New coach, but same result for the Thunder

Chris MacKeown’s debut was a 61-39 loss to the Kentuucky Horsemen at the Covelli Centre on Saturday night, despite having the edge in yards.

By JOHN BASSETTI

Vindicator Sports staff

YOUNGSTOWN — Although the final score shows that the league’s top-scoring offense continued its assault, the statistics had the Kentucky Horsemen behind in total yards at the Covelli Centre Saturday night.

Kentucky pounded the Thunder, 61-39, but Mahoning Valley out-gained the visitors in total offense, 274-271.

It didn’t help, though, as the Thunder fell for a record eighth-straight time after a season-opening win.

The outcome spoiled the debut of Chris MacKeown, who came on board as Mahoning Valley’s new head coach last week.

“Mistakes,” is what MacKeown attributed the loss to. “We put ourselves in a hole, shot ourselves in the foot and our tackling was terrible the first half.”

Defensive back Darrell Carlton, who had a team-high five tackles - all solos, said that Mahoning Valley’s coverage was some zone and mostly man-to-man, but, regardless, giving a high-powered offense too much time is deadly.

“He’s not picking us apart, but he has a lot of time to read,” Carlton said of Kentucky quarterback Jared Lorenzen and alternate Justin Rascati. “In arena, if you aren’t getting enough pressure on the quarterback, it becomes a one-on-one game. We try our best to stick on our guys as long as we can, but if they have a lot of time they’re going to find those holes.”

Of Kentucky’s nine touchdowns, five were via pass and four by rush.

The Thunder got burned right off the bat as William Mulder returned the opening kickoff to Mahoning Valley’s 15. On the first play from scrimmage, QB Jared Lorenzen bulled his way into the end zone, despite a tackle attempt by Jamar Landrom at the goalline. Douglas Daniel’s PAT gave the Horsemen a 7-0 lead at 13:57.

Mahoning Valley, however, bounced right back as Quorey Payne misplayed the ball off the net, then picked it up and juked two Horsemen in the end zone before racing 58 yards for a TD. Derek Schorejs’ PAT tied the game, 7-7.

Within two minutes, Kentucky went up 13-7 when Lorenzen hit Demetrious Forney from 10 yards out. Frashon McGee, however, blocked Daniels’ PAT and newcomer Antoine Horton recovered.

The Horsemen tacked on another TD and two-point conversion when Rascati ran 4 yards at 8:00 and then Rascati passed to Lonnell DeWalt for the conversion for a 21-7 advantage.

Quorey Payne pulled Mahoning Valley within 21-13 when he grabbed Blake Powers’ 9-yard pass. Even after Payne bobbled the catch initially, he regained control despite bouncing off of the wall. Schorejs missed the extra point.

Lorenzen ran 1 yard to put the Horsemen ahead, 27-13, at 2:18 of the first quarter. Daniel missed the PAT.

Early in the second quarter, Danielmissed a 25-yard field goal and Mahoning Valley took control at its 3. After a long series, the Thunder relinquished possession at its 11 and Lorenzen didn’t waste any time hitting John Cooper, who pivoted around defensive back Darrell Carlton and raced 27 yards for a score. Daniel’s kick put the visitors up, 34-13, and the score stood until halftime.

Mahoning Valley’s scoreless streak continued as Kentucky widened its lead in the third quarter to 41-13 on Lorenzen’s 1-yard run and Daniel’s extra-point boot.

Mahoning Valley injected an element of surprise when Chris Schubert caught the only two passes of a 45-yard drive that ended in his reception of a 39-yard TD pass from Powers. Schorejs’ PAT pulled Mahoning Valley within, 41-20, at 9:12 of the third period.

A 5-yard shovel pass from Rascati to Amariah Farrow pushed Kentucky’s lead to 28 at 48-20.

A 22-yard TD pass from Powers to Payne brought some relief to Thunder fans as the home team pulled within 48-26.

The first TD of the fourth period was a 7-yard TD pass from Lorenzen to Quinton Williams after a failed Thunder onside kick attempt. Daniel’s PAT put Kentucky, up 55-26.

Powers’ 6-yard TD run and Schorejs’ kick was good for seven points at 9:13 of the fourth and the QB took a hit after he ran 15 yards for another score with 52.6 remaining in the game. Schorejs missed the PAT and the Thunder was within, 55-39.

However, Powers injured his left shoulder on the run.

Kentucky scored as time ran out when Lorenzen hit Farrow from 9 yards out.

bassetti@vindy.com