2007 Pittsburgh RiverRats season

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.[1] 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.[2] 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.[3]

2007 Pittsburgh RiverRats season
Head coachShawn Liotta
OwnerJeff Hauser
Home fieldRostraver Ice Garden
101 Gallitin Rd
Belle Vernon, PA 15012
Results
Record7-7
Division place4th
Playoff finishLost North Quarterfinals (Express) 24-42

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.[4]

The RiverRats played their first game on February 3, 2007 on the road in Tupelo, MS, but lost 54-34 to the Mississippi Mudcats.[5] 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.[6] On May 19, 2007, the RiverRats set an AIFA single game record when they scored 86 points in a single game.[7]

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.[8] However, the RiverRats were eliminated in the first round, losing 42-24 to the eventual conference champions Reading Express.[9]

Schedule

Regular season
Date Opponent Home/Away Result
February 3 Mississippi Mudcats Away Lost 34-54
February 18 Reading Express Home Lost 28-35
February 23 Canton Legends Away Lost 11-45
March 4 Danville Demolition Home Won 47-21
March 9 Danville Demolition Away Won 34-29
March 17 Johnstown Riverhawks Away Lost 13-43
March 30 Johnstown Riverhawks Home Won 47-42
April 14 Florence Phantoms Home Won 66-60
April 21 Huntington Heroes Away Lost 34-55
April 28 Canton Legends Home Won 62-33
May 6 Reading Express Away Lost 40-57
May 12 Erie Freeze Away Won 52-45
May 19 Erie Freeze Home Won 86-72
May 25 Huntington Heroes Home Lost 26-69
June 9 Reading Express (Playoffs) Away Lost 24-42

Standings
Team Overall Division
Wins Losses Percentage Wins Losses Percentage
Northern Division
Reading Express 14 2 0.875 12 1 0.923
Canton Legends 10 4 0.714 9 3 0.750
Huntington Heroes 10 4 0.714 9 3 0.750
Pittsburgh RiverRats 7 7 0.500 6 6 0.500
Johnstown Riverhawks 6 9 0.400 5 6 0.417
Danville Demolition 1 12 0.077 1 11 0.083
Erie Freeze 1 13 0.071 1 11 0.083
Southern Division
Lakeland Thunderbolts 11 2 0.846 9 2 0.818
Mississippi MudCats 11 3 0.786 9 3 0.750
Tallahassee Titans 11 3 0.786 9 3 0.750
Carolina Speed 7 7 0.500 5 6 0.417
Montgomery Bears 5 9 0.357 4 8 0.333
Florence Phantoms 4 9 0.308 4 7 0.364
Baltimore Blackbirds 1 12 0.077 1 7 0.111
Gulf Coast Raiders 0 3 0.000 0 3 0.000
  • Green indicates clinched playoff berth
  • Purple indicates division champion
  • Grey indicates best league record
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References
  1. Phil Axelrod (August 5, 2006). "River Rats to debut in American Indoor Football League in 2007, will play in Rostraver". www.post-gazette.com. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved December 26, 2013.
  2. Shawn Liotta (August 18, 2010). "Reading Express Moving to IFL". www.shawnliotta.com. Shawn Liotta. Retrieved December 26, 2013.
  3. Jeff Oliver (August 7, 2006). "Legal fight looms over name". www.triblive.com. Trib Total Media, Inc. Retrieved December 26, 2013.
  4. "RiverRats sign 2005 AIFL MVP Dinkins". www.oursportscentral.com. OurSports Central. August 20, 2006. Retrieved December 26, 2013.
  5. "RiverRats Fall to Mississippi in Season Opener". www.oursportscentral.com. OurSports Central. February 7, 2007. Retrieved December 26, 2013.
  6. "RiverRats rally to beat Danville". www.triblive.com. Trib Total Media, Inc. March 10, 2007. Retrieved December 26, 2013.
  7. Jeff Oliver (May 21, 2007). "RiverRats score 86 to reach AIFA playoffs". www.triblive.com. Trib Total Media, Inc. Retrieved December 26, 2013.
  8. "RiverRats Prepare For First Round Playoff Matchup Against Reading". www.oursportscentral.com. OurSports Central. June 7, 2007. Retrieved December 26, 2013.
  9. Brian Rippey (June 10, 2007). "Express rolls past Pittsburgh". www2.readingeagle.com. Reading Eagle Company. Retrieved December 26, 2013.
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