2006
On September 14, 2005, the Express were announced as an expansion team of the American Indoor Football League (AIFL).[2] On November 6, 2005, the Express named Ollie Guidry the team's first ever head coach.[3]
On Sunday, March 26, 2006, the Express won the AIFL's very first overtime game 41–38 against the Johnstown Riverhawks on the road, as kicker Erik Rockhold booted the game-winning 45-yard field goal.[4]
On Friday, May 12, 2006, the Express managed to knock the Erie Freeze out of the #1 spot in the conference by getting revenge 59–48.[5]
At the end of their inaugural year, the Express held the highest record in the AIFL's Northern Conference, at 12–2. This, however, was padded by two games against amateur outdoor franchises—the Cumberland Cardinals and a team known as the Philadelphia Scorpions, both of which were blowouts.
In the opening round of the 2006 AIFL Playoffs, the Express managed to knock out the fourth-seeded Huntington Heroes with a 56–23 victory.[6] In the Northern Conference championship game, they faced the second-seeded Canton Legends for the Northern Conference title and a chance to participate in the American Bowl. Unfortunately, the Express got derailed as they got shut out in the second half and fell 44–24. Even though they fell one game shy of the league championship, it wasn't a total loss, as wide receiver Carmelo Ocasio was named the 2006 Northern Conference Offensive MVP.[7]
