The Albany Metro Mallers were a semi-professional football team. The team has regularly appeared in national semipro playoffs and won the national semipro title in 2008, 2013, and 2016. Some of the team's players have gone on to play professional football.
The Mallers most recently played in the World Football Federation, a league based in the Northeast. The Mallers finished the 2017 season, which included a trip to Florida for the USFA Semi Pro National Championship Game, with a 12–2 record, but have not played any football since then.
Team history
The Seaboard League: NFL castoffs trying to make it back After the team's first year in 1972, the Mallers moved into the Seaboard Football League in 1973, which had teams in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Maryland. They played their home games in Schenectady, New York, that year. Unlike most semipro leagues, which had only local players and did not pay their players, the Seaboard League teams brought in players from outside their areas, paid their players modestly and helped them find local jobs. League teams were able to attract numerous players who had been signed to NFL contracts, had been cut in the preseason, and were hoping to make the NFL eventually. More than ten of the Mallers had been in NFL camps. Later in the season, the team made an informal arrangement with the Montreal Alouettes of the Canadian Football League to develop players for the Alouettes who had been released by that team.,Metro Mallers vs. Westchester Crusaders game program, October 20, 1973Metro Mallers vs. Richmond, Virginia Raiders game program, October 6, 1973 Three of the players on the 1973 Mallers (Bill Ellenbogen, Don Aleksiewicz and Gary Weinlein) played professional football eventually, although none ever played for the Alouettes.
Becoming amateurs The Seaboard Football League folded at the end of that season, and the team joined the Empire Football League, a league with teams primarily located in Upstate New York that prohibited paying their players. The Mallers moved to Albany that year. They finished second in the league in 1975 and 1976, and won the league championship in 1979.
In 1981, the team moved into the Eastern Football League, which had teams in Massachusetts and in New York State. The Mallers won the league championship, 12–9, on a 73-yard flea flicker touchdown pass thrown by wide receiver Mike DeCarlo that was deflected by a defender into the hands of wide receiver Davey Williams, who held on to it and then ran the remaining 50 yards into the end zone.Semipro Football: Playing Out a Fantasy, Genesis Magazine, November 1982, p. 28.Semi-Pro, Gent Magazine, October 1984, p. 52
The Mallers also won the Eastern Football League championship in 1986, defeating the Marlboro Shamrocks, 23–14. The Metro Mallers returned to the Empire Football League in 1987, and finished second in the league that year. They won the league championship in 1989, and finished second in the league in 1990.
NFL players' strike: Some Mallers become replacements In 1987, during the NFL players' strike, three members of the team were signed to play on NFL replacement teams (Dana Melvin, Robbin Williams and Joe Burke). Only running back Joe Burke, who had been named the 1986 American Football Association Player of the Year as the best semipro football player in the country, saw actual playing time, however. Burke returned to the Mallers in time to play in the American Football Association national playoffs in November 1987.Albany Times Union, November 7, 1987. The Mallers also were in the national playoffs in 1991, losing to the eventual national champion Brooklyn Mariners, 12–6.Schenectady Gazette, October 29, 1991
2004 to 2017: Regional and national success The Mallers finished second in the Empire Football League in 2004, and won the league in 2005 and 2006. In 2006 they won the United States Football Alliance (USFA) Eastern Championship.
In 2007, the team again changed leagues, moving into the North American Football League. They won the Empire Division in their first year in that league.
In 2008, the Mallers were named as the USFA and Minor League Football News (MLFN) National Champions. In 2011, the Mallers returned to the Empire Football League and captured the EFL title with a 26–14 victory against the Syracuse Shock. In 2013, the Mallers joined SPF-The League, a western NY-based league. The Mallers defeated the S. Buffalo Celtics to win the league title and win the USFA/USFF National title after travelling to Racine, Wisconsin, and beating the host Raiders, 26–14. In 2014, the Mallers moved to the Gridiron Developmental Football League.
In 2015, the Albany Metro Mallers moved to the World Football Federation. The Mallers won the first inaugural WFF Championship Game by defeating the Central Penn Piranhas 16–6.
In 2016, the Albany Metro Mallers would play for the National Championship in DeLand, Florida vs. Midwest (MO) Chargers. They went on to win 38–6, and became the 2016 National Champions.
In 2017, the Albany Metro Mallers would play for the National Championship once again, in DeLand, Florida at Stetson University vs. PAFL (Premier Amateur Football League) Champions Columbus (OH) Fire. The Mallers lost 13–6.
On June 11, 2018, the Albany Metro Mallers posted on their Facebook page that they would not be playing a regular season in 2018. The team has not played any games since.
Scott Lawson, record-breaking quarterback Quarterback Scott Lawson, who has been with the Mallers since 1990, broke the all-time semipro football record for the most touchdown passes in a career when he threw his 379th touchdown pass on October 4, 2008, against the Troy Fighting Irish. He has continued to play, and as of the end of the 2009 season, he had increased his record to 415 touchdown passes.
List Of Albany Metro Mallers Championships
USFA National Champions (2008, 2013, 2016) EFL (Empire Football League) Champions (1979, 1989, 2005, 2006, 2011) EFL (Eastern Football League) Champions (1981, 1986) NAFL Empire Champions (2007, 2009) USFA Eastern Region Champions (2006, 2016, 2017) World Football Federation Champions (2015) SPF "The League" Champions (2013)
Metro Mallers that have played professional football The following Metro Mallers players played during the regular season for professional teams: Player Pro football position Team and yearBill Ellenbogen Offensive and defensive line Metro Mallers, 1973New York Giants, 1976, 1977.Don Aleksiewicz Running back Metro Mallers, 1973Philadelphia Bell, WFL, 1974.Gary Weinlein Defensive back, wide receiver, quarterback Metro Mallers, 1973–1976, 1983Toronto Argonauts (CFL), 1978.)Dave Boisture Quarterback Metro Mallers, 1982New Jersey Generals (USFL), 1983.Baltimore Stars (USFL), 1985.Joe Burke Running back Metro Mallers, 1983–1988New York Jets, 1987.Robbin Williams Defensive back, wide receiver Metro Mallers, 1986–1991Albany Firebirds (AFL), 1991.John Chaney Defensive back, wide receiver Metro Mallers, 1991Albany Firebirds (AFL), 1991–1992.Vinny Cirrincione Placekicker Metro Mallers, 2004–2006Albany Conquest (AF2), 2004, 2005Birmingham Steel Dogs (AF2), 2005.
Metro Mallers who are among the all-time semipro record holders
Scoring records Record Stat. Player Date Rank(semipro history)Total points, season 188 Joe Burke 1986 4th Two-point conversions(receiving, game) 2 J.V. Marion October 11, 1986 2nd Longest field goals 54 yards Al Darling September 12, 1981 36th Combined returnsTouchdowns (game) 3 Jeff Lipscomb 1986 6th Fumble recoveriesTouchdown (season) 6 Jeff Lipscomb 1986 1st
Passing records Record Stat Player Date Rank(semipro history) NoteAttempts (career) 5016 Scott Lawson 1990–20002004–2008 1st 1st in history.2009 season not includedCompletions (career) 3138 Scott Lawson 1990–20002004–2008 1st 1st in history.2009 season not included Yards (career) 37,362 Scott Lawson 1990–20002004–2008 1st 1st in history.2009 season not included Touchdowns (career) 437 Scott Lawson 1990–20002004–2009 1st Interceptions (career) 155 Scott Lawson 1990–20002004–2008 2nd 2nd in history through 2008 Longest halfback option pass 73 yards Mike DeCarlo October 10, 1981 3rd
Rushing records Record Stat Player Year Rank(semipro history)Yards (season) 1766 yards(217 attempts)(16 TDs) Don Aleksiewicz 1973 9th Most 100 yard games(career) 23 Joe Burke 1983–1988 1st Most 100 yard games(season) 7 Don Aleksiewicz 1973 5th
Miscellaneous records Record Stat Player Year Rank(semipro history)Fumble recoveries (season) 6 Jeff Lipscomb 1986 5th Fumble recoveries (game) 3 Bill Widenman 1973 2nd Longest interception return 100 yards Mike Palmer 10th
See also Sports in New York's Capital District
References
External links United States Football Alliance