The 2007 Pittsburgh RiverRats season was the 1st season for the American Indoor Football Association (AIFA) franchise. The Explosion began play in 2007 as the Pittsburgh RiverRats, playing that season's home games at the Rostraver Ice Garden in Rostraver Township, Pennsylvania. The "RiverRats" name and logo were originally supposed to be used by the Reading Express, but that team chose the Express branding instead, freeing it up for use by another American Indoor Football League (AIFL) team. In August 2006, more arguments came about the RiverRats name as a team in the Eastern Indoor Football League, called the 3 River Rats, had intentions of suing the RiverRats to retain the naming rights of the team.
On August 20, 2006, the RiverRats signed quarterback David Dinkins, formerly of the Erie Freeze of the AIFA, and designated him as the team's franchise player for the 2007 season.
The RiverRats played their first game on February 3, 2007 on the road in Tupelo, MS, but lost 54-34 to the Mississippi Mudcats. Their first home game was on February 18, 2007 which they lost 35-28 to the Reading Express. Pittsburgh won its first home game by beating the Danville Demolition 47-21 on March 4, 2007, and then won its first away game by beating Danville a second time, on March 9, 2007, by a score of 34-29. On May 19, 2007, the RiverRats set an AIFA single game record when they scored 86 points in a single game.
The team finished their inaugural season at a respectable 7-7 record, good for fourth place in the Northern Conference and a wild-card playoff berth. However, the RiverRats were eliminated in the first round, losing 42-24 to the eventual conference champions Reading Express.
Schedule
Regular season DateOpponentHome/AwayResultFebruary 3Mississippi MudcatsAwayLost 34-54February 18Reading ExpressHomeLost 28-35February 23Canton LegendsAwayLost 11-45March 4Danville DemolitionHomeWon 47-21March 9Danville DemolitionAwayWon 34-29March 17Johnstown RiverhawksAwayLost 13-43March 30Johnstown RiverhawksHomeWon 47-42April 14Florence PhantomsHomeWon 66-60April 21Huntington HeroesAwayLost 34-55April 28Canton LegendsHomeWon 62-33May 6Reading ExpressAwayLost 40-57May 12Erie FreezeAwayWon 52-45May 19Erie FreezeHomeWon 86-72May 25Huntington HeroesHomeLost 26-69June 9Reading Express (Playoffs)AwayLost 24-42
Standings Team Overall DivisionWinsLossesPercentageWinsLossesPercentage Northern Division Reading Express1420.8751210.923 Canton Legends1040.714930.750 Huntington Heroes1040.714930.750 Pittsburgh RiverRats770.500660.500 Johnstown Riverhawks690.400560.417 Danville Demolition1120.0771110.083 Erie Freeze1130.0711110.083 Southern Division Lakeland Thunderbolts1120.846920.818 Mississippi MudCats1130.786930.750 Tallahassee Titans1130.786930.750 Carolina Speed770.500560.417 Montgomery Bears590.357480.333 Florence Phantoms490.308470.364 Baltimore Blackbirds1120.077170.111 Gulf Coast Raiders030.000030.000
Green indicates clinched playoff berth Purple indicates division champion Grey indicates best league record
References