Empire State Demon Knights
The Empire State Demon Knights is a semi-professional American Football team based in Suffolk County, New York, United States. Formerly known as the Kings County Wolfpack, which was based in Brooklyn, New York, the team took on a new location, name, and attitude when they moved to Suffolk County. The Knights have been nationally ranked as high as 66th in the United States. In 2010, the Knights grabbed the 268th spot in the United States.
Accolades include - 2 Winter Tourney championships, 3 East-West Bowl victories, Pioneer Bowl victory, Patriot Bowl victory and multiple other playoff and final appearances.
The Demon Knights are currently coached by Adam Turkel, whos accomplishments include 13 championships, on all levels of football from High School and Minor League to College and Arena Football. His latest Arena league job was with the New Jersey Bulldawgs Indoor Football team.
History
The Empire State Demon Knights are inaugural members of the Five Star Football League (FSFL), which was founded in 2010. Before the arrival of the FSFL, the team played one season in the Regional Atlantic Football League. The Knights play their home games at Aviator Sports Complex. In addition to their regular season play in the FSFL, the team participates in a number of tournaments in both winter and spring play. The team is highly ACTIVE in the GRIDIRON Elite Spring and Winter Tournaments and the USA Pridebowl series. The Demon Knights play upwards of twenty games in a single year. This total also includes an annual bowl game, in which the team qualifies via regional play and travels to build relationships with other leagues, some of which are across the country. Before becoming the Demon Knights, the team proudly held the names Kings County Wolfpack and Empire State Wolfpack. The Wolfpack spent most of its years in leagues such as the Regional Atlantic Football League (RAFL), North American Football League (NAFL), and the Northeast Football Alliance (NEFA). The team was also one of the twelve charter members of the RAFL.
Bowl games
The Demon Knights participate in an annual bowl game, wherein the team acts as catalysts in order to construct and maintain lasting relationships with other leagues across the United States. The bowl games allow players, teams, and leagues to gain exposure they would normally never see at the semi-professional level. Within the last four years, the Knights have traveled in order to participate in 3 East-West Bowls and 1 North-South Bowl. The first East-West Bowl took place in Freedom Park, which is located in Las Vegas, NV. The Knights attained a 19-6 victory over the Las Vegas Cobras. The second East-West Bowl took place again in Freedom Park. The Knights snagged another Vegas win, this time over the Sin City Saints, with the final score at 19-12. After 2 consecutive west coast wins the Knights went down to Florida for the North-South Bowl, took place in January 2013 at Booker High School, located in Sarasota, FL. The Knights faced off against the Sarasota Millionaires, who are coached by former two time NFL pro-bowler and ten-year NFL veteran Ernest Givins. In this game, the Knights suffered a 32-0 loss at the hands of the Millionaires. In its most recent bowl appearance the Demon Knights again traveled to Las Vegas, Nevada to take on the WWFL champions, Sin City Cobras. In a solid performance the Knights were able to take their 3rd bowl win 20-14
Recent accomplishments
During the 2012 season, the Demon Knights had the highest ranked offense in the Five Star Football League. During play in the 2012 season, the Demon Knight's offense attained the top spots in the following categories:
- Most total yards, with 3,212 yards.
- Most yards per game, with 321.2 yards per game.
- Most first downs, with 121.
- Most first downs per game, with 12.1.
- Most total passing yards, with 1,880 yards.
- Most passing yards per game, with 188 yards per game.
The Demon Knights offense also attained the second spot in total points, with 214, and total points per game, with 21.4.
During the 2013 season the Knights ranked 7th in scoring and boasted the 4th ranked Defense on their way to a final 4 finish in Five Star.
Rivalry
The Knights main rival is the Long Island Panthers. The Two teams have battled each other 31 times in the past seven years. The Demon Knights have won 25 of these bouts, taking a heavy lead in the series 25-6.
Tournament play
The Knights were active participants in both the Gridiron Elite Winter and Spring Tournaments and the Metro Bowl II Tournament. The team is two time champions of the winter tournament, claiming victories in 2009 and 2010. They also claimed second place in the Metro Bowl II Tournament in 2008. In 2008, 2009, and 2011, the team claimed second place spots in the Gridiron Elite Spring Tournaments. The 2009 Gridiron Elite Spring Tournament was also the site for one of the most impressive comeback victories in tournament history. Coming behind from a 22-7 deficit in the first half, the Demon Knights defeated the New Jersey Spartans 34-30, with the go ahead touchdown coming with only 1:38 seconds remaining in the game. The winter tournament has given the Knights an opportunity to play the Collegiate Development Football League (CDFL) Elite Team, where they captured a 24-12 victory. The CDFL Elite team is a "Fall season traveling team composed of the best athletes in the CDFL." Most recently the team participates in the USA PrideBowl series. Taking the first Patriot Bowl in series history.
Management and staff
- Team Owner - Shawn William Spencer
- Head Coach - Adam Turkel
- Team Special Assistant - Tom Lynch
- Team Manager - Craig Klaus
- Web Master and team treasurer - Nick Toscano
- Player Representatives - Chris Brandwein, Jesse Roden, Joe Sitaram, Nick Toscano, Frank Wolfe
Season standings
|- | colspan="6" align="center" | Regional Atlantic Football League |- |2009 || 6 || 4 || 0 || 16th || Lost Round 1 (28-12) to the New Jersey Buccaneers (RAFL Champs & National Champs) |- | colspan="6" align="center" | Five Star Football League |- |2010 || 5 || 5 || 0 || 9th || -- |- |2011 || 4 || 6 || 0 || 10th || Lost Round 1 (12-6) to the Brooklyn Bulldawgs |- |2012 || 4 || 6 || 0 || 11th || -- |- |2013 || 7 || 3 || 0 || 6th || Final 4 appearance |- !Totals || 27 || 27 || 0 |colspan="2"| (Including Playoffs) |}
Roster
2013 Empire State Demon Knights |
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No. |
1 |
2 |
3 |
5 |
6 |
8 |
9 |
11 |
13 |
14 |
17 |
20 |
21 |
22 |
23 |
24 |
25 |
28 |
30 |
34 |
42 |
50 |
51 |
52 |
56 |
57 |
66 |
67 |
72 |
75 |
77 |
81 |
91 |
99 |
*Updated 2013-03-07
Schedule
2013 Empire State Demon Knights Schedule |
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Week |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
10 |
11 |
12 |
*Updated 2013-03-24
All-Star selections
Empire State Demon Knights All-Star Selections |
|---|
2010 All-Star Selections |
No. |
2 |
6 |
14 |
50 |
67 |
90 |
*All-Star selections listed since inception of FSFL (2010)
- Updated 2013-03-06
Season schedules and results
2009
Regular Season |
Week |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
10 |
11 |
12 |
Playoffs |
Round |
1 |
***Indicates National Champions & League Champions
2010
Regular Season |
Week |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
10 |
11 |
12 |
2011
Regular Season |
Week |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
10 |
11 |
12 |
13 |
Playoffs |
Round |
1 |
*Indicates League Champions
**Indicates Win by Forfeit
2012
Regular Season |
Week |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
10 |
11 |
2013
Regular Season |
Week |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
10 |
11 |
Playoffs |
Round |
1 |
2 |
*Indicates League Champions
**Indicates Win by Forfeit |}