43
Thunder falls
Thunder vs. Iron
Video
The Mahoning Valley Thunder finishes their 2009 season at the Covelli Center on Saturday, July 25, 2009 with a loss to the Milwaukee Iron.
Photo
Mahoning Valley Thunder's Frashon McGee (37) catches a touchdown pass while being covered by Green Bay Blizzard's (21) during the fourth quarter at the Covelli Centre on Saturday evening. Thunder's Jermaine Moye (7) and Blizzard's Tracy Belton (1) seen at left.
Photo
Mahoning Valley Thunder's Jon Loyte (99) drives down the field eventually being brought down by Green Bay Blizzard's Shadrack Okoebor (0) during the third quarter at the Covelli Centre on Saturday evening. Thunder's Jermaine Moye (7) and Blizzard's Tracy Belton (1) seen at left.
Large turnout closes season
Green Bay’s trickery played a role in the 63-43 victory in the season finale.
YOUNGSTOWN — Dollar beers and a trio of local athletes brought out the largest crowd of the year to the Covelli Centre to witness the Mahoning Valley Thunder close out the 2009 season.
The crowd of 3,893 watched as the Thunder matched the Blizzard for the better part of four quarters before dropping a 63-43 decision to playoff bound Green Bay.
Tom Zetts, a Boardman native and former Youngstown State University quarterback, made his first start of the season at home for Mahoning Valley and steered the Thunder to a 14-0 lead before Green Bay (10-6) unleashed a fearsome offensive attack down the stretch.
Brian Palmer, who kicked at Niles High and YSU and also recently joined Mahoning Valley, made good on three of four field goal attempts and five of six extra points.
Green Bay’s defense was led by former Warren Harding standout Anthony Hoke, who had two tackles and a sack and was named Defensive Player of the Game.
A controversial play with less than a minute left in the contest sealed the loss for Mahoning Valley.
The Thunder (2-14) trailed Green Bay by two scores late and were driving when an errant snap to Zetts ended up in the arms of Shandrack Okoebor. The Blizzard linebacker raced 41 yards to paydirt to end any Mahoning Valley hopes for a second straight upset victory.
“We are going in for a score and their noseman was yelling hut-hut-hut,” said Thunder coach Chris MacKeown. “The ball gets snapped and our quarterback never said anything and there was the fumble. That’s just cheating.
“There are certain things you don’t do and thats one of them. The refs said they didn’t hear it. I don’t blame the refs, I blame Green Bay for cheating.”
Zetts, who completed 20 of 43 passes for 252 yards and five touchdowns said the Thunder played good enough to win.
“We came out and gave it our all,” said Zetts. “There is a reason that team is 10 and 6 and they played well.
“It came down to that controversial call. I never said Hut, one of their players did and that changed any chance we had to get another win.”
After jumping out 14-0, Green Bay regrouped and scored 28 points in the second quarter to take a 28-27 lead into the lockerroom at halftime.
Mahoning Valley trailed 35-30 late in the third quarter when the Thunder tried lost the battle of possesions to the Blizzard.
Zetts helped the Thunder convert two of three fourth down plays but threw and interception on fourth-and-14 in the end zone to end the drive.
“We didn’t kick the field goal because we were in a possession battle with Green Bay at the point,” MacKeown said. “A field goal there is like conceding a possession to them because we would have been down nine points if they scored again.”
Thunder guard Derrick Markray, who has been with the team the entire season said it was a tough year for everyone but the team stuck together.
“I’m going to miss these guys,” Markray said. “I love to play football. I feel bad that all these great fans didn’t get to see a better season from us.”
Hoke wore a wristband that said, “MY HOME.”
The Harding graduate who attended the University of Cincinnati and is in his first year with the AF2 said he wanted to play well before a large contingent of friends and family who attended the game.
“This was a lot of fun,” Hoke said. “It was so nice to come home and play here with all these great fans.”
MacKeown didn’t make any excuses for the campaign. The team was 1-7 since he came aboard as coach.
“I’m know as a turnaround specialist,” MacKeown said. “We didn’t do that this year but I’m hoping I get an off-season to make this team successful.”