Post by Banana Cat on Jan 12, 2012 20:52:34 GMT -5
www.siouxcityjournal.com/bandits-welcome-back-six-veterans-for/article_3034db4b-c37b-5744-9cf2-bbee8e18ac64.html
Bandits welcome back six veterans for 2012
BY BARRY POE/ siouxcityjournal.com
January 11, 2012
SIOUX CITY - The pieces are now in place for the Sioux City Bandits to make another run at the American Professional Football League championship.
The defending-champion Bandits announced the signing of six veteran players on Wednesday, including quarterback Scott Jensen, the APFL's 2011 Most Valuable Player.
Sioux City also unveiled its 2012 schedule, which includes contests against three new APFL franchises. The Bandits of first-year head coach Erv Strohbeen will kick off March 2 at home against a league newcomer, the Oklahoma Defenders.
"We just have to continue to do what we do," said Jensen, an Eastern Oregon University product. "We're all together again so there's not a lot we have to do but try to perfect things. We need to do the little things that will make all the difference for us, so we need to stay focused and play like we know how to play."
Jensen passed for 43 touchdowns and just five interceptions last season for the Bandits, who appeared invincible en route to a 14-0 campaign. The 6-foot, 190-pound Jensen was also a threat with his legs, rushing 49 times for 332 yards in his third season behind center.
He doesn't see any reason why his fourth should be any different.
"We have our top three receivers and Drew (Prohaska) coming back, so we don't have to start all over again," said Jensen, who completed 126 of 193 passes last season. "We just have to make sure we're on the same page and same route routine."
Jensen will have the luxury of his top two targets returning in Damon Mothershead and Eddie Pertilla. Drew Prohaska, the Bandits' leading rusher, will also return -- as will offensive linemen Joe Bundy and Nehemiah Blackburn.
Mothershead, a West High and Morningside College graduate, begins his sixth season with the Bandits. He had 56 receptions for 781 yards and 14 touchdowns while leading the team with 1,009 all-purpose yards in 2011.
The 5-10, 185-pound Mothershead has 143 receptions for 1,775 yards and 35 touchdowns in 52 career games with the Bandits.
Pertilla, a Midland University graduate, finished second on the team with 36 catches for 644 yards and 19 touchdowns.
Prohaska, a Briar Cliff University graduate, burst onto the scene after making the team in a tryout camp before last season. The speedy, 5-8, 190-pounder from Wahoo, Neb., led the Bandits with 581 rushing yards on 110 carries, scoring 12 touchdowns.
Bundy (6-6, 305) and Blackburn (6-4, 280) both played at Wayne State College.
"This is going to be huge because we can hit the ground running when camp starts on Feb. 20," Strohbeen said. "We don't have to worry about installing a lot of new plays and talking about terminology with these guys, where some other teams are going to be bringing in new players and it might take them a week or two to learn the new offense."
Strohbeen, one of the first players to don a Sioux City indoor football uniform, enters his first season as head coach. The longtime offensive lineman and former Bandits line coach is excited about the prospect of six of his eight offensive players returning.
"These guys all played all year for us last year," he said. "They know the offense and the other players on the team, so it's going to be a quick turnaround time where we can put in some plays and packages for week one."
In addition to Oklahoma, the expanded, eight-team APFL will welcome the Colorado Lightning and Cheyenne Warriors to the league.
The Bandits' 12-game schedule includes six home games, five of those in the first eight weeks of the season.
The team will hold its final tryouts from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday at the Long Lines Family Rec Center.
BY BARRY POE/ siouxcityjournal.com
January 11, 2012
SIOUX CITY - The pieces are now in place for the Sioux City Bandits to make another run at the American Professional Football League championship.
The defending-champion Bandits announced the signing of six veteran players on Wednesday, including quarterback Scott Jensen, the APFL's 2011 Most Valuable Player.
Sioux City also unveiled its 2012 schedule, which includes contests against three new APFL franchises. The Bandits of first-year head coach Erv Strohbeen will kick off March 2 at home against a league newcomer, the Oklahoma Defenders.
"We just have to continue to do what we do," said Jensen, an Eastern Oregon University product. "We're all together again so there's not a lot we have to do but try to perfect things. We need to do the little things that will make all the difference for us, so we need to stay focused and play like we know how to play."
Jensen passed for 43 touchdowns and just five interceptions last season for the Bandits, who appeared invincible en route to a 14-0 campaign. The 6-foot, 190-pound Jensen was also a threat with his legs, rushing 49 times for 332 yards in his third season behind center.
He doesn't see any reason why his fourth should be any different.
"We have our top three receivers and Drew (Prohaska) coming back, so we don't have to start all over again," said Jensen, who completed 126 of 193 passes last season. "We just have to make sure we're on the same page and same route routine."
Jensen will have the luxury of his top two targets returning in Damon Mothershead and Eddie Pertilla. Drew Prohaska, the Bandits' leading rusher, will also return -- as will offensive linemen Joe Bundy and Nehemiah Blackburn.
Mothershead, a West High and Morningside College graduate, begins his sixth season with the Bandits. He had 56 receptions for 781 yards and 14 touchdowns while leading the team with 1,009 all-purpose yards in 2011.
The 5-10, 185-pound Mothershead has 143 receptions for 1,775 yards and 35 touchdowns in 52 career games with the Bandits.
Pertilla, a Midland University graduate, finished second on the team with 36 catches for 644 yards and 19 touchdowns.
Prohaska, a Briar Cliff University graduate, burst onto the scene after making the team in a tryout camp before last season. The speedy, 5-8, 190-pounder from Wahoo, Neb., led the Bandits with 581 rushing yards on 110 carries, scoring 12 touchdowns.
Bundy (6-6, 305) and Blackburn (6-4, 280) both played at Wayne State College.
"This is going to be huge because we can hit the ground running when camp starts on Feb. 20," Strohbeen said. "We don't have to worry about installing a lot of new plays and talking about terminology with these guys, where some other teams are going to be bringing in new players and it might take them a week or two to learn the new offense."
Strohbeen, one of the first players to don a Sioux City indoor football uniform, enters his first season as head coach. The longtime offensive lineman and former Bandits line coach is excited about the prospect of six of his eight offensive players returning.
"These guys all played all year for us last year," he said. "They know the offense and the other players on the team, so it's going to be a quick turnaround time where we can put in some plays and packages for week one."
In addition to Oklahoma, the expanded, eight-team APFL will welcome the Colorado Lightning and Cheyenne Warriors to the league.
The Bandits' 12-game schedule includes six home games, five of those in the first eight weeks of the season.
The team will hold its final tryouts from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday at the Long Lines Family Rec Center.