The 2011 Marion Blue Racers season was the first season for the Continental Indoor Football League (CIFL) franchise. They took over to fill the void in Marion, Ohio, after the Marion Mayhem folded the year before. The franchise couldn't have asked for a more exciting start than their first game on March 5, 2011. Marion entered the 4th quarter trailing 37–23 to the Port Huron Predators. They started their comeback by scoring a touchdown with 10:31 left in the game. Mike Tatum caught a nine-yard touchdown pass from Josh Harris and Tyler Lorenz added the extra point, cutting Port Huron's lead was cut to 37–30. With 3:27 left in the game, Harris ran in from three yards out to tie the game. The game-winning score came on an eight-yard run by Harris with 27 seconds to play. Port Huron quarterback Jim Roth was intercepted by Bryan Williams as time expired to secure the victory. On April 2, 2011, the Blue Racers set a CIFL record with 8 rushing touchdowns in a single game, against the Indianapolis Enforcers.Blue Racers roll past Indianapolis After the Blue Racers got off to a 3–1 start, Demetrius Ross stepped down from his head coaching position, citing personal reasons. His defensive coordinator, Ryan Terry, took over as head coach, just 2 days before the Blue Racers played their first road game at the Dayton Silverbacks.Blue Racers Coach Ross steps down The Blue Racers went on to an 8–2 regular season record, losing twice to the Cincinnati Commandos. The team defeated the Dayton Silverbacks 53–18 in the league semi-finals, before being defeated by the Commandos again in the 2011 CIFL Championship Game 44–29.
Schedule WeekDateOpponentHome/AwayResult1ByeWeek2March 5 Port Huron PredatorsHomeWon 44–373March 12Cincinnati CommandosHomeLost 44–504ByeWeek5March 26Dayton Silverbacks HomeWon 34–136April 2Indianapolis EnforcersHomeWon 78–07April 9Dayton SilverbacksAwayWon 31–148April 16Port Huron PredatorsAwayWon 47–159ByeWeek10April 30Chicago KnightsHomeWon 31–311ByeWeek12May 14Indianapolis EnforcersHomeWon 73–1213May 21Chicago KnightsAwayWon 53–2414May 28Cincinnati CommandosAwayLost 20–5015ByeWeek
Playoff schedule WeekDateOpponentHome/AwayResultSemifinalsJune 6Dayton SilverbacksHomeWon 53–18CIFL Championship GameJune 11Cincinnati CommandosAwayLost 29–44
Standings
Final roster 2011 Marion Blue Racers rosterQuarterbacks
Running backs
Wide receivers
QB/WR Offensive linemen
OL/DL
Defensive linemen
OL/DL
Linebackers DL/LB Defensive backs
Kickers Inactive LB/SS RB TE/K WR DB WR OL DL LB DB DB DB QB OL
Injured reserve
Updated 2011-05-07
rookies in italics 25 Active, 15 Inactive
Regular season Week 2: vs Port Huron Predators
Week 3: vs Cincinnati Commandos
Week 5: vs Dayton Silverbacks
Week 6: vs Indianapolis Enforcers
Week 7: vs Dayton Silverbacks
Week 8: vs Port Huron Predators
Week 10: vs Chicago Knights
Week 12: vs Indianapolis Enforcers
Week 13: vs Chicago Knights
Week 14: vs Cincinnati Commandos
Playoffs 2 vs 3 Semifinal vs Dayton Silverbacks
2011 CIFL Championship Game: vs. Cincinnati Commandos
References