-- Scouting the Heroes: Because of a disruptive flap over pay two weeks ago, the Eastern Conference East Division leaders are not the same team that dismantled the RiverRats 54-24 at Huntington on April 11. The Heroes, with several players missing the trip to South Carolina, lost at Florence 66-12, a team they routed at home earlier in the season, and then fell at home to Fayetteville Guard 34-26 last week. … Ten players have left, with four going Florence, four to Fayetteville, and two leaving for an af2 team in Lexington, Ky. … Carlos Clayton is in his third game as head coach after replacing Teddy Keaton. … Huntington outscored Erie 41-7 to close out the first meeting, turning the game around with two interceptions of the RiverRats' then-starting quarterback, Jarrod Highberger, late in the first half. … The Heroes' biggest problem is the defection of players on both the offensive and defensive lines, but some of the skill players stayed. Quarterback Darnell Kennedy, who remains with the club, threw for four touchdown passes and ran for three more in the win over Erie. Kennedy has completed 90-of179 passes with nine interceptions and 19 touchdown passes, and has also rushed for seven touchdowns. … Tario Frederick is the leading receiver with 31 receptions and nine TDs. … Kicker Jason Cherry has made 9-of-20 field-goal attempts, 33-of-37 extra points, and four rouges, or unos, for kickoffs through the uprights.

-- Scouting the RiverRats: Despite Huntington's recent woes, the RiverRats know they can't be complacent. A perfect example was last week, when the winless Canton Legends, buoyed by a return of their former coach and several veteran players, took the 'Rats down to the wire in a 50-48 loss. Rod Rutherford's fourth-down touchdown pass to Brandon Jackson with 14 seconds left, saved the day along with J.R. Cipra's ensuing rouge that pinned the Legends on the 5-yard line. … Rutherford is scheduled to make his fourth straight start tonight, and Erie is 3-0 since the former Pitt star joined the club. Although Rutherford struggled in the win over Canton, he has completed 49-of-92 passes for seven touchdowns with two interceptions, and has rushed for 122 yards on 28 carries for seven TDs. … Darmel Whitfield is the leading receiver with 37 catches for eight touchdowns, while Jackson has 34 receptions for five scores. … Safety/wide receiver Jovon Johnson, and Erie native who is nearing his last game before his departs to play for the CFL's Winnipeg Blue Bombers, leads the league in kickoff returns with a 20.9-yard average. Johnson leads the club with 30 tackles and five interceptions. … The RiverRats are 0-3 against the Heroes, with the losses by an average of 21 points. Erie visits Huntington next weekend.
-- Bob Jarzomski