The 2008 Erie RiverRats season was the 2nd season for the American Indoor Football Association (AIFA) franchise.
On January 8, 2008 the RiverRats announced they would be leaving the Mon Valley in favor of Erie for the 2008 season, renaming themselves the Erie RiverRats. They replaced the city's previous AIFA team, the Erie Freeze. The RiverRats have several Freeze connections, including many of the Freeze's best players: QB/WR David Dinkins, cornerback Jovon Johnson (himself an Erie native), kicker J.R. Cipra, center Jonathon Sitter, and defensive tackle Roosevelt Benjamin. AIFA owner Michael Mink stated that he considers the RiverRats to be a consolidation of the original RiverRats and the Freeze with the team retaining the RiverRats name, franchise and management structure.
The RiverRats started the season 3–0 with Dinkins missing a game due to work obligations, that ultimately moved him to wide receiver so that Jarrod Highberger could start at quarterback. After 3 starts with Highberger, the team had lost 2 games in a row, with the later being focused on Highberger's interceptions, the team signed Rod Rutherford, a former NFL backup, as the starting quarterback. Rutherford gave the offense an instant shot in the arm, as he guided the team to a 7–2 record the rest of the season, earning the 2nd seed in the Northern Division. The RiverRats traveled to Reading for their playoff game, and were leading in the 4th quarter when the Express took a lead with 15.2 seconds remaining. Erie was able to get the ball at the Express 9-yard line with 5.7 seconds remaining, but Rutherford was unable to score, throwing an incompletion and was intercepted on the last play, and returned 50-yards for a touchdown.
At the end of the 2008 season, five RiverRats (QB Rod Rutherford, OL Anthony Peluso, K J. R. Cipra, LB Glenroy Watkins, & LB Roosevelt Benjamin) were named onto the AIFA Eastern Conference All-Star team.
Schedule
Regular season DateOpponentHome/AwayResultMarch 9Carolina SpeedHomeWon 42-21March 15Canton LegendsAwayWon 38-24March 22Columbus LionsAwayWon 54-48March 31Reading ExpressHomeLost 34-44April 11Huntington HeroesAwayLost 24-54April 18Baltimore MarinersHomeWon 55-40April 25Baltimore MarinersAwayWon 49-17May 3Canton LegendsHomeWon 50-48May 9Huntington HeroesHomeWon 47-43May 17Huntington HeroesAwayWon 52-31May 24Florence PhantomsAwayLost 27-57May 31Canton LegendsHomeWon 45-37June 7Reading ExpressHomeWon 51-32June 14Reading ExpressAwayLost 26-66June 21Rochester Raiders¶AwayLost 6-41July 3Reading Express (Playoffs)AwayLost 57-67 ¶ Exhibition match
Standings Team Overall DivisionWinsLossesPercentageWinsLossesPercentage Eastern Conference North Division Reading Express1040.714510.750 Erie RiverRats1040.692620.833 Baltimore Mariners4100.286160.143 Canton Legends3110.214160.143 East Division Florence Phantoms1040.692410.800 Huntington Heroes680.429230.400 Carolina Speed680.429020.000 Fayetteville Guard590.357320.600 Western Conference South Division Mississippi MudCats1310.929710.875 Columbus Lions1040.692510.833 Augusta Colts770.538240.327 Florida Stingrays0140.000070.000 West Division Wyoming Cavalry1130.7861130.786 Arizona Adrenaline1130.7861130.786 New Mexico Wildcats590.357590.357 Utah Saints1130.0711130.071
Green indicates clinched playoff berth Purple indicates division champion Grey indicates best league record
Roster 2008 Erie RiverRats roster Quarterbacks
Running backs
Wide receivers Offensive linemen
Defensive linemen Linebackers
Defensive backs
Kickers Injured Reserve currently vacant
Exempt List currently vacant
Failure to report currently vacant
rookies in italics Roster updated June 14, 2008 22 Active, 0 Inactive
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References