A Hold on hope: Thunder upbeat

By Tom Williams

The coach wants positive thinking, not panic, after three straight losses.

YOUNGSTOWN — After three losses in three weeks including two that were determined on the final play, Thunder coach Mike Hold says the focus for his staff is to remain positive.

“Yelling at my players is not my way of motivating,” said Hold, who admitted, “I’ve gone off on officials now and then.”

Last Friday at the Chevrolet Centre, the Thunder led Lexington 35-34 before the final snap. Eddie Eviston’s 32-yard Hail Mary touchdown pass to Chad Spencer as time expired gave the Horsemen a 41-35 victory.

On April 5, the Thunder trailed the Manchester Wolves 45-39 before the last snap. Thunder quarterback Josh Swogger completed a pass to DeMarcus Mathes in the end zone, but the wide receiver was ruled out of bounds when he made the reception.

Hold prefers that his players concentrate on how they are two plays away from a 3-1 record.

“We’re trying to keep a positive atmosphere for when we put together a full game,” Hold said. “Most of our guys are playing good enough to win, we just have to do it as a unit.”

Hold cited the five turnovers the Thunder offense committed in the second half against the Horsemen as the area that needs fixed as soon as possible.

“We’ve shot ourselves in the foot three games in row, with two of them going down to the final play,” Hold said. “The problem is not a lackadaisical attitude, the reality is that we’re giving games away.”

As the Thunder prepares for Saturday’s rematch with the Albany Conquest (2-1), Hold said he believes his squad doesn’t need wholesale changes.

“We just need to fine-tune,” Hold said.

Against the Horsemen, Mike Schneider started at quarterback because of injuries Swogger sustained in the Week 3 game against Wilkes Barre-Scranton.

Saturday at Albany, Swogger will be back behind center at the start of the game. Hold said the concussion Schneider suffered in the Lexington game will keep him out of action indefinitely.

“Josh has the rein again and I feel comfortable with either,” Hold said. “Mike spent time learning the arena game last year. Josh has experienced some growing pains.”

Against the Horsemen, Schneider completed 18 of 36 passes for 176 yards and three scores. He was intercepted twice.

Swogger replaced him and completed four of seven tosses for 27 yards and a score.

Henry Tolbert had seven catches for 68 yards and two touchdowns while Clenton Rafe scored twice in his Mahoning Valley debut.

Defensively, Hold said the Thunder are doing well enough to win.

“But we haven’t take advantage of the opportunities that those stops have gotten us,” Hold said.

The Thunder will leave for Albany, N.Y., on Friday morning and return right after Saturday’s game ends.

“It’s a regular Greyhound bus so it’s pretty comfortable,” Hold said.

On March 29, the Thunder opened their second af2 season with a 59-33 victory over the Conquest at the Chevrolet Centre. Since, then, the Conquest have won twice and Hold expects the game to be a challenge.

“I do think they are playing [better] — they beat Manchester, a team we lost to,” Hold said. “So we can’t afford to take them lightly.”

Hold agrees that a win in Albany is crucial.

“By winning this one, we can get back in the thick of the division race,” Hold said. “But we have to prepare for a very tough game. We’re not panicking, not with 12 games to go. But we need to get the offense clicking.”

williams@vindy.com