2011 Erie Explosion season
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2025}}
{{Infobox NFL team season
| logo =
| team = Erie Explosion
| year = 2011
| record = 9-3
| division_place = 1st
| coach = Shawn Liotta
| general manager = Shawn Liotta
| owner = Bill Stafford
| stadium = Louis J. Tullio Arena
| playoffs = Lost Eastern Conference Round 1 (vs. Albany Panthers) 68-43
| uniform =
| previous = 2010
| next = 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.{{cite web |url= http://www.goerie.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20101203/FOOTBALL09/312039877/-1/RSS |title=Erie football team named Explosion |date=December 3, 2010 |publisher=CyberInk LP and the Erie Times-News |work=www.goerie.com |accessdate=December 26, 2013}} 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.{{cite web |url=http://www.goerie.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20101116/FOOTBALL09/311169947/-1/SPORTS |title=Erie's indoor football now in SIFL |date=November 16, 2010 |publisher=CyberInk LP and the Erie Times-News |work=www.goerie.com |accessdate=December 27, 2013}} The Explosion announced the signing of Quarterback, Adam DiMichele,{{cite web |url=http://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/?id=4129446 |title=Erie Explosion Sign QB Adam DiMichele for 2011 |date=December 17, 2010 |publisher=OurSports Central |work=www.oursportscentral.com |accessdate=December 27, 2013}} along with former local Erie Strong Vincent star, Maurice Williams,{{cite web |url=http://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/?id=4141145 |title=Maurice Williams Back in the Game with Erie Explosion |date=January 17, 2011 |publisher=OurSports Central |work=www.oursportscentral.com |accessdate=December 27, 2013}} 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.{{cite web |url=http://www.goerie.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=%2F20110522%2FFOOTBALL09%2F305219895 |title=Erie Explosion set record in 138-0 win |author=Duane Rankin |date=May 22, 2011 |publisher=CyberInk LP and the Erie Times-News |work=www.goerie.com |accessdate=December 26, 2013}} 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.{{cite web |url=http://www.goerie.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20110623/FOOTBALL09/306239924/-1/SPORTS# |title=Erie Explosion's record season ended in disappointment |author=Duane Rankin |date=June 23, 2011 |publisher=CyberInk LP and the Erie Times-News |work=www.goerie.com |accessdate=December 27, 2013}} Despite the playoff loss, DiMichele was named SIFL MVP, finishing the season with 91 touchdown passes.{{cite web |url=http://www.goerie.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20110709/FOOTBALL09/307089905/-1/SPORTS |title=Erie Explosion QB named indoor league MVP |date=July 9, 2011 |publisher=CyberInk LP and the Erie Times-News |work=www.goerie.com |accessdate=December 27, 2013}}
Roster
| class="toccolours" style="text-align: left;" |
| colspan=7 style="background:#000; border: 2px solid #FFA500; color:#FFA500; text-align:center;"| 2011 Erie Explosion roster |
|---|
| style="font-size: 95%;" valign="top" | Quarterbacks
{{playern|13|Adam DiMichele}} Running backs {{playern|99|Bob Hammer}} Wide receivers {{playern |
| -|David Ball}}
{{playern|1|Kevin Concepcion}} {{playern|6|Terry Jackson}} {{playern|8|Tirone Morris}} {{playern |
| -|Maurice Williams}}
| style="width: 25px;" | | style="font-size: 95%;" valign="top" | Offensive linemen {{playern|62|Joe Blanks}} {{playern |
| -|Mike Fazio}}
{{playern |
| -|Ron Idoko}}
Defensive linemen {{playern |
| -|Andre Mathis}}
{{playern |
| -|Jerrickus Speights}}
Linebackers {{playern|2|Roosevelt Benjamin}} | style="width: 25px;" | | style="font-size: 95%;" valign="top" | Defensive backs {{playern|11|Sam Reynolds}} {{playern|3|Lenny Wicks}} Kickers
| style="width: 25px;" | | style="font-size: 95%;" valign="top" | Injured reserve
Exempt list
Practice squad
{{plainlist|1=
}} |
Schedule
=Regular season=
File:Explosion 138, Force 0.jpg
| class="wikitable" |
| Date
!Opponent !Result |
|---|
| align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC"
|March 20 |Away |Won 46-25 |
| align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC"
|March 26 |Away |Won 76-73 |
| align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC"
|April 1 |Away |Won 39-36 |
| align="center" bgcolor="#FFCCCC"
|April 9 |Home |Lost 62-65 |
| align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC"
|April 15 |Home |Won 89-35 |
| align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC"
|April 23 |Home |Won 74-54 |
| align="center" bgcolor="#FFCCCC"
|April 30 |Away |Lost 40-41 |
| align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC"
|May 7 |Away |Won 65-50 |
| align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC"
|May 13 |Home |Won 90-79 |
| align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC"
|May 21 |Home |Won 138-0 |
| align="center" bgcolor="#FFCCCC"
|May 26 |Away |Lost 78-53 |
| align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC"
|June 4 |Home |Won 71-32 |
=Postseason=
| class="wikitable" |
| Date
!Opponent !Result |
|---|
| align="center" bgcolor="#FFCCCC"
|June 18 |Away |Lost 43-68 |
=Standings=
| class="wikitable" |
| rowspan="2" align="center" | Team
! colspan="3" align="center" | Overall ! colspan="3" align="center" | Division |
|---|
| Wins
!Losses !Percentage !Wins !Losses !Percentage |
| colspan="7" align="center" | Eastern Conference |
| colspan="7" align="center" | Northeast Division |
| bgcolor=#ccccff
|9 |3 |0.750 |5 |3 |0.625 |
| bgcolor=#ccffcc
|8 |4 |0.667 |6 |2 |0.750 |
| Harrisburg Stampede
|2 |10 |0.167 |1 |7 |0.125 |
| colspan="7" align="center" | Mid-Atlantic Division |
| bgcolor=#ccccff
|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 |
| colspan="7" align="center" | South Division |
| bgcolor=#ccccff
|11 |1 |0.917 |5 |1 |0.833 |
| bgcolor=#ccffcc
|9 |2 |0.818 |4 |2 |0.667 |
| Alabama Hammers
|3 |8 |0.273 |0 |6 |0.000 |
| colspan="7" align="center" | Western Conference |
| colspan="7" align="center" | Gulf Division |
| bgcolor=#ccccff
|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 |
| colspan="7" align="center" | Southwest Division |
| bgcolor=#cccccc
|12 |0 |1.000 |8 |0 |1.000 |
| bgcolor=#ccffcc
|7 |5 |0.583 |3 |4 |0.429 |
| bgcolor=#ccffcc
|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{{Cite web |url=http://www.lafayettewildcatters.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=141:press-release-on-canceled-season&catid=2:latest-news&Itemid=12 |title=Press Release on Canceled Season |access-date=2013-12-26 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141217145701/http://www.lafayettewildcatters.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=141:press-release-on-canceled-season&catid=2:latest-news&Itemid=12 |archive-date=2014-12-17 |url-status=dead }}