Mass Effect scheduled to start its Elite Indoor Football schedule on March 28
FALL RIVER — The roster still has to be trimmed down. And another game may be added. But it seems to be full steam ahead for the second indoor football team in as many years to call Driscoll Arena its home.
The Mass Effect of the Elite Indoor Football league are scheduled kick off their season on Saturday March 28. The first three games are on the road, with the next six set for Driscoll Arena.
A year ago, the New England Bobcats pro indoor football team, with Driscoll as its home base, folded after a handful of games. Doug Berry of Lakeville, the Bobcats offensive coordinator, has been the driving force behind the creation of the non-profit Mass Effect, team vice-president of sales and marketing Sean Blanchard said.
Berry, Blanchard said, didn't think it was fair that dedicated Bobcats were deprived of their chances to climb the ladder of pro indoor football. He said there is current small claims court action because Bobcats' players were not paid.
"We have a much more professional staff," Blanchard said. "A lot of people focused on football."
One of those is former Brockton High School and Boston College running back Anthony Comer, the Mass Effect director of football operations. Comer last summer coached the Fall River-based Troy City Titans outdoor semi-pro team in the New England Football League.
With Driscoll Arena unavailable to them until the end of this month, the Mass Effect have held invitational mini-camps at Teamworks in Somerset.
Arkeel Newsome and John Mercier are two notable members of the Mass Effect. Newsome, Blanchard said, had three straight 800-plus all-service yards at UConn while Mercier last year was quarterback for the Jersey Bearcats of the American Arena League (AAL).
The Mass Effect has nine games scheduled, including three non-leaguers against AAL teams. The scheduled home opener is on Saturday, May 2 against the Rochester Kings.
The Mass Effect coaching staff includes two Tiverton High assistants — William "Chip" McGrady and Jorge Pessoa.
Learn more about the Mass Effect at masseffectfootball.com or by visiting their Facebook page.
Email Greg Sullivan at gsullivan@heraldnews.com. Follow him @GregSullivanHN.