Reading Express

USFootball team
color1 = white
color2 = navy

pixels = 150px
founded = 2006
league = American Indoor Football Association
history = Reading Express
2006-present
arena = Sovereign Center
city = Reading, Pennsylvania
colors = Blue, Silver, White
owner = Ted Lavender
coach = Bernie Nowotarski
championships = 0
titles = 3 (2006, 2007, & 2008)
cheerleaders =
dancers = Smokin' Hot Steam Team
mascot = Loco

The Reading Express are a professional indoor football team based out of Reading, Pennsylvania. They are a member of the American Indoor Football Association, having begun play in 2006. They play their home games at the Sovereign Center.

On Sunday, March 26, 2006, the Express won the AIFL's very first overtime game 41-38 against the Johnstown Riverhawks on the road, as kicker Erik Rockhold booted the game-winning 45-yard field goal.

On Friday, May 12, 2006, the Express managed to knock the Erie Freeze out of the #1 spot in the conference by getting revenge 59-48.

At the end of their inaugural year, the Express held the highest record in the AIFL's Northern Conference, at 12-2. This, however, was padded by two games against amateur outdoor franchises-- the Cumberland Cardinals and a team known as the Philadelphia Scorpions, both of which were blowouts.

In the opening round of the 2006 AIFL Playoffs, the Express managed to knock out the fourth-seeded Huntington Heroes with a 56-23 victory. In the Northern Conference championship game, they faced the second-seeded Canton Legends for the Northern Conference title and a chance to participate in the American Bowl. Unfortunately, the Express got derailed as they got shut out in the second half and fell 44-24. Even though they fell one game shy of the league championship, it wasn't a total loss. WR Carmelo Ocasio was named the 2006 Northern Conference Offensive MVP. [http://www.americanindoorfootballleague.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=615&Itemid=2] .

In the 2007 season, the Express built on their success in the previous season, finishing a league-best 14-2 in the regular season, defeating the Pittsburgh RiverRats 42-24 in the first round, and defeating the Canton Legends 66-51 to claim the Northern Conference Championship and earn a trip to AIFA Championship Bowl I at the Florence Civic Center. Unfortunately, the Express got derailed yet again, losing to the Lakeland Thunderbolts 54-49.

Season-By-Season

-
colspan="6" align="center" | Reading Express (AIFL)
-
2006 || 12 || 2 || 0 || 1st Northern || Won Round 1 (Huntington)
Lost NC Championship (Canton)
-
colspan="6" align="center" | Reading Express (AIFA)
-
2007 || 14 || 2 || 0 || 1st Northern || Won Round 1 (Pittsburgh)
Won NC Championship (Canton)
Lost Championship Bowl I (Lakeland)
-
2008 || 10 || 4 || 0 || 1st EC Northern || Won ECN Round 1 (Erie)
Lost EC Championship (Florence)
-
2009 || -- || -- || -- || -- || --
-!Totals || 40 || 11 || 0
colspan="2"| (including playoffs)
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2007 Season Schedule

2008 Season Schedule

External links

* [http://www.expressindoorfootball.com/ Official Site of the Reading Express]
* [http://www.oursportscentral.com/services/schedule/?t_id=1692 Express' 2006 Season & Results]
* [http://www.expresssteamteam.com/ Official Site of the Reading Express Smokin' Hot Steam Team]
* [http://www.thestatguys.com/AIFA/2007/REA.HTM Express's 2007 Season]
* [http://www.thestatguys.com/AIFA/REA.HTM Express's 2008 Season]