Richmond Raiders Continue To Develop 2013 Roster, Coaching Staff

Even though the start of the Richmond Raiders' fourth season is five months away, the team continues to work hard to assemble a squad that can improve on 2012's PIFL runner-up finish. Fifty-seven hopeful players looking to be part of the 2013 roster participated in Saturday's open tryout at the Richmond Coliseum, and a number of them at all positions made an impression on Raider head coach James Fuller.
"I'm all about getting the best players," Fuller said. "I want to get the best guys, then see where they fit."
Fifteen of the players that took the Raiders to a 10-2 regular season and a berth in the PIFL Championship Game have already signed contracts for 2013. "We have a good nucleus of guys," Fuller said, adding that at the tryout he tried "to find the best players who are available." Fuller acknowledged that the team's success buoyed tryout attendance and increased competition for roster spots. "Everybody wants to be part of a winner," he said.
Coach Fuller, who lives out of town during the offseason, met with team ownership during tryout weekend and signed a contract officially confirming his return to lead the Raiders in 2013.
2013 will mark Fuller's third season as the Raiders' head coach. Fuller led the Raiders to a 10-2 regular season record in 2012, which tied for first place in the PIFL. Under Fuller's guidance, the team registered its first ever wins over the rival Columbus Lions and Albany Panthers, beat every team in the league at least once, and went a perfect 7-0 at home including the playoffs. Fuller led the team to its first ever postseason berth, beating the Louisiana Swashbucklers in the PIFL semifinal before falling to the Albany Panthers in the championship game. The Raiders had the #1 scoring offense and the #2 scoring defense in the league, scoring over 60 points per game and allowing just 49.
Fuller is a native of Tacoma, Washington and holds a degree in criminal justice from Portland State University, where he was a two-time All American safety. He was drafted by the San Diego Chargers in 1992 and played on that team for three seasons. Fuller also played for the Scotland Claymores, and in 1996 led NFL-Europe in interceptions. He finished his NFL career with the Philadelphia Eagles in 1996.
Coach Fuller also announced the return of two veteran assistant coaches, Defensive Coordinator Billy Jarvis, and Line Coach Joe Valvoda.
"It is great to have head coach Fuller back along with coaches Jarvis and Valvoda and to see them back in action with the open tryouts," Raider owner Mike Fraizer said. "They are a quality group and bring strong commitment and energy."
Billy Jarvis returns to the Raiders for his third year as an assistant coach. Jarvis also spent time as defensive coordinator of the Richmond Speed professional arena team during 2001-2003. Jarvis played college ball at James Madison University. As defensive coordinator in 2012, his squad was #1 against the run, second against the pass and in total defense, and dominated the league in takeaways, forcing 32 opponents' turnovers. The Raiders' ball-hawking defense picked off 21 passes and returned seven for touchdowns.
Joe Valvoda returns to the Raiders for his third season leading the offensive line. A four year letterman at Edinboro University (PA) and a 2004 Division II All-American, he played indoors professionally with the Green Bay Blizzard and the Richmond Bandits. He is in his eighth year as an assistant coach at Richmond's Douglas Freeman High School. The Raiders' O-line paved the way for a dominating rushing attack which ranked first in the PIFL in yards, yards per rush, and rushing touchdowns. The Raiders proved they could get yardage on the ground when it counted, notching 25 rushing TDs from inside the red zone.
Fraizer commented that the coaching staff might expand before the beginning of training camp. "We still may add one more to the coaching ranks as we move toward the season," he said.
The Raiders will kick off their 2013 season at the Richmond Coliseum on March 16 against the PIFL's newest team, the Charlotte Speed. Season tickets are on sale through the Raiders' office by calling 1-855-GO-RAIDERS, 804-780-0430, or visiting richmondraidersprofootball.com. Act quickly to lock in the most savings - prices on all silver level tickets go up on November 1!

Albany Panthers Captures 2012 PIFL Championship Cup

The Professional Indoor Football League's (PIFL) Championship Cup is heading to Southwest Georgia following the Albany Panthers (12-2) 60-56 win Saturday night against the Richmond Raiders.
In one stirring night that was reminiscent of the entire 2012 PIFL season, the league's top two teams were featured in a showdown with the winner being the first to take home the PIFL Championship Cup.
Featuring a roster primarily full of players who returned for a chance at a re-peat, late in the 4th quarter and up by seven, Albany thwarted Richmond's potential game-tying drive when DB Damian Daniels intercepted a James Steadman pass with 7 minutes remaining giving the Panthers enough breathing room to close out the Raiders.
Daniels, who along with LB Ryan Babb came over in the off-season after spending many seasons with their now in-state rivals the Columbus Lions, joined a number of Panthers who will be sizing up their ring fingers once again.
Despite the loss, Richmond overcame many obstacles including an early 16-point deficit in the 2nd quarter. After scoring a TD on the opening drive, the Raiders offense stalled on their next two series' allowing Albany an early 22-6 lead.
Once again getting the start under center, for three quarters Albany QB Darnel Kennedy took majority of the snaps before relinquishing the game over to 10-0 starter Cecil Lester who closed out the final three offensive drives completing 7 of 9 passes for 84 yards and two TD's. Kennedy completed 12 of 20 passes for 164 yards and 4 TD's before stepping aside in the game's final quarter.
After stalling on their next two drives, QB Antwon Young led the Raiders on two scoring drives of 30 yards with each taking just two plays. Still down by nine and without the ball, Richmond DB RoShawn Marshall came up the game's first turnover when he intercepted a Kennedy pass and promptly returned it 50 yards for TD cutting the Raider deficit down to two.
Coming out of the break down by six, Richmond received the ball to start the second half and managed to reach the Albany 12-yard line before FB Jordan Pavlisin coughed up the game's second turnover with a fumble that was promptly scooped up and returned 38 yards by Antwontis Cutts for a TD.
Altogether, Cutts scored TD's on four different occasions and was the lone receiving target to go over the century mark in yards hauling in six passes for 110 yards with two of his catches reaching the end-zone. Along with his fumble recovery, Cutts also returned a kickoff the length of the field as his four touchdown effort earned him the game's MVP.
Down by 13, the Raiders began to unravel as QB Antwon Young was ejected after an unsportsmanlike penalty that saw him throw a football at an Albany player on a play that was blown dead before the snap. Having only attempted five passes all season, back-up QB James Steadman stepped in quite nicely leading Richmond to touchdown drives in his first two series with his second pulling the Raiders even with Albany at 43. Before getting tossed, Young completed 11 of 16 passes for 165 yards and three TD's while in his place Steadman completed 7 of 10 passes for 101 yards and two TD's.
With the game very much in the balance and tied at 43, Albany went to the bullpen bringing Lester in to close out the 4th quarter by scoring on their final three drives. Coupled with the Damian Daniels INT at the 7 minute mark, the Panthers secured all the breathing room they would need even letting Richmond score in the final seconds just so they could run the final seconds off the clock.
In lieu of Saturday's loss, it should not take away from an outstanding 2012 season in which the Raiders franchise entered the season two games under .500 (12-14) only to finish in a first-place tie with the Panthers while experiencing both their first playoff game and win.
For Albany, a franchise in just its third year, Saturday's re-peat championship caps off a perfect 8-0 home record as well as a start to end finish as the league's top team allowing them to raise another banner inside the Albany Civic Center.
For a look at photos from Saturday's inaugural PIFL Championship Game between Richmond and Albany, log on to www.proifl.com and to keep up with news from all six teams be sure to log on to the PIFL's Facebook page.

City of Albany to Sponsor PIFL Championship Game

The Professional Indoor Football League (PIFL) 2012 Division Champion Albany Panthers (11-2) are proud to announce that the City of Albany will be the sponsor of the PIFL Championship Game.
As the Albany Panthers take Phoebe Field Saturday night for the contest against the Richmond Raiders (11-2), The City of Albany will be cheering on the Panthers with a strong contingent of family and friends.
"We are very pleased to have the City of Albany employees in attendance Saturday night and we plan to make this an exciting event they won't forget," said General Manager Will Carter. "The City of Albany has been a huge supporter of the Panthers since the day we arrived three years ago and we genuinely appreciate that."
"City of Albany Night" festivities will include Roxanne Embler, performing the National Anthem. Commissioner Tommie Postell of Ward VI, will perform the Coin Toss. Commissioner Ivey Hines of Ward II, will present the Game Ball. The Invocation will be delivered by the Pastor of Friendship Baptist Church in Bainbridge, GA and Albany Panthers Team Chaplin Brian Ramey.

PIFL Championship game to be webcast on Raiders site

The Richmond Raiders (11-2) play the Albany Panthers (11-2) on Saturday night, June 30, at the James H. Gray Civic Center in Albany, Georgia, and fans will be able to watch and hear the game live on the Raiders' website media center page from any location with high speed web access.
This will be the third meeting of the two teams. Richmond lost 28 to 40 at Albany on May 17. Albany lost 66 to 67 in Richmond, June 16. Although the score when they met in Albany may not indicate it, both games were close and came down to final minutes, indicating this Saturday's rubber match should be quite a show.
In Albany on May 17, it looked as though the Panthers, ahead by 32 to 18 in the third quarter, might walk away with the game. But the Raiders scored ten unanswered points to make the score 32 to 28 with 9:37 left in the fourth. The Raider defense held following the kickoff, and it appeared Richmond might retake the lead on their next possession as they drove to the Panther 22. But with second down and ten to go, Panther defensive back Core Rue intercepted a pass from Young and returned it 34 yards for a score. Geoff Boyers' kick for the extra point was good, and the Panthers led 39 to 28. Boyer then placed the ball through the uprights on the ensuing kickoff for an Uno, raising the Panther total to 40 points, and the scoring was done for the game.
The game in Richmond on June 16 was even more of a show. The score seesawed back and forth all evening long -- the lead changing hands an amazing 14 times.
As the clock ran down, however, it looked as though Albany might finish on top. They scored just before the one-minute warning, making it Panthers 65, Raiders 64. Then Panther kicker Ryan Gates (Gardner-Webb) put one through the uprights on the ensuing kickoff to make it 66-64, a double-wammy for the Raiders because it forced them to start on their own five yard line with only a minute left on the clock.
But the Raiders had no intention of giving up. They drove down field as the seconds ticked off with the result that it all came down to a 27-yard field goal attempt with four seconds remaining.
Richmond's First-Team, All-PIFL kicker T. C. Stevens (Hampden-Sydney) nailed it. Final score: 67 to 66, and the partisan crowd went wild.
Richmond's First-Team PIFL quarterback Antwon Young (Villanova) completed 19 passes of 36 attempts for 246 yards and four touchdowns. He also ran eight times for 83 yards, scoring three more TDs on the ground in the process. Richmond wide receiver Jason Lovett (UVA Wise) also had a big night on offense with nine catches for 122 yards and three touchdowns.
As mentioned above, Fans who can't make the trek to Albany will be able to watch live and in color on the Raiders' media center page of the Raiders's website. Or, just follow this link:
http://www.richmondraidersprofootball.com/tvradio-network.html