You would think facing a team that beat you 78-0 the last time you squared off would be reason enough to pray.

Still, every religion’s deity might get an extra dose of pleas tonight when the 1-9 Baltimore Blackbirds take on the Reading Express at 1st Mariner Arena.

It will be what the American Indoor Football Association’s Blackbirds are calling Faith Night.

“A number of teams in the league have already held these special nights this season,” Blackbirds general manager John Wolfe said. “We actually looked at a number of special nights for this season and this was one that we felt was a good fit for our Monday night game.”

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The team offered discounted group tickets to church groups and will stage a halftime concert by Baltimore-based Christian Rock band, Ashes Remain. WRBS radio host, Tracey Tiernan, will sing the national anthem. Tiernan’s station is run by an Evangelical Christian organization.

The appearance from an outsider is that it will be a Christian-heavy affair. Wolfe said the team is not playing favorites.

“We reached out to the entire community,” Wolfe said. “It is a chance for any group to enjoy football and celebrate their faith.”

The association between religion and sports teams has always been loose. Athletes and coaches have been vocal about their faiths in interviews while the actual teams have been reticent to follow suit.

The Blackbirds are trying to follow protocol.

“We don’t interfere in the player’s individual beliefs,” Wolfe said. “After every game, many players gather at midfield for a post-game prayer. You will often see players, coaches, and management from both teams taking part, and many who do not.”

Locally, the Blackbirds join the Baltimore Blast in doing religious-based nights. The Blast has hosted Christian Youth Nights, which featured concerts by big name Christian Rock bands. It now has two of those nights a season.

Robin Eichelberger, the merchandise manager of the Blast, has spearheaded the youth nights. She said the diversity of Christian Rock music has attracted sellout crowds for the indoor soccer team.

“The mission statement of the Blast is not to bring people to Christ,” Eichelberger, a Christian herself, added.

A Jewish Blast fan once approached Eichelberger about a night for his faith.

“I said, ‘Absolutely I would do it, if it made for financial sense for the team.’ So far, that hasn’t happened,” Eichelberger said.