The Funding Zone
 
SAFR: Safer Through Science
 

Spring Football is back in Johnstown! @GefaNetwork @ThunderFlood_PA

Tagged under: 8-Man League, News, Non-PIAA

| March 27, 2022


The Flood City Thunder played their home opener Sunday at Sargent’s Stadium at the Point in Johnstown against the Hazleton Mustangs. The Thunder a member of the GEFA are in their third season. The GEFA(Great Eastern Football Association) is an 8 man semi pro football league based mainly in Pennsylvania. Football is America’s favorite sport, people love playing and watching it. Just look at the last four springs where we have had three different leagues debut with the AAF, XFL and now USFL attempting to start a league. Americans just love football. The GEFA has been playing since 2005 and has 18 teams. The GEFA 8 man football league is played on a narrower 50 yard field. The other rules are pretty much the same as in regular football.

The Thunder are owned by Georgianne Tomazewski Matava. Georgianne is a one women show. She runs the team, sells the tickets, takes care of the players and pretty much oversees everything. The Thunder are coached by Chuck Kassick who is in his second year and has brought a winning altitude to the third year team. Georgianne started the team right as Covid hit the area in the beginning of 2020. The Thunder were forced to play their first season in the fall, they went winless. The Thunder have been able to survive and grow over the last two years. They just missed the playoffs last year in Kassick’s first season at the helm. Georgianne started the team because she needed it in her life and the players also needed the team. A second chance for many of them. There isn’t any money in semi-pro football. However Johnstown a typical western Pennsylvania coal & steel town with a struggling economy has rallied behind the town. Western Pennsylvanians are very loyal and supportable of their teams. Their jerseys look like European soccer kits with sponsors listed all over them. Georgianne says the team has over 45 sponsors which matched the number of fans who braved the elements to watch the game. Hopefully the weather will improve as the season goes on and the attendance will grow.

The game featured two 0-1 teams coming off lopsided losses. The field was covered with snow and they played in temperatures under 30 degrees. A snow storm blew thru during the third quarter. The Thunder dominated from the beginning scoring twice on their first four offensive plays in route to a 48-0 victory in their home opener. The only problem the Thunder had all day was their conversion rate after their touchdowns. They were 1 for 7. The defense in addition to pitching a shutout, registered two safeties and had a fumble return for a touchdown.

The team is a collection of players from all ages and backgrounds. Sean Norman, a 22 year old former Ferndale Yellowjacket plays for the love of the game. He was injured on the opening kickoff and on crutches by the games end, but was still smiling as he cheered his team to victory. Michael Duke is 42 and drives from Punxsutawney to play, last year he played for the Jefferson County Jaguars who folded but the love of the game keeps bringing him back. Matt Speed, a team leader is in his 30s, he came back because of his teammates. There was a lot of trash talking, a few small incidents but a ton of fun. The game was very entertaining and is worth a look for the diehard football fan. Flood City has 4 more home games including three in May so check them out.

Mustangs    0- 0- 0- 0= 0

Thunder    16-18-14-0= 48

Follow PA Football News on Twitter @PaFootballNews

 
 
GoRout
 
Rainbow Lettering
 
Turf Tank
 
x