The 2010Fort 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]
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.
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
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
Fort wayne – (14:05) Justin Wynn 31-yard pass from Kota-Carone Colors (Chris Kolokithas pass failed), Fort Wayne 6–0
Fort wayne – (6:42) Justin Wynn 4-yard pass from Kota-Carone Colors (Kota-Carone Colors rush), Fort Wayne 14–0
Miami valley – (5:11) Kyenes Mincy 26-yard pass from Shaun Kirby (Shaun Kirby kick failed), Fort Wayne 14–6
Fort wayne – (00:33) Justin Wynn 7-yard pass from Kota-Carone Colors (Katie Hnida kick failed), Fort Wayne 20–6
2nd quarter
Fort wayne – (5:32) Justin Wynn 31-yard pass from Kota-Carone Colors (Kota-Carone Colors pass failed), Fort Wayne 26–6
Miami valley – (0:59) Derrick Moss 1-yard rush (Adell Givens rush), Fort Wayne 26–14
3rd quarter
Fort wayne – (11:30) Justin Wynn 45-yard pass from Kota-Carone Colors (Katie Hnida kick failed), Fort Wayne 32–14
Miami valley – (8:11) Kyenes Mincy 1-yard pass from Shaun Kirby (Shaun Kirby rush failed), Fort Wayne 32–20
4th quarter
Fort wayne – (8:14) Brandon Walker-Roby 10-yard pass from Kota-Carone Colors (Chris Kolokithas rush failed), Fort Wayne 38–20
Miami valley – (2:45) Adell Givens 1-yard rush (Austin Goss pass from Shaun Kirby), Fort Wayne 38–28
Fort wayne – (0:39) Jermaine Woolfolk 29-yard pass from Kota-Carone Colors (Kota-Carone Colors pass failed), Fort Wayne 44–28
Passing
Miami valley – Shaun Kirby: 10/28, 114 yards, 2 TD
Fort wayne – Kota-Carone Colors: 17/30, 200 yards, 7 TD
Rushing
Miami valley – Shaun Kirby: 6 att, 18 yards, 0 TD
Fort wayne – Kota-Carone Colors: 8 att, 49 yards, 0 TD
Receiving
Miami valley – Daniel Stover: 4 rec, 44 yards, 0 TD
Fort wayne – Justin Wynn: 7 rec, 114 yards, 4 TD
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
Wisconsin – (10:01) Tony Smidl 28-yard field goal Wisconsin 3–0
Wisconsin – (2:55) Marcus Lewis 9-yard pass from Matt Schabert (Tony Smidl kick), Wisconsin 10–0
Wisconsin – (0:14) Marcus Lewis 3-yard pass from Matt Schabert (Tony Smidl kick), Wisconsin 17–0
2nd quarter
Wisconsin – (12:15) Marques Johnson 32-yard pass from Matt Schabert (Tony Smidl kick), Wisconsin 24–0
Wisconsin – (2:51) Tony Smidl 41-yard field goal Wisconsin 27–0
Wisconsin – (0:07) Tony Smidl 40-yard field goal Wisconsin 30–0
3rd quarter
Wisconsin – (9:21) Marcus Lewis 8-yard pass from Matt Schabert (Tony Smidl kick failed), Wisconsin 36–0
4th quarter
Wisconsin – (7:34) Marcus Lewis 2-yard pass from Dan Roberts (Tony Smidl kick), Wisconsin 43–0
Wisconsin – (0:48) Eric Donoval 4-yard pass from Dan Roberts (Dan Roberts pass failed), Wisconsin 49–0
Passing
Wisconsin – Matt Schabert: 12/21, 113 yards, 4 TD
Fort wayne – Kota-Carone Colors: 10/32, 63 yards, 0 TD
Rushing
Wisconsin – Matt Schabert: 4 att, 6 yards, 0 TD
Fort wayne – Kota-Carone Colors: 4 att, 14 yards, 0 TD
Receiving
Wisconsin – Marcus Lewis: 7 rec, 46 yards, 4 TD
Fort wayne – Brandon Walker-Roby: 7 rec, 42 yards, 0 TD
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
Fort wayne – (14:41) Brandon Walker-Roby 50-yard kickoff return (Chad Rollins kick failed), Fort Wayne 6–0
Chicago – (7:41) Brandon Wogoman 20-yard pass from Ron Ricciardi (Julie Harshbarger kick), Chicago 7–6
Chicago – (2:20) P Taylor 7-yard pass from Brandon Wogoman (Julie Harshbarger kick), Chicago 14–6
2nd quarter
Fort wayne – (11:29) Kota-Carone Colors 2-yard rush (Kota-Carone Colors rush), 14–14
Fort wayne – (9:25) Tramaine Billie 15-yard interception return (Chad Rollins kick), Fort Wayne 21–14
Chicago – (5:17) P Taylor 5-yard rush (Julie Harshbarger kick failed), Fort Wayne 21–20
Chicago – (2:35) P Taylor 3-yard rush (P Taylor rush), Chicago 28–21
Fort wayne – (0:54) Kota-Carone Colors rush (Chad Rollins kick failed), Chicago 28–27
Fort wayne – (0:03) Justin Wynn 12-yard pass from Kota-Carone Colors (Kota-Carone Colors rush), Fort Wayne 35–28
3rd quarter
Chicago – (10:01) Julie Harshbarger 24-yard field goal, Fort Wayne 35–31
Fort wayne – (0:00) Chris Kolokithas 7-yard pass from Kota-Carone Colors (Chad Rollins kick failed), Fort Wayne 41–31
4th quarter
Chicago – (13:30) Brandon Wogoman 8-yard pass from Alex Nunez (Julie Harshbarger kick failed), Fort Wayne 41–37
Fort wayne – (12:18) Justin Wynn 24-yard pass from Kota-Carone Colors (Kota-Carone Colors rush failed), Fort Wayne 47–37
Fort wayne – (2:50) Brandon Williams 2-yard rush (Kota-Carone Colors rush), Fort Wayne 55–37
Chicago – (1:25) Brandon Wogoman 23-yard pass from Ron Ricciardi (D Carter pass from Brandon Wogoman), Fort Wayne 55–45
Fort wayne – (0:48) Brandon Williams 5-yard rush (Kota-Carone Colors rush), Fort Wayne 63–45
Fort wayne – (0:00) Paul Carter 50-yard interception return (none attempted), Fort Wayne 69–45
Passing
Chicago – Ron Ricciardi: 9/17, 94 yards, 2 TD
Fort wayne – Kota-Carone Colors: 13/22, 122 yards, 4 TD
Rushing
Chicago – P Taylor: 9 att, 41 yards, 2 TD
Fort wayne – Kota-Carone Colors: 11 att, 63 yards, 2 TD
Receiving
Chicago – Brandon Wogoman: 9 rec, 85 yards, 3 TD
Fort wayne – Brandon Walker-Roby: 4 rec, 41 yards, 0 TD
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
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
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
Fort wayne – Kota-Carone Colors: 6/18, 56 yards, 0 TD
Cincinnati – Ben Mauk: 20/32, 167 yards, 5 TD
Rushing
Fort wayne – Kota-Carone Colors: 6 att, 41 yards, 0 TD
Cincinnati – Greg Moore: 8 att, 37 yards, 1 TD
Receiving
Fort wayne – Jermaine Woolfolk: 3 rec, 17 yards, 0 TD
Cincinnati – Brandon Boehm: 6 rec, 35 yards, 0 TD
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]
