Thunder hoping for a rebound

Mahoning Valley has dropped three straight games to fall to .500.
By TOM WILLIAMS
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
YOUNGSTOWN -- Six games into their first arenafootball2 league season, here are a few things that we've learned about the Mahoning Valley Thunder.
Youngstown's newest professional team is not as good as its 3-0 start.
And the af2 expansion team is not as bad as its current three-game losing streak implies.
On May 6, the Thunder lost at home, 52-34 to the then-1-3 Louisville Fire. That loss appeared to get under the skin of Thunder coach Mike Hold.
Saturday, the Thunder (3-3) dropped a 56-26 decision to the unbeaten Wilkes Barre/Scranton Pioneers, most likely the af2's best team.
After the game, Hold's remarks were less tempered, most likely out of respect.
"Their defensive backs were some of the best I've seen," Hold said. "We had a good plan against them, it was good battle and they won it.
Not at their best
"We have to be at our best to beat these guys and we weren't," Hold said. "But let's give credit where credit is due and they had something to do with that."
Thunder quarterback Glenn Gauntt completed 18 of 43 tosses for 226 yards. Three were scoring receptions. Three others were picked off and led to three Pioneers touchdowns.
"We're in a funk," said Hold of the losing streak. "We do some good things and then we shoot ourselves in the foot. You can't do that in arena football, especially with a good team like that because they're going to score."
This weekend, the Thunder will travel to Estero, Fla., to play the Florida Firecats (4-3). Game time Saturday is 7:30 p.m.
Hold said he doesn't think preparation has been a problem.
"We've got to watch film, to try and figure out what we're doing wrong and try to correct things," Hold said. "We had a great week of practice. Mentally, we were there.
"They were probably the best three practices back-to-back that we've had all season," Hold said. "I was confident coming in here that we were going to do our thing, and we didn't. There were dropped passes, there were missed throws. Until we start making plays, we're going to take some lumps."
Hold was pleased with some of his players.
"I thought our offensive line played extremely well, but we've got to make plays," Hold said.
Pioneers quarterback Ryan Vena enjoyed one of his best games of an unbeaten season, completing 25 of 33 passes for 321 yards and seven touchdowns.
Like most sports leagues, Vena said the advantage usually goes to established squads with returning players.
"We've got a bunch of guys who returned and we have some rookies," Vena said. "Every year, [you want] to see a good mixture of both.
"You want those guys who are hungry, who are fresh out of college, who have never played the [indoor] game before," Vena said. "But you need experienced guys to lead you down the field."
Thunder defensive back Maurice Taylor called the losing streak "frustrating but it's football. So we just have to turn this around. We had a good week of practice and we have to translate that to the game."
williams@vindy.com