W.Va. Crash to begin schedule on Saturday

HUNTINGTON -- The West Virginia Crash will begin their 2008 United States Football Alliance schedule at 1 p.m. Saturday in a three-team grid-o-rama at the Pro Performance RX Facility in Morgantown.

The Crash will be joined by the host West Virginia Gladiators and Pittsburgh Pride.

The Crash will be looking to settle on a starting quarterback. In the hunt are veteran Justin Lunsford and newcomer Josh Mathews, who has fared well in practice.

Both starting units have changed since the Crash lost two starters on offense and one on defense to the Huntington Heroes of the American Indoor Football Association.

The Gladiators feature two former West Virginia running backs in Jason Colson and Freddie Little. Jeff Noechel, former linebacker for the Mountaineers, is middle linebacker for the Gladiators.

The Crash will open the regular season May 31 when the Mountain State Bruins visit Ward Craycraft Stadium in Kenova. Season tickets ($15) are on sale. Call 304-421-8591.