Thunder looks to Pioneer a win

By Tom Williams

Mahoning Valley has never won against Wilkes-Barre/Scranton in the two years they’ve met.

NILES — Imagine the Cleveland Browns getting a schedule that has them playing the world champion Steelers in Pittsburgh, then the Tom Brady-led Patriots in New England, then a rematch with the Steelers at home.

That gauntlet of power is similar to what the Mahoning Valley Thunder are going through early in their third season.

Last Saturday, the Thunder played at Tulsa, Okla., against the Talons (af2 champions in 2007). After holding the Talons to 27 first-half points, turnovers triggered a Thunder collapse in the second half as the Talons posted a 79-35 victory.

Saturday night the Thunder (1-2) travels to Wilkes-Barre, Pa., to play the class of the af2’s East Division, the Pioneers (2-1).

Next week, the Thunder will prepare for their first home game in three weeks. The opponent? The Talons (2-1), who trail unbeaten Oklahoma in the Central Division.

Despite giving up a franchise record in points, Thunder coach Mike Hold believes his team in a position to win against the Pioneers.

“This week I feel good about Wilkes-Barre,” said Hold after a recent practice at the Infante Wellness Center in Niles. “I’m not taking anything away from them because they are a good football team.

“But I think we compete if we don’t turn the ball over,” Hold said. “We haven’t given ourselves an opportunity to prove that.”

Twelve turnovers by Thunder quarterback Davon Vinson prompted Hold to yank his starter in the third quarter at Tulsa. Saturday, he’s giving af2 rookie Blake Powers (Indiana) his first start.

After blowout wins to start the season, the Pioneers are coming off a 63-56 loss to the Kentucky Horsemen.

If the Thunder win, it would be their first road victory since June 2007 and first win over the Pioneers.

“It’s no secret they’ve had our number,” Hold said. “Year to year, this is one of the top two or three teams in the league.

“They’re the class of our division and we want to get to their level,” Hold said. “Anytime we’ve played them over the past two years it’s been extremely physical. You expect that out of a division game.

“We never have a problem getting up to play Wilkes-Barre and we look forward to another physical, emotional game.”

Brandon Taylor, the Thunder’s jack linebacker, played for the Albany Firebirds in 2008.

“Tough atmosphere,” said Taylor of the Pioneers’ Wachovia Center.

Taylor said the Pioneers’ success is why they are the team everyone else in the division emulate.

“That’s who they look at as that top tier team because of their dominance over the last two, three years,” said Taylor, who expects a battle.

“It doesn’t matter if you are playing home or away, it’s going to be a fight the whole four quarters,” Taylor said. “Just going in there to their place, to their backyard just means it’s going to be more of a fight.”

Hold wants to see what Powers, the former Hoosier quarterback, can do from the opening whistle.

“He has a strong arm and he’s a big, physical guy who doesn’t shy away from contact,” said Hold of Powers. “He’s still young but we think he has a lot of potential and he’s picked the game up well. We’re excited about what he brings to the offense.”

Linebacker Taz Wallace is less concerned about the opponent than what his team must do.

“The bottom line is we’ve got to go out and do our job,” Wallace said. “We’ve got to eliminate the mistakes ... we haven’t done that yet.

“I think we’re going to be pretty good,” Wallace said. “But it’s important that we go out and play 60 minutes and eliminate our mistakes — defense, special teams, everyone — and stay together as a team. We’ve got to go out and get a win, it’s as simple as that.”

williams@vindy.com