Murray catches on with Thunder


By John Bassetti

The first-year receiver had an immediate impact in the season opener.

YOUNGSTOWN — Twenty-five-year-old George Murray made an impression on Mahoning Valley Thunder fans early in last Friday’s season opener against Albany.

No stranger to the indoor game, but new to af2, Murray was on the receiving end of a 3-yard screen pass on Mahoning Valley’s first play from scrimmage with his new team.

The former University of Cincinnati player had a 17-yard gain during the opening series that culminated in Quorey Payne’s touchdown catch from quarterback Davon Vinson just 51‚Ñ2 minutes into the game at the Chevy Centre.

Murray scored his first af2 touchdown on a 5-yard catch in the second quarter to tie the game, 13-13.

When Murray was done, the af2 rookie caught seven of Vinson’s passes for 71 yards.

The 6-foot-2, 205-pound Murray was one of three receivers with yardage on opening night, joining Payne with 99 yards, Chris Schubert with 16 yards and Rob Carey with 4.

“We played a little sloppy, but chalk it up to being our first game,” Murray said of Mahoning Valley’s 44-34 victory. “That shows we’ve developed some chemistry and we know we’ll get better as the season progresses. Our defense held its ground and was able to get turnovers at the end of the game that helped us win.”

Murray wasn’t bothered as much by Albany’s defenders last Friday as he was by the weather earlier this week.

“I haven’t seen snow since I moved back home from Cincinnati,” Murray, a native of Tallahassee, Fla., said after spending a cold Monday morning keeping warm.

Murray played for the Bearcats from 2001-04.

“Most colleges wanted me to play free safety or corner, but Cincinnati was one of the few D-Is that wanted me to play quarterback. Coming out of high school, I didn’t want to tackle.”

He found his way to southwestern Ohio through a friend, who had played at Murray’s old school: Rickards High.

“They offered me a chance at quarterback because I played the position in high school,” said Murray, who was eventually beaten out by another QB recruited at the same time.

Although he threw for nearly 200 yards and a touchdown, Murray switched to receiver his last two seasons.

“Instead of riding the pine, I moved to receiver,” Murray said of the remainder of his time at Cincinnati, with whom he had 88 receptions for nearly 900 yards with two touchdowns.

Murray also rushed for nearly 400 yards and tacked on five more TDs.

Murray then played arena ball in the Continental Indoor Football League and the National Indoor Football League.

His time in the now-defunct NIFL was with the Cincinnati Marshals in 2006, followed by two seasons in the CIFL with the Miami Valley Silverbacks of Troy, O.

With the Silverbacks in 2007, Murray had 1,100 yards in receptions and 24 touchdowns. Last season, injuries cut into George’s production.

Jason Freshwater, the Thunder’s defensive coordinator this season, served in the same capacity for the Silverbacks.

Murray felt he had a good chance to make Mahoning Valley’s roster.

“As long as I stayed healthy and did what I had to do and played to my potential, I knew I’d be fine. I have faith in my abilities,” he said.

Murray found out that he would be a starter the week of the Albany game.

“I was running with the first team in practice the week of the game,” he said of the preliminary indicator.

On most offensive plays, Murray — wearing No. 17 — starts at the line of scrimmage. Sometimes, he’s the motion man who starts in the backfield, then crosses the scrimmage line at the snap.

Against Albany, mistakes dragged the offense down, Murray said.

“We have a good team, but we were beating ourselves with turnovers,” he said.

Murray said he wasn’t concerned with Albany’s defensive backs, nor is he rattled by any team’s cover men.

“What our receivers do against our defensive backs prepared us for the game, so there’s nothing we haven’t seen already. It’s not a concern because we go against the best defensive backs in practice.”

Murray spoke of Milwaukee, a first-time opponent this Saturday.

“They’re an expansion team that has a few veterans from the AFL, but they just don’t have that much chemistry,” he said.

Again, he reiterated his respect for the Thunder’s talent on the side opposite the receivers.

“I think we have the best DBs in the league, so what we go against every day in practice will definitely get us prepared for Saturday,” he said.

bassetti@vindy.com

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