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Roughriders’ Postseason Starts Tonight

WHEELING — The West Virginia Roughriders have only been in existence for one season. But what a season it has been for Ohio Valley football fans as the talented indoor team has roared to a 10-0 record in American Arena League action.

“I’m very excited about being 10-0. We’ve got a great group of guys,” team owner Gregg Fornari said. “It all starts with the coaching staff and the front office with the player personnel director putting everything together. We made some changes throughout the season, and here we are.”

Here is the AAL playoffs. With the Northern Division championship securely tucked away, the Roughriders enter the second season with a quarterfinal game against the New Jersey Flight. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. tonight inside WesBanco Arena.

“I’ve been pleased with our crowds. I know I’ve heard some people say ‘they wish the games were a little busier.’ No one wants them to be more busier than me, right?

At the end of the day, I know what the sport is all about and about what size of crowd we should get.

“We’ve been really welcomed here (in the Ohio Valley) from sponsorships on down,” Fornari said. “It’s playoff time and I’m sure we will have more and more people coming out.

“We are ready for these playoffs. We’re excited.”

West Virginia has outscored its nine opponents — the team received a forfeit in week 7 after the New England Bobcats ceased operations — 483 to 153, or by an average of 53.7 to 17.

The offense is centered around a high-octane passing game with former WVU quarterback Jarrett Brown at the trigger. Brown’s favorite targets include Larry Beavers Jr. (Wesley University), former Weirton Madonna standout Connor Arlia (Kent State/WVU) and former WVU tailback Noel Devine. Chad Walcott (Shaw University) joined the team midway through the campaign.

Backup quarterback Drew Bolton (Plymouth State) saw action at wide receiver last week as Steve Penasuk (LaSalle University) was added to the roster last week. Manning the fullback spot, which is used as a fourth offensive lineman, is former Steubenville product JeR’yl Christian.

Providing Brown with time to find a receiver are center Lawrence Keys (UNC Pembroke) and guards Jerrod Hernandez (Nicholls State) and Isreal Evans (Mayville State). Evans has caught several passes as a “tight end,” including two touchdowns.

Defensively, the Roughriders have pitched a pair of shutouts, which is rare in arena football. The second ensured the 10-0 regular season in the regular-season finale against the Carolina Cowboyz, 54-0, last week.

Leading the stop troops has been Bridgeport alum Cole Smelley at inside linebacker. His running mate — SUNY Maritime grad Brian Price — has also been exceptional in the middle. Cam Dixon, from Clarion, is another linebacker.

The down linemen have taken a hit with injuries to nose guard Harold Love (Bethune Cookman) and Larry Ford (WVU). However, newcomers BJ McBryde (UConn) and Ben McToy (Louisburg University) have stepped in and made immediate impacts. McBryde has had NFL stops with Philadelphia, San Francisco and Seattle.

Former WVU defenders Ellis Lankster and Robert Sands anchor the secondary, along with Kennith Ridley (University of Charleston).

“We’ve played really good defense. There’s been a few games where we’ve given up 15 or 20 points, but it’s always hard to shut a team out. We’ve done it twice,” Fornario said.

The placekicker is strong-legged Anthony Prevost (Hampton University).

West Virginia owns a 53-16 victory over the Flight, which is based out of Trenton, already this season, and defeated them twice last season as the Richmond Roughriders en route to a runnerup finish to the Atlanta Havoc, 58-50. The Roughriders won the American Professional League championship in 2017.

“I’m hoping we’re mimicking the (New England) Patriots,” Fornario explained. “Even though I don’t like them, they won a Super Bowl. They lost a Super Bowl. They won a Super Bowl.

“We won a championship. We lost a championship. Now we have a chance to win another championship.”

He said a West Michigan could be a possible semifinal opponent, with the Carolina Havoc (8-1) as the top team in the South. Carolina relocated from Atlanta to Florence, S.C., following last season.

“I believe right now that all roads (to the championship game) lead through Wheeling,” Fornario said. “I’m not 100 percent sure, but I would be shocked if it’s not. We still need to get that confirmed.”

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