Saturday, September 22, 2007
EFL Pre Game Press Coverage September 22nd
Eagles' Romiti taking the field for 150th consecutive straight game
BY MARK COONS
STAFF WRITER
When George Romiti steps onto the turf at
A moment that may never have come.
Following a stellar football and baseball career at West Scranton, Romiti ended up playing baseball at
"I actually walked on as a catcher at Seminole, but after a few weeks of seeing me play, they offered me a scholarship," Romiti said.
In his second year at the school, Romiti was attending a tryout camp for the Los Angeles Dodgers. Then fate would intervene, Romiti was injured sliding into second base.
"I broke my foot and ankle in 17 places. I thought that I would never walk again," Romiti said. "I was in a cast up to my stomach for six months."
After multiple surgeries to repair the damage, doctors told the now 45 year-old Romiti that he would never play any sports again, effectively ruining Romiti's chance to move onto bigger things in baseball.
"Before the injury,
Romiti eventually returned home to start the rehabilitation process. But after a few weeks of consulting doctors, he decided to rehab on his own.
"I really wanted to get back and play sports, but the doctors in
In 1996, Romiti was approached by then Eagles tight end Lou Sottile if he would be interested in playing with the team.
"So I came out for the team and after 11 years, seven knee surgeries, a broken sternum, a broken jaw and many broken fingers and lost teeth, I'm still here," Romiti said.
And so is his wife, Joan, his high school sweetheart, and his daughter Nicole, and his son George Jr. who is a First Sergeant in the United States Army currently stationed in
"Without my wife and family, along with my teammates over the years, I would have never been able to accomplish what I have."
Notes
The Eagles currently sit in third place, one-half game behind
By JAMES A. ELLIS, The Leader-Herald
Published on Saturday, September 22, 2007
Now the Red and Black stand in the way of the Zephyrs chances of hosting an opening round game of the Empire Football League playoffs.
The Zephyrs led with 1:20 to go when a pass interference call in the end zone put the ball on the 1-yard line. The Stars capitalized on the play to pull off the victory.
"That was a huge call in their favor," Zephyrs coach Dom Ruggeri said. "I don't believe the ball was catchable and I got my 15 yards worth out of the officials on the call."
The Zephyrs were also down six starters for the game but will face a tough challenge this week as starting quarterback Kenny Shaffer will not be available due to a previous commitment.
"Eric Johnson will be starting at quarterback this week," Ruggeri said. "Plus Rick Hulett will rejoin the team after being sidelined since the second game with a shoulder injury."
Elijah White led the Zephyrs (5-4) against the Stars with 162 yards and three touchdowns, while Shaffer threw for 220 yards and a touchdown to Jon Bechy.
Cedrick Pearman had 11 catches for 127 yards and Luke Posniewski had seven tackles, including four solos, for
"Now we have to face our old nemisis
The game will be broadcast on WCSS-1490 AM as well as on the internet at www.WCSS1490.com.
Zephyrs searching for home playoff contest
BY TONY PASTORE
Recorder Sports Staff
The Amsterdam Zephyrs are still looking to clinch a first round playoff home game going into the final week of the regular season against the Watertown Red and Black.
A Titans home game is the last thing the Zephyrs want. Located near
Ruggeri, who certainly does not want to lose at
With about a minute left on the clock,
"We could have locked everything up and cruise this week while resting starters but now we can't," said Ruggeri.
Ruggeri says there was nobody within two-feet of the receiver and is sending the game footage to EFL officials while filing a complaint against the crew of referees.
"The officials were an embarrassment. I don't know where they got them from. They railroaded us pretty bad. There will be some calls that go against us on the road but blatant rule violations is hard to swallow," said Ruggeri. "Anybody who was at that game would agree that it was blatant. This isn't us being sour about the loss."
Ruggeri says after the controversial loss combined with an upcoming road game against their new rival,
Ruggeri was blunt when talking about the rivalry.
"This is going to be a street fight. We don't like them and they don't like us. They've been a big bully so we gotta go in there and not be intimidated," said Ruggeri. "We have all the respect in the world for their organization and coaching staff but we're not backing down from anyone. We're going right after them," said Ruggeri.
Ruggeri says the rivalry between the teams began last season during a heated game. The heat carried over into a Zephyrs 17-13 preseason win over
"
Ruggeri will be going after
Eric Johnson who was the Zephyrs' starter all last season will take the snaps this week. Johnson also started in a win over
"Eric knows our offense in and out. He won in
One thing Ruggeri can look forward to is the return of impact linebacker Rick Hulett. Ruggeri says he is about 85 percent and is ready for the game.
Two weapons Ruggeri will have available is starting tailback Elijah White and wide receiver Cedrick Pearman. White is leading the EFL in rushing while Pearman is leading in receiving.
"We have weapons but we need to execute and not make mistakes. We'd like to win and not have to worry about anything what is going on in other games this week," said Ruggeri.
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Titans' Jean Lerouge returns a kick for long yardage.(Photo Andrew Clark) | |
Le Soleil du samedi - Édition du 15 septembre 2007
Titans self-destruct in Watertown
Dan Rosenburg
Despite the enthusiasm of head coach John Mouland, the Chateauguay Titans have apparently not have clinched an Empire Football League playoff berth after all.
Mouland had announced after a recent Titans victory that a playoff spot was in the bag, but he may have been premature. "That's the impression the league gave me, but now it seems we need one more win to make the playoffs," Mouland said after his team self-destructed in a 26-7 loss to the Watertown Red & Black last Saturday.
"I was disappointed in our lack of discipline," Mouland mentioned after the Titans took several penalties for objectionable conduct that put the team in a hole. "I hope we've learned our lesson," he said, ruefully.
Although quarterback Kevin Wyeth completed 21 of 37 passes for 253 yards, the Titans managed only one touchdown on an eight-yard strike to Denis Houle. Treldon James was the leading Titans' receiver with 146 yards on 11 receptions.
The loss plunged the Titans to the .500 mark with a 4-4 record.
The Titans visit unbeaten Vermont Ice Storm and arch-rival Ottawa Deacon Demons to close out the regular schedule.