Sunday, March 29, 2009
Gallery
Mahoning Valley has won all three of its season openers.
YOUNGSTOWN — The Mahoning Valley Thunder saved its best for last in Friday’s 44-34 af2 season-opening win over Albany at the Chevrolet Centre.
Mahoning Valley came from 11 points down with an outstanding effort from the defense.
Meanwhile, the offense needed second and third chances to play its way back into grace.
“When you turn the ball over that many times on offense and win, your defense is doing good things,” Thunder coach Mike Hold said of the win that was Mahoning Valley’s third straight season-opening win. Those included two straight over the same franchise.
“The defense did things to give the offense opportunities,” Hold said. “You can’t say enough about the way the defense played.”
Hold tempered his comments about the offense because the problems — while not acceptable — were somewhat understandable.
“We lost our fullback [Wally Sonnie], and already lost a tight end during the week [Shawn Donaldson], so we had to move noseman Carlos Spinner to tight end and tight end Jason Lewis to fullback when in goalline situations,” Hold said.
Mahoning Valley lost three of four fumbles compared to Albany losing four of seven. The Thunder couldn’t score when inside Albany’s 5 midway through the second quarter and again in the third quarter when Mahoning Valley had 1st-and-goal from the Firebirds’ 1.
“That series in the third quarter was with Spinner and Lewis and we knew we couldn’t run the ball because [they aren’t runners],” Hold said. “So it was tough. We were trying to iron things out on the bench to give us a chance.”
Later, Mahoning Valley was able to punch it.
“That’s where we’ve got to be able to run,” Hold said. “We have a good package where we bring big guys in, but three of the big guys were out. For Lewis and Spinner, those are positions they haven’t played.”
The predicament was the reason Hold cited “a gutsy effort all the way across the board” in the victory.
“We can learn from it,” Hold said. “If we don’t make those mistakes, maybe the game doesn’t come down to a nailbiter.”
Hold was asked what he’ll take from the win heading into this Saturday’s game against Milwaukee?
“They [Albany] didn’t stop us; we stopped ourselves on offense because of fumbles and that one lack of execution,” Hold said. “But it’s tough to criticism when you got two guys in there who haven’t played positions.
“The main thing is, I know what the character of this team and it showed Friday night,” Hold said.
Albany led, 34-23, with 11:11 left before af2 rookie Chris Schubert caught a 4-yard touchdown pass from Davon Vinson at 7:27. Then Mahoning Valley’s defense went berserk.
Mac linebacker Taz Wallace sacked Albany backup quarterback Adam Bednarik and forced a fumble that Brandon Taylor recovered. Vinson’s TD run put the Thunder ahead, 37-34, at 3:26.
Wallace also forced a fumble that Taylor recovered and ran 10 yards for the final TD at 0:49.
“I knew we had to make a play, so we were all going hard on defense,” Wallace said. “Brandon picked it up and scored. It was a great team effort.”
Wallace’s first forced fumble was the result of a sack for 11 yards.
Before Schubert’s first TD, a reception for 12 yards was his first as a pro.
“It was good to get the first catch out of the way because you’re a little nervous until it happens,” the 5-foot-9, 190-pound Schubert said. “Defense played a great game. The offense, we’ve got to work out some things and cut down on turnovers, but it was a great game.”
He also had a 14-yard run.
Taylor, the Jack linebacker, described the play that led to the game’s last score.
“We ran our covers where coach [defensive coordinator] Brennen Booth told me to sit in my box [between the tackles] and read the quarterback,” Taylor said. “We were getting a good push by the front line [Tim Cheatwood, Spinner and Wallace] coming off the ends and up the middle.
“So the quarterback got flustered and ran out of the pocket. I was spying his eyes to see where he was going. I had no other responsibilities, so as soon as I saw the ball, I’m on it.”
Taylor played for Albany in 2008.
“It feels pretty good, he said of his new environment.
After the game, Taylor went into the bleachers to greet his family.
“I’m from Akron, so my mother, grandmother, aunts, uncles and cousins didn’t have far to come,” Taylor said.
Taylor’s two recoveries accounted for 15 yards, Cheatwood had one sack for 5 yards; Spinner had 1/2 sack, a fumble recovery and a blocked PAT; Frashon McGee had a fumble recovery; Clarence Curry and Ray Williams had an interception apiece; and Williams had three pass break-ups.
Vinson completed 18 of 26 passes for 190 yards and ran for a TD.
Quorey Payne had eight catches for 99 yards while George Murray had seven receptions for 71 yards.
Bednarik replaced Albany’s starting quarterback Stephen Wasil in the first quarter.
“That No. 11 played a heck of a game,” Hold said. “He’s a gutsy dude. I pulled him out after the game and said, ‘That’s one of the gutsiest performances I’ve seen.’ He did a great job.”