SEMI-PRO FOOTBALL R.J. Bowers will play for Red Bulls

The season opener is Saturday at Campbell High School Stadium.
By JOHN KOVACH
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
YOUNGSTOWN -- R.J. Bowers, former Grove City College, Pittsburgh Steelers and Cleveland Browns running back from West Middlesex High, will be one of the several new prominent faces on the Ohio Red Bulls minor league football team this spring and summer.
Bowers, the NCAA's all-time career leading rusher (7,353 yards) and scorer (562 points) while at Grove City (1997-2000), will be starting at fullback for the Red Bulls, who open their second season in the United States Football Alliance on Saturday at 5:30 p.m. against the Lackawanna (N.Y.) Dynasty at Campbell High School Stadium.
The Red Bulls, based in Youngstown and coached by Willie Smith, are the defending league champions.
The team went 12-4 last year, including 8-2 in the regular season, and won the league's AFC and Super Bowl titles.
"[Bowers] has been practicing but he has been busy with the kids doing a football camp. He practiced about three times," said Smith, noting that Bowers will team in the backfield with new quarterback Anthony Pegues (Farrell, Grambling and Slippery Rock) and holdover Abdul Jordan (Rayen) at tailback.
Bowers set eight NCAA all-divisions records at Grove City, as well as 11 Division III records, and won the Melberger Award in 2000 as the top player in NCAA Division III.
He played briefly for the Steelers and Browns of the NFL.
Pegues replaces Marrow
Pegues is replacing Ray Morrow, who shifted to the Penn-Ohio Raiders of the Central Division. Ed McElroy (Chaney) will back up Jordan at tailback.
Jordan was the Red Bulls' leading scorer and rusher last year.
"We more or less were a rushing team and not a passing team last year," said Smith, who expects more balance this season. "This year, we are strong on both sides of the ball."
Pegues' favorite target this year probably will be Dajwan Stubbs, who was the team's top receiver last season.
Penny, Mason, Helett set
Among the top new defensive players are safeties Orson Penny (Wilson) and Andre Mason (South and Youngstown State), and Jason Helett, a middle linebacker.
Penny will play strong safety while Mason is at free safety.
They will join veterans Aaron Thomas (Rayen and YSU), an outside linebacker and defensive end who led the team in tackles last year; and cornerback Dwayne Thomas (Mooney).
Helett and Thomas are defensive captains, while Stubbs and Sam Hammond (Fitch and Thiel), a holdover and leading anchor at offensive guard, are the offensive captains.
Greg "Toby" Walker (Campbell and Mercer College) again will spearhead the defense.
"[Walker's] our top defensive player," said Smith. "[Opponents] had to double-team and triple-team him last year."
56-player roster
The Red Bulls, who compete in the East Division of the 20-team league, have a 56-player roster consisting of former high school, college and professional players, and play a 10-game regular-season schedule.
They compete in the four-team East Division with the Dynasty, Beaver County Vipers and Akron Jagz, and will play all of their home games at Campbell's John Knapick Field.
The other four divisions, each also with four teams, are Central, North, South and West.
kovach@vindy.com