2010 Fort Wayne FireHawks season

The 2010 Fort Wayne Firehawks season was the first season for the Continental Indoor Football League (CIFL) franchise. In November 2009, the FireHawks were announced as the successor team to the Fort Wayne Freedom.[1] Owners J. Michael Loomis and John Christner purchased the assets left from the Freedom franchise, who had played the two seasons before the FireHawks were announced.[1] Christner's first action as General Manager was naming former Freedom head coach Willie Davis as the team's first head coach.[2] On December 9, 2009, it was confirmed that Loomis and Christner would take over the entities that used to run the Freedom.[3] Before the season started, the team announced they had signed Katie Hnida as the team's placekicker. Hnida is best known for becoming the first woman to score a point in an NCAA football game and speaking out during the recruiting scandal at her first school, the University of Colorado.[4]

2010 Fort Wayne FireHawks season
OwnerJ. Michael Loomis
Head coachWillie Davis Jr.
General managerJ. Michael Loomis
Home fieldAllen County War Memorial Coliseum
Results
Record6–4
League place3rd
Playoff finishLost CIFL Semifinals 24–25 (Wolfpack)

According to The Journal Gazette in 2011, former players said they were still owed from the 2010 season. Team owner Mike Loomis did not confirm or deny the reports in that article.[5] The team drew about 2,000 fans per game, according to CIFL stats.

Players

Signings

PositionPlayer2009 Team
QBKota-Carone ColorsFort Wayne Freedom
DBTerry MooreMilwaukee Bonecrushers
WRJustin WynnFort Wayne Freedom
WRMike TatumMarion Mayhem
DBJesse AllenErie RiverRats
WRChris KolokithasErie RiverRats
DEThomas McKenzieMarion Mayhem
DBBryan WilliamsMarion Mayhem
OLAnthony HarrisonFort Wayne Freedom
OL/DLAl FertilFort Wayne Freedom
DL/DLBrodrick JohnsonFort Wayne Freedom

Final roster

2010 Fort Wayne FireHawks roster
Quarterbacks
  • 11 Kota-Carone Colors
  • 12 Mike Whitaker

Running backs

  •  4 Brandon Williams

Wide receivers

  • 19 Brandon Walker-Roby
  •  2 Jermaine Woolfolk
  •  1 Justin Wynn
  Offensive linemen
  • 76 Brandon Brenzier
  • 64 JaMarcus Green
  • 66 Anthony Harrison
  • 43 Jesse Tuttle

Defensive linemen

  • 31 Allen Craine
  • 90 Al Fertil
  • 48 Brodrick Johnson
  Linebackers
  • 18 David Hines

Defensive backs

  •  5 Jesse Allen
  •  7 Paul Carter
  •  6 Terry Moore

Special teams

  • 17 John Rocholl
  Reserve lists

Practice squad

  • 80 Chris Kolokithas WR
  • 81 Zach Rainey WR

Updated June 19, 2010

Rookies in italics
24 Active, 3 Inactive

Staff

2010 Fort Wayne FireHawks staff
Front Office
  • Owner/Chairman/President/CEO – J. Michael Loomis
  • Public Relations – Judi Loomis

Head Coaches

  • Head Coach – Willie Davis Jr.
Offensive Coaches
  • Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks/Wide Receivers – Willie Davis Jr.
  • Offensive Line - LaMar Martin

Defensive Coaches

  • Defensive Coordinator/Defensive Line – LaMar Martin
  • Defensive Line Assistant – Mike Hollingsworth
  • Linebackers/Secondary – Donnie Caldwell

Special Teams Coaches

  • Special Teams – Donnie Caldwell

Schedule

Regular season

WeekDateKickoffOpponentResultsGame site
Final scoreTeam record
1 Bye
2 Bye
3 Bye
4 April 2 7:00 P.M. EDT Cincinnati Commandos L 27–55 0–1 Allen County War Memorial Coliseum
5 April 10 7:00 P.M. EDT Miami Valley Silverbacks W 44–28 1–1 Allen County War Memorial Coliseum
6 April 16 7:00 P.M. EDT Wisconsin Wolfpack L 0–49 1–2 Allen County War Memorial Coliseum
7 April 24 7:00 P.M. EDT Chicago Cardinals W 69–45 2–2 Allen County War Memorial Coliseum
8 May 1 7:00 p.m. CST at Wisconsin Wolfpack L 32–33 2–3 Hartmeyer Ice Arena
9 May 9 1:00 P.M. EDT Miami Valley Silverbacks W 26–8 3–3 Allen County War Memorial Coliseum
10 May 15 7:00 P.M. EDT at Marion Mayhem W 2–0 (Forfeit) 4–3 Veterans Memorial Coliseum
11 May 22 7:00 P.M. EDT at Cincinnati Commandos L 46–49 4–4 Cincinnati Gardens
12 May 28 7:00 P.M. EDT Marion Mayhem W 2–0 (Forfeit) 5–4 Allen County War Memorial Coliseum
13 June 5 7:00 P.M. CST at Chicago Cardinals W 48–0 6–4 Odeum Expo Center
14 Bye

Standings

2010 Continental Indoor Football League
Team W L T PCT PF PA PF (Avg.) PA (Avg.) STK
Cincinnati Commandos-y910.90049329449.329.4L1
Wisconsin Wolfpack-x820.80034521334.521.3W3
Fort Wayne FireHawks-x640.60029426736.7533.375W2
Miami Valley Silverbacks-x460.40030935434.3339.33W1
Marion Mayhem370.30020219333.6732.16L5
Chicago Cardinals0100.00020552520.552.5L10

Regular season results

Week 4: vs. Cincinnati Commandos

The FireHawks suffered a loss in their first game as a franchise April 2, 2010, a 55–27 loss to the Cincinnati Commandos.[6] During the game, the FireHawks also lost their quarterback, Adam Gibson, during the game, leaving the FireHawks searching for another quarterback before the next week.[7]

Week 4: Cincinnati Commandos at Fort Wayne FireHawks – Game summary
1 2 34Total
Commandos 13 29 01355
FireHawks 7 6 14027

at Allen County War Memorial Coliseum, Fort Wayne, Indiana

  • Date: April 2
  • Game time: 7:00 p.m. EDT
  • Game attendance: 2,456
Game information

Week 5: vs. Miami Valley Silverbacks

The FireHawks earned their first victory April 10, 2010, 44–28 against the Miami Valley Silverbacks, as new quarterback, Kota Carone-Colors, paced the team with seven touchdown passes.[8]

Week 5: Miami Valley Silverbacks at Fort Wayne FireHawks – Game summary
1 2 34Total
Silverbacks 6 8 6828
FireHawks 20 6 61244

at Allen County War Memorial Coliseum, Fort Wayne, Indiana

  • Date: April 10
  • Game time: 7:00 p.m. EDT
  • Game attendance: 1,954
Game information

Week 6: vs. Wisconsin Wolfpack

Throughout the season the team experienced many ups and downs, none lower than a 0–49 defeat at the hands of the Wisconsin Wolfpack.[9] Three weeks into the season, the FireHawks received a blow, when co-owner and general manager John Christner left the organization, leaving Loomis as the sole owner.[10]

Week 6: Wisconsin Wolfpack at Fort Wayne FireHawks – Game summary
1 2 34Total
Wolfpack 16 14 61349
FireHawks 0 0 000

at Allen County War Memorial Coliseum, Fort Wayne, Indiana

  • Date: April 16
  • Game time: 7:00 p.m. EDT
  • Game attendance: 2,074
Game information

Week 7: vs. Chicago Cardinals

The FireHawks' showed no effects from the front office problems, as the following week the team came out and defeated the Chicago Cardinals 69–45, but the team played without Hnida, as a blood clot on her foot put her out for the season.[11]

Week 7: Chicago Cardinals at Fort Wayne FireHawks – Game summary
1 2 34Total
Cardinals 14 14 31445
FireHawks 6 29 62869

at Allen County War Memorial Coliseum, Fort Wayne, Indiana

  • Date: April 24
  • Game time: 7:00 p.m. EDT
  • Game attendance: 2,020
Game information

Week 8: vs. Wisconsin Wolfpack

The FireHawks got a quick chance at revenge against the Wolfpack, but they failed losing 32–33 as they couldn't score from the 1-yard line with seconds left, as backup quarterback, Mike Whitaker's pass sailed over the hands of Jermaine Woolfolk. The FireHawks didn't dress a kicker during the game, citing "low ceilings" as the reason not to dress the team's new kicker, David McLane, an intern for the team.[12]

Week 8: Fort Wayne FireHawks at Wisconsin Wolfpack – Game summary
1 2 34Total
FireHawks 6 6 12832
Wolfpack 6 14 7633

at Hartmeyer Arena, Madison, Wisconsin

  • Date: May 1
  • Game time: 7:00 p.m. CST
Game information

Week 9: vs. Miami Valley Silverbacks

The FireHawks won their next game against Miami Valley, 26–8.[13]

Week 9: Miami Valley Silverbacks at Fort Wayne FireHawks – Game summary
1 2 34Total
Silverbacks 0 0 808
FireHawks 7 7 6626

at Allen County War Memorial Coliseum, Fort Wayne, Indiana

  • Date: May 9
  • Game time: 1:00 p.m. EST
  • Game attendance: 1,353
Game information

Week 10: vs. Marion Mayhem

During the week before the team's first game at the Marion Mayhem, Loomis stated that the team would continue to play despite its mounting financial struggles.[14] The Mayhem, who were having financial problems of their own, forced the FireHawks next game back to June 12.[15]

Week 10: Fort Wayne FireHawks at Marion Mayhem – Game summary
1 2 34Total
FireHawks 2 0 002
Mayhem 0 0 000

at (forfeit, game was not played)

  • Date: May 15
  • Game time: 7:00 p.m. EST
Game information
Marion Forfeit

Week 11: vs. Cincinnati Commandos

The FireHawks continued their season the following week against the undefeated Commandos, losing 46–49 after leading by 12 with 4:12 left in the game.[16]

Week 11: Fort Wayne FireHawks at Cincinnati Commandos – Game summary
1 2 34Total
FireHawks 12 6 161246
Commandos 7 14 62249

at Cincinnati Gardens, Cincinnati, Ohio

  • Date: May 22
  • Game time: 7:00 p.m. EDT
  • Game attendance: 2,218
Game information

Week 12: vs. Marion Mayhem

The team was scheduled to the Mayhem the next week, but before they played the FireHawks the franchise folded.[17] The folding of Marion credited the FireHawks with two forfeit wins, but hurt the team financially by costing them a home game.[18] Because the Mayhem didn't finish the season, several of Marion's players were signed by Fort Wayne in the subsequent weeks to join in the FireHawks' playoff run.[19]

FORFEIT BY MARION
1 2 34Total
Mayhem 0 0 000
FireHawks 2 0 002
  • Date: May 28
  • Game time: 7:00 p.m. EST
  • (forfeit, game was not played)
Game information
Marion Forfeit

Week 14: vs. Chicago Cardinals

The FireHawks went to Chicago and shutout the Cardinals 48–0.[20] The FireHawks finished 6–4 during the 2010 Continental Indoor Football League season, earning a third-seed in the playoffs.[21]

Week 14: Fort Wayne FireHawks at Chicago Cardinals – Game summary
1 2 34Total
FireHawks 14 6 22648
Cardinals 0 0 000

at Odeum Expo Center, Villa Park, Illinois

  • Date: June 5
  • Game time: 7:00 p.m. CDT
  • Game attendance: 375
Game information

Postseason

Schedule

WeekDateKickoffOpponentResultsGame site
Final scoreTeam record
1 June 19 7:00 p.m. CST at Wisconsin Wolfpack L 24-25 0-1 Hartmeyer Ice Arena

Postseason results

Semifinals: vs. Wisconsin Wolfpack

In the first playoff game in team history, the FireHawks lost to the second-place Wolfpack, 25–24.[22]

Semifinals: Fort Wayne FireHawks at Wisconsin Wolfpack – Game summary
1 2 34Total
FireHawks 12 6 0624
Wolfpack 6 6 7625

at Hartmeyer Arena, Madison, Wisconsin

  • Date: June 19
  • Game time: 7:00 p.m. CST
Game information

Stats

Passing

Player Comp. Att. Comp% Yards TD's INT's Rating
Kota-Carone Colors7115545.8%69414992.3
Mike Whitaker143540%1443283.9
Ean Decker51435.7%30014.8
Adam Gibson41428.6%431089.2

Rushing

Player Car. Yards Avg. TD's Long
Kota-Carone Colors422355.4428
Justin Wynn121159.0233
Brandon Williams18874.2323
Victor Tolbert18734.1214
Tramaine Billie12342.867

Receiving

Player Rec. Yards Avg. TD's Long
Justin Wynn2535814.3845
Zach Rainey211627.7125
Brandon Walker-Roby191246.5219
Jermaine Woolfolk111099.9329

CIFL awards

  • Co-Defensive Player of the Year - Tramaine Billie
  • Special Teams Player of the Year - Mike Tatum (Also played with the Marion Mayhem during 2010 season)

1st Team All-CIFL

2nd Team All-CIFL

  • C Anothony Harrison
  • DE Brodrick Johnson
  • DE Thomas McKenzie (Also played with the Marion Mayhem during 2010 season)
  • DB Paul Carter

References

  1. Stacy Clardie (November 17, 2009). "Next up: Fort Wayne Firehawks". The Journal Gazette. Retrieved June 8, 2012.
  2. "Ex-Freedom coach takes over FireHawks". The Journal Gazette. November 20, 2009. Retrieved June 11, 2012.
  3. "Judge advances steps to acquire FireHawks". The Journal Gazette. December 9, 2009. Retrieved June 11, 2012.
  4. Reggie Hayes (March 31, 2010). "FireHawks' new kicker rekindling her dream". The News-Sentinel. Archived from the original on March 11, 2012. Retrieved June 11, 2012.
  5. "Indoor football could return to city". The Journal Gazette. July 1, 2011. Archived from the original on March 28, 2012. Retrieved June 11, 2012.
  6. Stacy Clardie (April 3, 2010). "FireHawks lose QB, opener". The Journal Gazette. Retrieved June 11, 2012.
  7. Stacy Clardie (April 10, 2010). "2 QBs to take snaps for FireHawks". The Journal Gazette. Retrieved June 11, 2012.
  8. Stacy Clardie (April 11, 2010). "New QB produces in FireHawks 1st win". The Journal Gazette. Retrieved June 11, 2012.
  9. Stacy Clardie (April 17, 2010). "FireHawks QBs endure difficult night". The Journal Gazette. Retrieved June 11, 2012.
  10. "FireHawks' Loomis now team's sole owner". The Journal Gazette. April 23, 2010. Retrieved June 11, 2012.
  11. "FireHawks rebound, trounce Cardinals". The News-Sentinel. April 26, 2010.
  12. Stacy Clardie (May 2, 2010). "FireHawks lose by one at Wisconsin". The Journal Gazette. Retrieved June 11, 2012.
  13. Greg Jones (May 10, 2010). "FireHawks move into tie for 3rd in CIFL". The Journal Gazette. Retrieved June 11, 2012.
  14. Stacy Clardie (May 13, 2010). "Owner: FireHawks will play despite financial challenges". The Journal Gazette. Retrieved June 11, 2012.
  15. Stacy Clardie (May 15, 2010). "FireHawk's game pushed to June 12". The Journal Gazette. Retrieved June 11, 2012.
  16. "FireHawks can't hold off final Commandos charge". The News-Sentinel. May 24, 2010. Retrieved June 11, 2012.
  17. Stacy Clardie (May 27, 2010). "FireHawks' final home game is off". The Journal Gazette. Retrieved June 11, 2012.
  18. Stacy Clardie (May 28, 2010). "Folded franchise cost FireHawks". The Journal Gazette. Retrieved June 11, 2012.
  19. Stacy Clardie (June 13, 2010). "'New' FireHawks prep for postseason". The Journal Gazette. Retrieved June 11, 2012.
  20. "FireHawks dominate Chicago in 48-0 rout". The Journal Gazette. June 6, 2010. Retrieved June 11, 2012.
  21. Reggie Hayes (June 18, 2010). "Tough playoffs for FireHawks". The News-Sentinel. Retrieved June 11, 2012.
  22. "FireHawks' season ends on bitter note". The Journal Gazette. June 20, 2010. Retrieved June 11, 2012.
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