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Thunder not taking tailspin lightly; will regroup
Thunder vs. Pioneers (5/8/2009)
Video
The af2 Mahoning Valley takes on the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Pioneers.
Photo
The Mahoning Valley Thunder's Quorey Payne (1) takes the ball down the field as he runs into teamates Chris Schubert (12) and C.J. Brewer (4) and Pioneers William TuTu Ferguson (22) and Allan Barnes (28) during the fourth quarter of the game at the arena formerly known as the Cheverolet Centre on Friday evening.
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton quarterback Ryan Vena, out of Colgate, is a mental machine on the field.
By JOHN BASSETTI
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
YOUNGSTOWN — Rich Ingold wasn’t being disrespectful, but the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Pioneers coach did exhibit a swagger when describing his af2 team.
“We’ve got good players. That’s the bottom line,” Ingold responded quickly, when asked why his offense makes moving the ball look easy.
The Pioneers (6-1) dismantled the Mahoning Valley Thunder (1-6) on Friday night at the Covelli Centre, 73-37, a few weeks after beating the Thunder in Scranton, 80-43, on April 18.
“The last three years we’re the winningest franchise in the league,” said Ingold, a Pittsburgh native. “We’ve got great players and we do a great job recruiting. That’s when my job really begins — once the season is over. We came to this game with six cars following the bus. Most of our players are from western Pennsylvania.”
Why do Pioneers receivers continually get into the open and make catches?
“Mahoning Valley changed their defensive scheme more this week than they did a few weeks ago,” Ingold said of Friday’s game. “They were playing a lot more zone tonight — not letting us get the big home run.”
However, Scranton had aerial gains ranging from 2 yards to 36.
Quarterback Ryan Vena was 30-of -39 for 331 yards with no interceptions. Four of his seven touchdowns were caught by J.J. Outlaw. Irving Campbell had 11 receptions for 139 yards, Outlaw caught nine passes for 106 yards and Rich Musinski had nine catches for 60 yards.
“We make adjustments,” said Ingold. “I’m fortunate. I’ve been around a long time in this league and we feel we’ve got great players and a great owner. I don’t have to worry about calling up the owner and getting a tank of gas to go sign a recruit in Maryland. He allows me to do that. Some guys may not have the budget to do that, but he allows me. My owner [Cosmo DeNicola] is a very successful businessman [software] and he’s on me [to produce]. He wants to win, so I don’t have an easy job.”
Apparently, there’s more to Vena than his strong and accurate arm.
The Colgate product and fifth-year af2 player is a valuable mental machine on the field.
Is defending a Vena-operated offense difficult?
“He’s a veteran,” said Thunder defensive back Jamar Landrom. “He’s good at reading the defense and he knows what’s open [before the snap]. They adjust well, too. They see what you’re lining up and if you’re running the same thing they’ll adjust to it.”
Mahoning Valley’s offensive production paled in comparison, with 14-of-26 completions for 160 yards. Plus, Mahoning Valley’s first-play fumble and Micheaux Robinson’s interception of a Blake Powers pass on the Thunder’s second series didn’t set a good tone for the home team.
Receiver C.J. Brewer sounded defensive, but who does welcome answering questions that rekindle unpleasant moments?
Brewer, who had a team-best six catches for 75 yards and two TDs — as did Quorey Payne — was asked if running routes was difficult against Pioneer defenders:
“We’re a talented group of receivers who were open. There are certain times — an inch here and there — that could have made all the difference, but we were open and making good plays. I’m not disappointed with the effort my team put forth, but we’ve just got to make plays. We had a chance to make plays that we didn’t make, but in the future, those are plays that we’re going to make and get us a win.”
On one play midway through the third quarter, Brewer raced downfield near the goal line, then managed to win a struggle for space with his defender. However, he couldn’t catch Powers’ pass thrown at him.
Mahoning Valley was on its own 12 at the time with 3rd-and-11. Derek Schorejs missed a 54-yard field goal and the Thunder came away empty.
“They didn’t dominate us at all,” said Brewer, “but they made the plays that we didn’t make and that’s why the score looked the way it did. Everybody’s still trying, still putting forth the effort. Effort’s never been the problem, just the execution.”
Defensive back Clarence Curry had a pass breakup late in the first quarter when he extended his arm and got a hand on a Vena pass intended for Outlaw.
Coach Brennen Booth said that Curry contracted the flu on Thursday, then started the game Friday, but couldn’t continue.
“We had to get some fluids in him,” Booth said, “but, toward the end of the game, he was done.”
Another bright spot defensively was Larry Harrison’s 6-yard sack, while linebacker Brandon Taylor had seven solo tackles and four assists. Defensive back Darrell Carlton had six solos in his first game with the Thunder, which has a bye week and won’t play again until traveling to Manchester (N.H.) on May 22.
bassetti@vindy.com