Vinson, Brewer top players in Milwaukee

June 10, 2009 at 12:00a.m.

“It’s real frustrating. We do something real good for so long, then we’ll have a play that hurts us.”

Davon Vinson, Thunder quarterback

Vindicator staff report

NILES — Davon Vinson and C.J. Brewer were offensive leaders in last week’s 58-47 loss to the Milwaukee Iron.

Vinson, who started in place of injured quarterback Blake Powers, completed 20 of 35 passes for 222 yards.

Brewer had a season-high three TDs receptions as part of a 12-catch game for 107 yards.

Mahoning Valley took a giant step by scoring 47 points — a season high. It’s something positive heading into the Thunder’s next game in Albany on Saturday, but it was a loss — the team’s ninth straight.

For Vinson and Brewer, it boils down to the Thunder (1-9) playing well enough to win the last two games (including a 61-39 loss to the Kentucky Horsemen on May 30).

“For a while, we played pretty good as a whole,” Vinson said of last Friday’s game in Milwaukee, “but we turned the ball over three times. It’s the same thing every week. If we turn the ball over, we’re going to lose. That [three turnovers] was the outcome of the game.”

The fumbled snap came early, then Brewer fumble after a reception and Vinson threw an interception late in the game.

“It’s real frustrating,” said Vinson. “We do something real good for so long, then we’ll have a play that hurts us. I think those three plays are what lost the game for us.”

Vinson was the starter against Albany in the 2009 season opener.

“We’ll take them like we did the first time,” said Vinson, who seems to have faith in coach Chris MacKeown’s offensive system.

“I’m starting to see some results,” the quarterback said. “I’ll see a team [opponent] score in two plays and then we’ll go out and score in one play. We’re buying into his system and it’s working.”

Brewer summed up the three turnovers in different terms: “We had a slow start and didn’t finish,” said the 6-3, 215 receiver who played college ball at Wyoming and spent a season with the San Francisco 49ers.

C.J. said that MacKeown puts the receivers in position to make plays every week.

“Coach Mac does his homework. He knows what we’re going to see and what plays will work for us and he puts in those particular plays where somebody’s going to be open. Fortunately, I was open and the ball came to me and I was able to make the plays [at Milwaukee].”

Brewer is considered the team’s go-to receiver.

He doesn’t dispute it, but he’s diplomatic about it.

“I think that’s the way we all see it. When I’m on the field, I feel like I want the ball. I hope Quorey [Payne] and De’Tario [Frederick) and Jermaine [Moye] feel the same way, but I definitely feel that when I’m on the field, I want to be the guy who is going to make plays.”

In his first game with Mahoning Valley, Moye had a 16-yard TD catch.

Of the fumble early in the third quarter, Brewer said he made the catch, then ran until getting hit from behind.

“Even with those plays, it should have been a win,” Brewer said. “But we started slow and didn’t finish. We’ve got to start fast and finish.”

Against the Iron, Mahoning Valley lost its third-leading tackler: defensive back Jamar Landrom, who injured an MCL.