EXPRESS WIN CLOSE ROAD GAME TO OPEN THE TPFL SEASON

Your Erie Express move to 3-0 on the season and 1-0 in TPFL play with today's 22-21 victory over the Steel City Bobcats in Penn Hills.

The Bobcats scored first on a 32 yard field goal early in the first quarter to go up 3-0. They would follow that score up with a 42 yard pass and catch with the 2pt try being no good to extend their lead to 9-0 with 1:21 remaining in the first quarter. The quarter would end with the Bobcats up 9-0.

Erie's first three possessions resulted in an interception and a pair of fumbles but it was their fourth possession that resulted in their fourth turnover, a blocked punt, that put the Bobcats in great scoring position on the 20yd line. Steel City would score on a 20yd pass, the XP was blocked to make the score 15-0 Bobcats in control with 13:09 remaining in the half.

Erie would put together a nice drive after a long Koran Williams return, Joey Scarabino would find Nasir Singleton from 17yds out. Lawrence Hughes would punch in the 2pt try to make the score Bobcats 15 Erie 8 with 9:55 remaining in the half.

With 5:09 remaining in the half, John Amon would step in for an injured Scarabino and connect with Koran Williams on a 57yd TD pass. Amon to Hughes for the 2pt try and Erie would take their first lead of the game 16-15 into halftime.

The teams went back and forth in the third but the Bobcats would score first in the second half. Three Express penalties would give the Bobcats the ball first and 10 on the 15. The Bobcats did not need the extra downs as they punched it in on a hard run from the 15. The XP was no good and the Bobcats led 21-16 with 5:07 remaining in the third. The score would remain the same to end the quarter.

John Amon scored the only points of the fourth quarter on a 16yd run. The 2pt try was no good to give Erie the lead 22-21. In his first appearance of the season, veteran DB Ashton Jones sealed the game with an interception with less than two minutes remaining. Erie Was able to run out the remaining time.

On defense, Cam Sanders, Joe Kucenski and JayShawn Whitman all recorded sacks for the Express with Osha Jackson, Cam Sanders and Ashton Jones each recording interceptions.

The Express were able to weather the turnover storm of 2 fumbles, 3 interceptions and a blocked punt to secure the victory in week one action of the TPFL season against one of the premier teams in the TPFL.

We will be home next week when they face off against the undefeated 2x National Champion Wpa Wildcatz in our home opener. The game will be played at Fort LeBoeuf High School in Waterford, PA (12min outside of Erie). Kickoff is set for 5pm with intros starting at 4:45 SHARP. Admission is $10 with kids 12 and under FREE! We hope to see you then as we look to remain perfect on the 2024 season against a very strong Wildcatz team. ALLLLLLLLL ABOARD!! GO EXPRESS!