Jersey Flight: 2019 Season in Review

The Jersey Flight have been one of the most, if not the most controversial, arena football team during the 2019 season. There was a point where they weren’t even supposed to play a season at all.

Former head coach Adam Turkel stepped down March 3 and made an announcement that the team would not be playing the 2019 season. In just a week, everything turned around.

They hired a new owner in Jay Sabubu, owner of New Flight Enterprises, LLC, and a new head coach in Nick Coppoloa. The team unfortunately had to cancel their first two home games on March 23 and March 30.

Taking Flight

Their season kicked off on April 6 when they went up to Reading, PA to take on the Reading Raptors of the Mid-Atlantic Indoor Football League (MAIFL). They kept it close, but eventually fell short.

In a crucial American Arena League game, the Flight took on the New England Bobcats. A win gave them a spot in the playoff picture. They would get wins over the Burgh Defenders and Jersey Bearcats in two May home games.

On May 18, the Flight traveled to Wheeling, WV to take on the West Virginia Roughriders. A win would’ve given them the northern division tite. They would’ve also hosted a first-round playoff game. Unfortunately, they couldn’t come out victorious.

In the first round of the playoffs, the Fight were back in West Virginia to play the Roughriders. For the third time, they lost to the Roughriders. That brought their season to an end.

Despite not making it all the way, the Flight came a long way from where they were just weeks before the season. With the team they have and the arena they play in, this team has a very bright future ahead of them, whether it be in the AAL or elsewhere.