The 2012 Erie Explosion season was the sixth season for the indoor American football franchise, and their first as a member of the Northern Conference of the United Indoor Football League (UIFL).
On August 25, 2011, the Explosion left the Southern Indoor Football League (SIFL) and joined the United Indoor Football League. The change reunited Erie with Andrew Haines, who founded the city's previous indoor football team, the Erie Freeze. (The Explosion's departure came two weeks before the SIFL broke up into the Lone Star Football League and the Professional Indoor Football League, neither of which included Pennsylvania in their territories.) Erie was tasked with replacing MVP quarterback DiMichele, who had signed with the Arena Football League's Philadelphia Soul. The job fell on the shoulders of rookie Colton Hansen. In the second game of the season, Hansen struggled in a loss to the Johnstown Generals, and he was replaced by A. J. McKenna. McKenna lead the Explosion to 8–3 regular season record, just losing the top seed in the UIFL North during the last game of the season. While still securing a home playoff game, the Tullio Arena had begun a 45 million dollar renovation, that forced the Explosion to find a new place to host the game. The Explosion announced that they would play at Erie Cathedral Prep's Dollinger Field. The Explosion trailed going into the fourth quarter against the Marion Blue Racers, but McKenna ignited the Erie offense to 22 points in the final stanza to advance to the UIFL North Conference final.
The Explosion faced the Cincinnati Commandos, who had only lost 2 games all season, one of which was to Erie. With the Commando quarterback Tyler Sheehan out with an injury, the Commandos used Kynes Mincy at quarterback, who provided a duel-threat option. Mincy lead the Commandos to 8 scores, defeating the Explosion 62–40 to advance to the Ultimate Bowl.
Schedule Key:
Regular season Week Day Date Opponent Results Location Score Record 1 Friday March 1 Western Pennsylvania Sting W 81–7 1–0 Louis J. Tullio Arena 2 Sunday March 11 at Johnstown Generals L 37–39 1–1 Cambria County War Memorial Arena 3 BYE 4 Friday March 23 Western Pennsylvania Sting W 88–34 2–1 Louis J. Tullio Arena 5 Monday April 1 Eastern Kentucky Drillers W 58–38 3–1 Louis J. Tullio Arena 6 BYE 7 Friday April 13 Johnstown Generals W 60–27 4–1 Louis J. Tullio Arena 8 Sunday April 22 Cincinnati Commandos L 34–55 4–2 Louis J. Tullio Arena 9 Sunday April 29 Johnstown Generals W 74–14 5–2 Louis J. Tullio Arena 10 Sunday May 6 Huntington Wildcatz W 102–30 6–2 Louis J. Tullio Arena 11 BYE 12 BYE 13 Saturday May 26 at Cincinnati Commandos W 62–18 7–2 Cincinnati Gardens 14 Saturday June 2 at Johnstown Generals W 88–35 8–2 Cambria County War Memorial Arena 15 Saturday June 9 at Marion Blue Racers L 64–65 (OT) 8–3 Veterans Memorial Coliseum
Postseason Round Day Date Opponent Results Location Score Record Northern Semifinals Saturday June 16 Marion Blue Racers W 56–47 1–0 Cathedral Preparatory School Northern Championship Saturday June 23 at Cincinnati Commandos L 40–62 1–1 Cathedral Preparatory School
Standings
Roster 2012 Erie Explosion roster Quarterbacks
Running backs
Wide receivers Offensive linemen
Defensive linemen Linebackers
Defensive backs
Kickers Injured Reserve currently vacant
Exempt List
Practice squad currently vacant
Coaching staff 2012 Erie Explosion staff Front office Director of operations – Bill Stafford Marketing – Sarah Lander Director of sales – Shawn Struble
Head coach Head coach – Shawn Liotta
Offensive coaches Offensive coordinator – Shawn Liotta Director of player personnel – Jeremy Liotta Defensive coaches Defensive coordinator – Kirk Rearick Defensive backs – Sam Reynolds
Special teams coaches Special teams coordinator – Ed Martin
References