FEBRUARY 21 --  Due to the postponement of games on Sunday and thanks to field access issues which precluded pushing the inaugural AmeriBowl Championship Game back another week, the inaugural regular season of Capital Area Team Sports' GRIDIRON AMERICA will wrap up Sunday in a way no week of CATS' original Independent Flag Football League never did - with teams playing a tripleheader.

 

The action starts at 11 o'clock as Brooklyn FC takes on the New Hope Knights.  At noon, Black Ops will take on the Raleigh Skyliners.  Immediately following that contest, Brooklyn FC and the Skyliners will square off, followed by the New Hope Knights playing Black Ops.  Then, to wrap up the day's action, Brooklyn and the Knights, then Black Ops and the Skyliners, will square off a second time to close out the regular season.

 

 

FEBRUARY 21 --  The second season of Capital Area Team Sports' GRIDIRON AMERICA will kick off on Saturday, April 28th.

 

A maximum of eight teams will play a 10-game regular season schedule over 9 Saturdays, with playoffs following for qualifying teams.  Unlike the inaugural season, The "Summer 2012" season will see all games played at the same site - Green Road Park in Raleigh.

 

"We really enjoyed keeping things small for the inaugural season," explained GRIDIRON AMERICA's Patrick Weiss, "it provided a better overall atmosphere for everyone - we have rivalries, but we all seem to get along well."  Commissioner D.P. McIntire also expressed his wishes in this area, "GA's not organized the way IFFL was, and it's not geared toward rapid growth.  We've started with four, and eight frankly would be as many as I'd want for a second season."

 

New and returning teams will be able to sign up for the Summer 2012 season for just $ 375 (for up to 10 players) now through April 1.  After that, the registration fee is $ 450, with no registrations being accepted after April 15th.  Potential new teams are advised to contact Patrick Weiss at (919) 302-6673 for more information.

 

 

FEBRUARY 17  --  With a pair of victories over F.C. New Hope and Brooklyn F.C. Sunday, Black Ops put themselves in a strong position to join the Raleigh Skyliners in the inaugural AmeriBowl Championship Game with three games left in the regular season.

 

The first win of the day proved most important, as Black Ops used a balanced offensive attack and took advantage of their opponents miscues as Oakwood FC earned a 27-13 win over the Knights.  Antwon Anderson threw for two touchdowns and rushed for a third, part of an outstanding (especially given the weather) 8 for 9 passing performance, half of that total being caught by Cleveland Fowler - including both touchdowns.  The Knights would score on their opening drive behind back-up quarterback Mike Slominski, who would fare better in his second game than the first, going 6 for 14 passing while spreading his targets among Rich Cameron, Dave Farmer, Rich Peterson, Mike Slominski and Jeremy Way in the loss.

 

As the day wore on Sunday, the effects of the cold began taking its toll on offensive performance, a fact evidenced by the 25 combined points scored between Brooklyn FC and Black Ops.  19 of those points would be Oakwood's, giving them their fifth win of the season and putting them on the cusp of joining the Raleigh Skyliners as qualifiers for the first-ever AmeriBowl Championship Game.  As with earlier games pass completions were at a premium, with Black Ops Antwon Anderson going 4 for 10 while opposing signal-caller Desmond Cabrera would go 6 for 16 in the game.  Brooklyn's defense would rack up a sack and an interception, but it was unable to capitalize on Black Ops mistakes with offensive performance of its own - another "close but no cigar" loss for Brooklyn this season.

 

 

FEBRUARY 17  --  The Raleigh Amateur Football Club became the first to earn a berth in an AmeriBowl Championship Game, winning a pair of games Sunday, including a 34-6 drubbing of the New Hope Knights which put F.C. New Hope out of reach in the standings, raising their record to 6-0-1.

 

In the opener for the day, the Skyliners and Brooklyn F.C. tugged back and forth, with Brooklyn having a 15-13 lead early into the second half before Raleigh's Patrick Weiss connected with Mike Burns and George Beinhart to cap scoring drives in back-to-back possessions, giving them a 25-15 lead on their way to a 32-22 win.  Cold weather conditions wreaked havoc on would-be pass receivers throughout the day, a fact reflected in the passing statistics on both sides:  Weiss would be 10 of 21 on the day (albeit with four touchdown strikes) while Brooklyn FC's receiving corps would manage to snare only 5 of quarterback Desmond Cabrera's passes.

 

Having been warmed up by their win over Brooklyn FC and with their opponent's missing the services of quarterback Joe Fernandez, Raleigh AFC had virtually no trouble dispatching the New Hope Knights in their second game of the day, 34-6.  Weiss would have a second game with four touchdown passes (spreading the love between Ben Little, George Beinhart and John Leiser) while the Skyliner defense seemed more comfortable in the Knights backfield than their own offense, recording three sacks and forcing back-up quarterback to throw 3 interceptions, two of which were snared by MVP candidate Beinhart.

 

 

FEBRUARY 2  -- GRIDIRON AMERICA Commissioner D.P. McIntire is asking two people to assist him in season statistic compilations. "I'm kind of bleary-eyed from looking at all this stuff, and need some fresh eyes to review it."

 

Those who volunteer would be responsible for going over each of the GRIDIRON AMERICA individual game reports (.PDF files) generated so far (and available here on GridironAmerica.com), providing McIntire with a game-by-game statistical recap similar to what's currently on each game report.  "Should I get two identical reports, or if they match with mine, I'll know they're accurate... if not, I'll know another look will be needed," said McIntire.

 

Potential volunteers are asked to contact D.P. via e-mail, or to approach him at Sunday's games for more information.

 

Welcome to GRIDIRON AMERICA, the newest amateur sports program from Capital Area Team Sports, Inc. ("CATS"), a non-profit organization based in Raleigh, North Carolina.

Founded in 1995, CATS has operated basketball, softball and flag football programs at both the team and league levels.  Now, we return to those foundations with GRIDIRON AMERICA, a series of three distinct styles of flag football play.

CATS experience in operating flag football leagues dates back to 2002.  For 9 years, our Independent Flag Football League featured men's contact styles of the game, each employing unique rules that provided a fast-paced, high scoring version of flag football.  And with GRIDIRON AMERICA, we return to those roots while adding some new innovations as well!

All styles of GRIDIRON AMERICA play utilize an Arena Football™ sized field, measuring 50 yards from goal line to goal line.  In men's play, contact blocking is permitted between offensive and defensive linemen.  Greater emphasis is placed on ball control than your typical "air it out" league - first downs are achieved by advancing the ball beyond each 15 yard line, and our scoring system rewards teams that can run the ball effectively.  And even the kicking game has its place in GRIDIRON AMERICA play, with CFL-style "singles" as well as the ability to attempt field goals.  Teams scoring touchdowns can try for 1, 2 or 3 points as well - meaning that even a 10 point lead isn't necessarily a safe one!

And off the field, GRIDIRON AMERICA will establish an organizational standard that's second to none, providing clubs and players with the best value possible and making everyone glad they've chosen to be part of it.  Should you have any questions, please feel free to contact us - we'll be glad to answer any inquiries you may have.  In the meantime however, take a look around our site, and see if you might be interested in emigrating: to "One Nation, Under Football."  GRIDIRON AMERICA.