01/02/03 Night Train Press Release

            The long list of new recruits for the La Crosse Night Train got longer today with the signing of three new players. The team also re-signed a pair of 2002 Night Train members to push its roster total to 27.

            All three newcomers were members of the 1999 IFL-Champion Green Bay Bombers squad and played under current Night Train Defensive Coordinator Bob Canny while at Green Bay. Shane Konop (6’3, 255 lbs.) and Dave Diemel (6’1, 280 lbs.) are former UW-Stevens Point products who played for the Bombers for two seasons. Both Konop and Diemel hope to contribute to the Night Train defensive line.

On the offensive side of the ball, Xavier Bonds (6’3, 300 lbs.) will compete for a position on the Night Train offensive line. Bonds played on both sides of the ball in 1999 as a center and a defensive lineman. Bonds becomes just the second offensive lineman the Night Train has signed for this season.

            Two of the top offensive players from last year’s squad will return to training camp in March. Doby Howard (RB), the team’s second-leading offensive producer from a year ago, and former UW-La Crosse standout Ben Antony (WR) are coming back.

            Howard finished the 2002 campaign averaging 114 all-purpose yards a game and finished the season with 336 yards and three touchdowns rushing and an additional 180 yards and four TD’s receiving.

            Antony was second on the team with seven TD receptions and caught 26 balls for 256 yards. He was the only player on the Night Train roster to play in all 14 games last season.