed a wicked block during an interception return. The game was delayed about 10 minutes before he was able to get to his feet and leave the field.
Music blared from the loudspeakers. Fireworks sparkled in the end zone. Cheerleaders strutted behind both goal posts. The Henrico High School band performed at halftime.
Somewhere within all that noise and entertainment was a football game. An indoor football game, to be exact.
The high-scoring sport made its return to the Coliseum last night after a four-year absence when the expansion Richmond Raiders took on a team of all-stars from the American Indoor Football Association in an exhibition.
There was plenty of excitement on and off the field for an appreciative crowd of 4,721, who watched the Raiders hold on for a 49-45 victory in their debut.
"The energy in here is just tremendous," Mike Frazier, co-owner of the local franchise, said at halftime.
"Not only are there a lot of activities for the kids and their families, but it's an exciting, fast-moving sports game. The whole point is to make this great for families and add to the vibrancy of downtown."
That's why Robert Wilson was watching from the upper level. That and the fact his nephew, Frederick Wilson, is trying out for the Raiders as a wide receiver.
"It's football," said Wilson. "The field is narrow and there's a lot of hitting. I'll be back."
The indoor field is half the size (50 yards) of a regular field, and there are other significant differences, like eight men on a side, smaller uprights and a running clock during possessions.
"It's Richmond sports," said Anthony Caramucci, who attended the game with his son, Tony, 6, and his friend, Preston, 5.
"We lose the Diamond [Richmond Braves baseball team] and hockey, so I guess this is what we have. We go to anything Richmond sports to get the kids out. They've enjoyed it, especially all the noise."
The noise level reached one of its highest peaks when former Hopewell High standout Maurice Thorn returned a third-quarter kickoff the length of the field for a touchdown that gave Richmond a 37-31 lead.
The All-Stars had just taken a 31-30 edge on a fumble recovery for a TD, so Thorn's contribution was badly needed by the home team.
"I just found a seam," said Thorn, who was a member of Hopewell's state Group AAA, Division 5 championship team in 2003. Thorn appeared to be stopped near midfield but pulled out of the grasp of tacklers and sprinted the rest of the way.
"One of my players pushed me through the pile. Once I got my legs back, I turned it on and got six. We got the momentum back. This was exciting. It's real quick. I thought I could adjust to it, and I'm looking forward to the season. I loved the crowd."
The Raiders will have plenty of time to make more adjustments, since the regular season doesn't begin until March 13 at the Coliseum against defending AIFA champion Reading.
But coach Mike Siani liked what he saw from his club last night, especially considering they only had three practice sessions to get ready.
"I'm extremely, extremely proud of my guys," Siani said. "Before the game, they were just a bunch of players that we put together. Now they're a team."
Richmond wide receiver Keith Holiday, who played college ball at North Carolina A&T, received a concussion when he absorbed a wicked block during an interception return. The game was delayed about 10 minutes before he was able to get to his feet and leave the field.