Stretch drive begins Friday

By John Kovach

Mahoning Valley will host the Louisville Fire in the first of its last four games.

YOUNGSTOWN — The Mahoning Valley Thunder has only four more games left this year to turn around its dismal season in the af2.

The second-year franchise will begin its stretch drive Friday night when the Louisville Fire will be in town for a 7:05 game at Cortland Banks Field in the Chevrolet Centre.

Mahoning Valley (2-10), which is having trouble scoring points and also from stopping opponents from scoring points, will try to snap a three-game losing after taking it on the chin at the Green Bay Blizzard last week, 69-27.

Louisville beat Mahoning Valley earlier this year in Louisville, 53-22.

Friday’s meeting will be the Thunder’s second-to-the-last home game of the season.

Mahoning Valley will have a bye next week before playing at the Manchester Wolves July 11 and the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Pioneers July 19.

The Thunder will close the season at home July 26 against the Green Bay Blizzard.

Louisville (6-5) will be playing two games this week. The Fire played the Lexington Horsemen Monday at home, seeking to end a two-game losing streak, before coming to Youngstown.

Last week, the Thunder was foiled on both sides of the ball by the Blizzard (9-3), trailing by 38-21 at the half and managing to score only six points in the second half.

Green Bay’s offense never was stopped, scoring on all eleven possessions, before running the clock out on the final play of the game.

Quarterback Collin Drafts was nearly flawless in his sixth start for the Blizzard. He threw for four TDS in a little over two quarters, and wasn’t intercepted.

The Thunder’s only bright spot was wide receiver Clenton Rafe, who caught two TD passes to give him 13 in the past three games.

Rafe (5-11, 185, Albany State), in his second af2 season, was named the af2’s Offensive Player of the Week for Week 12 for his six-touchdown performance in the Thunder’s loss to the Manchester Wolves.

Rafe had 11 catches for 199 yards in that game, and his receiving yards and touchdown totals both were Week 12 highs in the af2.

John Tackmann and Melvin Matlock also stood out for the Thunder against Green Bay. Tackmann rushed for his 12th TD of the season to expand his team-leading total, while Matlock returned a kick 58 yards for a TD.

Quarterback Shane Adler made his fifth start of the season for the Thunder, but failed to ignite the offense.

Adler, who replaced Davon Vinson, passed for two touchdowns and was intercepted twice.

kovach@vindy.com