SEMI-PRO FOOTBALL Panthers prepare for June 19 opener

The Mahoning Valley team is beginning its third season in the OVFL.
YOUNGSTOWN -- The Mahoning Valley Panthers semi-professional football team is preparing for the 2004 season in the Ohio Valley Football League.
The Panthers have competed as a semi-pro team since 2002 and have amassed a 16-8-1 record. The organization provides an opportunity for athletes to continue their football careers beyond that of high school or college.
Old South High stadium
All games will be held at Eagle Heights Academy, in the old South High stadium.
Mahoning Valley begins its season June 19 at the Buffalo Warriors. The Panthers' remaining games will be June 26 vs. Penn/Ohio Raiders (Hermitage, Pa.); July 10 vs. Ohio Cardinals (Cleveland); July 17 at Rochester Renegades; July 24 vs. Buffalo Warriors; July 31 vs. Rochester Renegades; Aug. 7 at Ohio Dolphins (Akron); Aug. 14 at Ohio Cardinals; Aug. 21 vs. Ohio Dolphins; and Sept. 4 at Penn/Ohio Raiders.
For ticket information or people interested in playing, coaching or donating, contact Chauncy Coleman at (330) 742-4871 or John Galbraith at (330) 779-3699 or (330) 540-7622.
League history
According to the OVFL web site (www.eteamz.com/OVFL/), the league, based in Cincinnati, was founded in 1966 by Ray Felhaus. Starting with eight teams, Felhaus became the first league commissioner that season and held the post until 1978.
During this era, most teams were sponsored by local car dealerships. As a community-oriented league, alternatives were made to help provide outside area teams a chance to join the league in 1981.
In 1993, the OVFL merged with second-year Mid-Continental Football League and, six years later, three local men from Cincinnati (December Lamb, A.C. Reed and Steve Wernke) decided to reorganize the OVFL.
The league appointed Paul Henderson, of West Virginia, as its new commissioner. In its fourth full season, the commissioner has expanded the league from eight teams in 2000 to 38 teams in 2003.
Allowing it to become one of the fastest-growing leagues in the Midwest, the OVFL was voted the best new AAA league for 2000 by Minor League Football News. Also, the league commissioner was voted executive of the year in 2001 by the American Football Association.
The league now covers nine states -- Ohio, Indiana, Pennsylvania, Kentucky, West Virginia, Michigan, Tennessee, Missouri and New York.