Thunder derailed

WILKES-BARRE/SCRANTON 62, MAHONING VALLEY 47

League’s best team rumbles through Valley

By JOHN BASSETTI

Vindicator sports staff

YOUNGSTOWN — It was the engine and the caboose of the af2’s American Conference — the team with the best record against the team with the worst.

Usually, the engine has the upper hand, while the caboose follows.

The was the case Saturday night as Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (11-2) defeated the Mahoning Valley Thunder (1-12), 62-47.

Mahoning Valley led, 6-0, but fell behind, 7-6, and never caught up in a game of teams heading in opposite directions.

But there was progress — much progress — by the Thunder, which finally kept its most devastating demon — turnovers — under control.

“There are no consolation prizes in pro football,” Thunder coach Chris MacKeown said, “but I’m disappointed we didn’t win.

“The thing I hope our guys take from this — this horrible loss, and I call it horrible because Wilkes-Barre is one of the top if not the top team in this conference — is that we played with them.”

Mahoning was within seven points (35-28), eight points (49-41) and nine points (56-47) before running out of time.

Still, with only three games remaining, time is running out if Mahoning Valley wants to add a second, third or fourth victory to its 2009 record.

“We can win, but we need to start winning,” MacKeown said intensively. “We have the quarterback — Brad Roach has all the ability — but we need to start winning games and it starts with Peoria.”

Roach was 21 of 41 for 309 yards for five touchdown passes, but threw two interceptions. Wilkes-Barre quarterback Ryan Vena was 23 of 28 for 274 yards and eight TDs. He was flawless on turnovers.

Aided by a illegal contact penalty on the Pioneers, Roach hit C.J. Brewer for a 36-yard touchdown pass six minutes into the game. Nathan Palkovic’s extra-point kick was off to keep the Mahoning Valley lead at 6-0.

Wilkes-Barre came right back after Larry Kendrick’s long kickoff return. On the first play from scrimmage, Vena hit J.J. Outlaw for a 7-yard TD pass and David Davis’ PAT gave the Pioneers a 7-6 lead at 7:49.

Micheaux Robinson’s interception and 15-yard return of a Roach pass gave Wilkes-Barre its second tally at 5:15 and Davis’ kick put the visitors up, 14-6.

After a 40-yard Roach-to-Jermaine Moye pass gain to the Pioneers’ 1, Brewer crashed over from a half yard out and the Thunder pulled within 14-12 at 0:37. Palkovic’s PAT failed and the quarter ended.

On its first possession of the second quarter, Vena hit Outlaw from 36 yards away and David booted successfully for a 21-12 lead at 14:10.

Quorey Payne’s 35-yard kickoff return helped start a drive that ended in Palkovic’s 17-yard field goal to bring Mahoning Valley within, 21-15, at 7:50.

Irving Campbell’s 27-yard catch of a Vena pass and Davis’ PAT lifted the Pioneers to a 28-15 advantage at 4:22.

A 3-yard TD run by Brewer brought Mahoning Valley within 28-21 at 2:33, but a conversion pass by Moye on a fake kick was incomplete.

About a minute later, Outlaw caught an 18-yard TD pass from Vena and Davis’ kick put the Pioneers ahead, 35-21.

A 32-yard reception by Payne gave Mahoning Valley good field position at the W-B 14 before Payne was on the receiving end of another Roach pass of 11 yards for a TD. Palkovic’s PAT pulled the Thunder within, 35-28, with 22 seconds remaining before halftime.

Statistically, Mahoning Valley had the upper hand in the first 30 minutes with 29 offensive plays for 161 yards to 12 plays for 137 yards for Wilkes-Barre.

The Thunder had possession more than twice as long as the Pioneers, 21:10 to 8:50.

Three of Outlaw’s four first-half catches were for TDs, while Moye had five receptions for 62 yards in the first half.

Outlaw’s 14-yard TD reception from Vena was the first score of the second half and Davis’ kick-after extended Wilkes-Barre’s lead to 14 again, 42-28.

Payne’s 45-yard TD reception of Roach’s pass gave Mahoning Valley six points, but Palkovic missed the extra-point kick to leave the Thunder within eight, 42-34.

A 32-yard TD catch by Outlaw and Davis’ boot pushed Wilkes-Barre’s lead to 49-34 at 7:15.

Roach’s 6-yard TD pass to Payne and Palkovic’s PAT brought Mahoning Valley within eight, again, 49-41, as the third quarter ended. The series capped a drive that exhausted 7:01 off the clock.

Wilkes-Barre scored at 9:04 when Vena found Outlaw from 6 yards out and Davis made the boot for a 56-41 lead.

The crowd came alive when Brewer caught a Roach pass and the receiver covered 33 yards for a TD. Palkovic’s PAT was off a fourth time, but Mahoning Valley was within 56-47 at 3:47.

Kendrick’s catch of a Vena pass from 19 yards away gave the visitors a 62-47 lead. The missed by Davis was his first of the night.

bassetti@vindy.com