News

May 5, 2008

Pioneers clap Thunder 77-47

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio -- The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Pioneers handed Mahoning Valley their fifth-straight loss on Monday night, taking a 77-47 win over the Thunder at the Chevrolet Centre in Youngstown, Ohio.

Pioneers' quarterback Ryan Vena was 22-of-32 on the night, tossing eight touchdowns for 304 yards and rushing for another 1-yard score. Wide receiver Rich Musinski, a Wyoming Area graduate, grabbed three of Vena's touchdown passes.

Mahoning Valley quarterback Shane Adler was 16-of-40, struggling under center nearly the whole evening due to constant pressure from the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton pass rush. Adler passed for 204 yards and two touchdowns.

The lone bright spot for the Thunder was former Pitt standout Tim Murphy, who rushed for a near-af2-record 94 yards and two touchdowns, nearly breaking a seven-year-old rushing record held by Kenyatta Spruill of Charleston, set in 2001. Early on, Murphy ran for touchdowns of 36 and 46 yards before the Thunder abandoned the running game for an all-out passing attack.

The Pioneers have won 19 of their last 22 games.

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