CRANBERRY TWP — Jonathan Spudic gave up on football a little early. Now he's trying to make up for lost time.

The 2001 Seneca Valley graduate and former Raiders offensive and defensive lineman went on to play for Thiel College, but never finished his schooling or grid career with the Tomcats.

"I injured my neck, just a couple of hard stingers back-to-back,"Spudic recalled. "I decided it'd be best to stop playing and I subsequently dropped out of school my junior year.

"Leaving school was a mistake I regret. I'm going back there part-time now."

He resumed his football career as well, joining the Pittsburgh Power of the United States Football Alliance two years ago. The Power were renamed the Pittsburgh Pride this past summer and Spudic played four games before a leg injury prematurely ended his season.

Now he's planning another comeback — this time with his own team.

Spudic is forming the Steel City Ironmen, a new semi-pro team in the area that plans to play its home games at Newman Stadium, on the campus of North Allegheny High School.

The Ironmen will play in the AFCEast Division of the USFA, a four-team division that includes the Beaver County Vipers, Western PA Warhawks and Fayette County Tornadoes.

The Vipers won the USFAtitle last year with a 10-2-1 record. The league had five divisions in 2006. It will have eight divisions and 32 teams this year.

The Warhawks have joined the league after playing one season in the 144-team North American Football League. The USFAis based in Sharon and has teams in Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan and West Virginia.

"I found this league online and there was an application form there for anybody interested in forming a new franchise,"Spudic said. "I figured, why not represent a football team from your own community?

"There is great football heritage around here and there's plenty of players to go around."

The Pittsburgh Pride play in Plum. Beaver County has two teams in the USFA— the Vipers and Warriors — and the Warhawks play their home games at Seneca Valley's NexTier Stadium.

"It may benefit us, having so many teams locally,"Spudic said. "We can support each other while building neighborhood rivalries at the same time."

Spudic is serving as team owner, interim head coach and player for the Ironmen right now. He hopes to find someone else to coach the team once formal practices begin. League play begins in early June.

Spudic's uncle, Mario Spudic, recently graduated from law school at Duquesne and is handling the business end of the franchise.

"I've got a couple of guys in mind as head coach,"Spudic said. "If I have to coach the team myself, I'll do it, but I won't play then. Doing both wouldn't be effective.

"I've got about 20 players so far, just guys I played with in college or high school, or guys who have heard about us through word of mouth. I want to get 40 to 44 players and that shouldn't be a problem."

League players range in age from 18 to 43.

"If you feel like playing football, give it a shot,"Spudic said. "My eventual goal is to win a championship. Right now, I'm just trying to lay a foundation to put a good team on the field."

Anyone interested in joining the Ironmen franchise may call Spudic at 724-456-0286.