LIMA WARRIORS 2008 SCHEDULE ANNOUNCED

Improved Schedule Looms for Warriors Repeat Dreams

BY:  Aaron Matthews (aaron@limawarriors.com)

Director of Operations

 LIMA – The Lima Warriors are pleased to announce their 2008 Schedule.  All home games will be played at Lima Stadium with kickoff set for 7:05 PM. 

 

       The Warriors will open the season on the road against the West Virginia Gladiators on Saturday May 31^st in Morgantown, WV.  Originally, the Warriors were set to play the Tri-County Colts out of New Lexington, Oh in week one, but that team has since folded and its players are now looking to catch on with other organizations. 

 

The Gladiators were part of the USFA’s “Final Four” last season, losing to league runner up Beaver County.  The home opener will be the following weekend against the Mt. Carmel Fire.  The Fire boast an improved roster after the Southern Ohio Patriots disbanded and several players merged with Mt. Carmel.  The Warriors will then take on the Ada Dark Knights at War Memorial Stadium in Ada.  ADK won only one game last season & were shutout both times they played the Warriors. The biggest question mark concerning the Knights is how will they respond to the split they had with coaches & players leaving to form their own organization.

 

The Warriors will then travel to Akron to take on the Jagz who have now moved to the Eastern Conference after an influx of teams expanded the Western Conference.  This match up has the potential to be a league Championship preview at St. Vincent/St. Mary’s High school, the alma matter of Cleveland Cavalier superstar Lebron James. 

 

 The Warriors will return home to take on a pair of Michigan teams & USFA newcomers Wayne County Wolverines & West Michigan Force before traveling to Michigan to take on the Grand Rapids Thunder.  The Warriors return home to take on the Ohio Outlawz, who has joined the USFA in their inaugural season.  The majority of the Outlawz was part of the split from the Ada Dark Knights & will be playing in Kenton at Robinson Field. 

 

 The final road game of the season has the Warriors taking a trip down I-75 to take on the Mt. Carmel Fire at Cincinnati’s Turpin High School.  Lima will then head back to Lima Stadium for their final home game against the always tough Michigan Admirals. The Admirals will play their first season in the USFA after coming over from the nations largest semi-pro league, the NAFL.  Playoff action will begin the following week.

 

Here is a schedule breakdown for each game:

 

DATE:       OPPONENT:                                                                                   

5/31/08       @ West Virginia Gladiators (Morgantown, WV)

6/07/08       MT. CARMEL FIRE                                                            

6/14/08       @ Ada Dark Knights (Ada, Oh War Memorial Stadium)

6/21/08       @ Akron Jagz (Akron St. Vincent/St. Mary High School)

6/28/08       WAYNE COUNTY WOLVERINES

7/05/08       BYE

7/12/08       WEST MICHIGAN FORCE

7/19/08       @ Grand Rapids Thunder (Grand Rapids, Mi)

7/26/08       OHIO OUTLAWZ

8/02/08       @ Mt. Carmel Fire (Cincinnati Turpin High School)

8/09/08       MICHIGAN ADMIRALS

 

Needless to say the players, coaches, and organization members are excited for the upcoming season.  Veteran Defensive Lineman Adam Gill said, “I can't wait to give this thing one last go. What we did in ‘07 no longer means a thing.  It's all in the past and a wonderful memory but doesn't mean anything for predicting our future. Everyone starts out 0-0 and there is no "defending champs". No more hugging and patting backs about what we did, now it's about lighting fires under people & getting in each others face & pushing harder than ever for perfection in what we are about to do.  Know your role! Protect your brother! Listen to the coaches! And give all the glory to God and the fans!”  Gill contemplated hanging up his shoulder pads but has decided to give it one last go around. 

 

The players seem pleased with the road that’s been put before them.  Offensive Lineman John Lance had the following to say, “That schedule should get everyone pumped up to play. All we heard last year was how we took to the easy way out. Well when we run the table this year everyone will know we are legit. It's time to prove how good we are.” 

 

Team Vice President Devon Jones also offered his thoughts on the schedule “No one can say we have a cupcake schedule this year, that’s for sure.  Opening up with the Gladiators and then the 4 game stretch is no joke going to Akron. Wayne County and West Michigan at home, then going to Grand Rapids to play the Thunder. And no let down after that, coming home to play the Outlawz, and finishing with the Admirals! The challenge has been laid down.”

 

The Warriors begin hitting in April and have lined up scrimmages throughout May to give them some great tests for the 2008 season.  Judging by the looks of the schedule, Lima Stadium will once again be the hotspot for summertime fun on a Saturday this summer as the Warriors look to continue their winning ways and make it once again to championship glory.

 

Miscellaneous Warrior Notes:

-Veteran Lineman Al Golden has retired and joined the coaching staff as Offensive Line Coach.  Golden replaces Tracy Rhoades who stepped down to spend time with his family.  His son Tyler recently signed to play with the University of Findlay.  Long time Warrior assistant Jay Brown has also stepped down.  Brown was a fixture in the press box assisting both the offense and defense as the “eye in the sky”.