Atlanta Xplosion
| Founded | 2003 |
|---|---|
| League | Independent Women's Football League |
| Team history | Atlanta Xplosion (2003-2010, 2012-2013) Atlanta Ravens (2011) |
| Based in | Smyrna, Georgia |
| Stadium | Campbell High School |
| Colors | Black, red, white |
| Championships | 2 (2006, 2011) |
| Division titles | 5 |
The Atlanta Xplosion, known as the Atlanta Ravens for the year of 2011, was a football team in the Independent Women's Football League. Based in Atlanta, Georgia, the Xplosion played their home games in nearby Smyrna, Georgia at Campbell High School.
The Xplosion was formed in 2003 as an IWFL exhibition team ("X-Team") from the players and staff of the defunct Atlanta Leopards team which played the NWFA. The Beniamino family was involved in all aspects of the team; in addition to the breadwinner Phil owning the team, his wife Denise played for the Xplosion (she played her husband's typical position of linebacker and wore his #33 uniform number). Even their daughter Kylie had her own unique role, as she was the one who first thought up the Xplosion name.
Coached by Phil, Marcus Dawson, Craig Couchoud and John Singleton and playing on the campus of Clark Atlanta University, the Xplosion had a successful exhibition season, finishing with a 9-1 record.
2004 was the Xplosion's first year as a fully licensed IWFL team. Adding Zeric Foster and Adrian "ACE" Carney to the coaching staff, the Xplosion finished 5-3, good for second place in the South Atlantic Division and a playoff spot. Their playoff run would end soon after it began with a 21-8 divisional playoff loss to their South Atlantic divisional rivals the Tampa Bay Terminators, who had beaten the Xplosion twice in the regular season but would go on to lose to the eventual IWFL Champion New York Sharks in the Eastern Conference Finals.
2005 was a year of many changes for the Xplosion. In addition to moving to Campbell High School in nearby Smyrna, the Xplosion moved on without past coaches Marcus Dawson and John Singleton, hiring Charlene Vance, Craig Couchoud, and offensive line (who would later be head) coach Mario D'Ella. On the field, the Xplosion did even better than they had done in '04, finishing the regular season at a perfect 10-0, winning their first division title (Eastern Conference, South Central), and clinching a first-round playoff home game. Their playoff run also saw success, winning the Eastern Conference Semifinal over the Jacksonville Dixie Blues by a score of 26-12 and later dethroning the reigning IWFL Champion New York Sharks 3-0 for the Eastern Conference Championship and the right to advance to the IWFL Championship Game in Manchester, New Hampshire (hosted by the Manchester Freedom). Unfortunately, the title game was not as successful, as the Xplosion lost to the Sacramento Sirens, 9-6.
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