Wednesday, June 18, 2008
By Greg Gulas
Mahoning Valley gave up 79 points last week to Manchester.
YOUNGSTOWN — The Mahoning Valley Thunder football players realize they can put points on the scoreboard.
Keeping opponents from enjoying that same offensive success, however, has been the real challenge of late for head coach Mike Hold’s af2 squad.
Despite dropping a 79-55 decision to the Manchester Wolves last Friday at the Chevrolet Centre, the Thunder has scored 143 points over their past three outings or an average of 47.6 per fray.
Yielding 170 points (56.7) during that same span, including a franchise-high 79 points to the Wolves might just call for adjustments on that side of the football when Mahoning Valley travels to Green Bay for Friday’s encounter with the Blizzard.
The key to the Thunder (2-9) picking up their first road victory of the season — they are 0-5 — might just be to maintain a positive attitude.
“Momentum is a big part of our game and when you don’t play with the necessary enthusiasm, then it seems like the ball just doesn’t want to bounce your way,” Hold said. “Remaining focused while keeping a positive attitude both on the field and in the locker is the key for us right now.
“We have to make sure that when we come to practice we get something out of those sessions,” Hold said. “A win will be the best remedy for our woes right now and while it might sound like an old clich , we’re not looking past our game this Friday with Green Bay.”
Trailing 33-27 to the Wolves with 3:05 remaining in the first half, five subsequent Thunder possessions yielded no points while by the Wolves built a commanding 59-27 advantage.
Quarterback Davon Vinson, playing in his third game under center for Mahoning Valley, completed 18 of 30 aerial attempts for 272 yards and seven touchdowns. Vinson led the team into the end zone on its last four possessions.
It was too little, too late for Mahoning Valley, however, who found a 32-point Wolves lead just too much to overcome.
“Davon is definitely a playmaker and our offense has rallied behind his signal-calling,” Hold said. “He’s only been with us three weeks and still needs some work in order for the two of us to be on the same page when I call the plays. That is slowly coming together.
“When I call a play he needs to be thinking what I am thinking,” Hold said. “Throwing for seven touchdowns and running for another score against the Wolves just reinforces his playmaking ability.”
A bright spot defensively for Mahoning Valley has been the play of tackle Royce Morgan, a rookie from Lehigh University who is in his first season in the league.
Against Manchester, Morgan had a sack (six yards) and forced two hurried throws, giving him 8 Ω sacks which places him eighth overall in the league in that category.
“Royce is a very good player who works extremely hard; someone who is passionate about what he does each and every time he comes to the arena. He sometimes wants to do too much,” Hold said.
“He always has a positive mindset and with the amount of adversity that we have faced this season, Royce is definitely the kind of player you want and need on the team right now,” Hold said.
The Thunder will step out of their division Friday when they meet the Blizzard in a classic example of two teams heading in opposite directions.
The Thunder, 0-4 against non-East Division foes will be looking for their first road win while Green Bay, 8-3 overall (they are 4-2 at home this season) and sitting atop the Midwest Division, will try to keep its one-game lead over the Lexington Horsemen (7-4).
Kick-off at the Resch Center is 8:30 p.m.