Before this football season, Pittsburgh Colts owner/head coach Ed Brosky and his players established several goals.

Coming off consecutive Grassroots Division championships, the aspirations were, of course, lofty.

But not even Brosky could have foreseen a season like this.

The Colts (12-0) cruised through their first undefeated season in the franchise's 28-year history, outscoring opponents, 552-48, for an average margin of victory of 43.5-4.0. The Colts had the highest-scoring offense among the 108 teams in the North American Football League and the top-scoring defense.

They were so dominant that their defense actually outscored their opponents' offenses.

One defensive player, back Keith Ptomy, had as many touchdowns returning interceptions (six) as the Colts' opponents managed in 12 regular-season contests.

"The season has worked out much better than we thought," said Brosky, who has been with the team since its inception in 1979.

"We went in with a lot of questions, with a lot of new guys on the offensive and defensive lines, but those two areas became pleasant surprises by the middle of the season. That's when we had our toughest opponents, but we just rolled right through them. It's nice to have our best team in 28 years."

The Colts, who played their regular-season games at Robert Morris University's Joe Walton Stadium, or Moon High School, will play the Ohio Invaders in the first round of the NAFL playoffs at 7 tonight at Cupples Stadium on the South Side.

The NAFL playoffs feature 56 teams from eight regions (four conferences) from across the country. If the Colts win on each of the next five Saturdays, they will play in the NAFL championship game Nov. 10 in Las Vegas, Nev.

The Colts' backfield features two 1,000-yard rushers in Steel Valley and Robert Morris graduate Devin Wilson and Tavious Smith (Monessen, IUP). Together, their production has accounted for more than 2,100 yards and 30 touchdowns.

"They complement each other beautifully," Brosky said of Smith (6 feet 1, 210 pounds) and Wilson (5-10, 195).

The rushing offense has been so good that the Colts haven't been forced to throw much, but they have been successful when doing so. Quarterback Paul Leitner (Cornell High School, Robert Morris) threw 24 touchdown passes and Clint Alexander (Center, California University of Pennsylvania) led the team in receptions and yards.

"All the goals we set were team goals, but we ended up with a lot of individual goals accomplished, too," Brosky said. "Just like they say, 'Winning begets winners.' "

Tickets are $10 for adults, children under 13 are free if accompanied by an adult. Tickets can be purchased at the stadium box office on game day.

"For anybody who has never seen a minor-league professional football game, the playoffs are the games to come to," Brosky said. "Those are the games that all the premier players from all the teams in the NAFL are going to play. The level of competition is very high."