Second half struggles doom Mahoning Valley

By Tom Williams | April 26, 2009 at 12:09a.m.

Talons at Thunder

Clips from the Tulsa Talons vs. Mahoning Valley Thunder game at the Chevrolet Centre Saturday, April 25.

The Thunder managed just one touchdown in the final two quarters of a 66-30 loss.

YOUNGSTOWN — For the second time in three weekends, the Mahoning Valley Thunder went to the locker room at halftime with one of the af2’s best teams within striking distance.

But just like on April 11 in Tulsa, the Thunder struggled to score points in the second half.

The Tulsa Talons (4-1) limited the Thunder (1-4) to one touchdown in the final two quarters to post a 66-30 victory Saturday at the Chevrolet Centre.

“Some of the guys played like they ... maybe didn’t care,” Thunder coach Mike Hold said after a fourth-straight loss, “Some of the guys played like they were lost. It’s just disappointing.”

Thunder quarterback Blake Powers completed 16 of 22 passes for 163 yards and three scores before being injured in the third quarter and replaced with Davon Vinson.

Hold said Powers was injured on a running play right before the Thunder’s third-quarter touchdown. His status for next week’s game at Albany has not been determined.

Meanwhile, Talons quarterback Justin Allgood completed 24 of his 32 tosses for 336 yards and nine scores.

“Our entire offense played very well,” Talons coach Mitch Allner said. “Our line did a great job of protecting [Allgood].

“Justin did a great job of delivering the ball where it was supposed to be and our receivers made plays for it.”

Tulsa score on their first 10 possessions.

“We have to protect our quarterback and put pressure on theirs,” Allner said of Tulsa’s approach. “We did a very good job of that tonight.

“If you can get to their quarterback and speed up his thought process, it just changes the whole outlook of the game. I think we did that well.”

The Talons scored six times before halftime. Two Powers interceptions added to the surge.

“We had some good schemes in the secondary to create some turnovers and timely plays,” Allner said,

The Thunder opened the game with Powers hitting Quorey Payne for a 23-yard touchdown, Derek Schorejs’ extra-point kick gave the Thunder a 7-0 lead.

The Talons responded by taking charge, scoring four unanswered touchdown. Jermaine Landrum (21 yards) and Jeff Hughley (32) had the first two scoring receptions.

After Zach Edwards added scores of 13 and 16 yards, the Thunder scored when De’Tario Frederick caught a 27-yard pass form Powers.

Hughley caught two more (37 and 7 yards) to give the Talons a 38-20 lead. In between those scores, Powers capped a drive with a 2-yard scoring run.

Schorejs’ 32-yard field goal as the half expired kept the Thunder within reach, 38-23.

But the second half belonged to the Talons.

The Thunder’s final hopes were dashed when they were driving while trailing 52-30. Vinson fumbled into the end zone where the Talons recovered.

The Talons immediately drove for their third touchdown of the second half as Edwards caught a 10-yard pass.

“They are a great football team, don’t take anything away from Tulsa,” Hold said, “They created the havoc. But at the same time, we had two turnovers and an offsides penalty on the 1 yard line. That’s the crud that just can’t happen.”

williams@vindy.com