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Signal-caller passes for 8 TDs and runs in another to fall just short of league mark.
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – It was a slow start for Wilkes-Barre/Scranton on Monday, but once the engine got warm, there was no stopping the Pioneers.
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton quarterback Ryan Vena threw for eight touchdowns and ran for another in the 77-47 arenafootball2 win over the Mahoning Valley Thunder, falling one passing touchdown shy of the league high he put up in last week’s win over Manchester.
But the Pioneers defense had trouble stopping a tricky Mahoning Valley offense in the early going, coming out of the first quarter tied 14-14.
The Pioneers (5-1) were on the board first, setting up their first score with a quick, two-play drive that ended with Larry Kendrick catching the first of his two touchdowns on the night – a 35-yarder to put Wilkes-Barre/Scranton up 7-0.
Mahoning Valley (1-5) quickly responded with a two-play drive, using former University of Pittsburgh standout Tim Murphy on both plays, the second going for 36 yards and the score.
Murphy finished with 94 yards rushing and two touchdowns. His total was just 2 yards short of the af2 record for yards in a game set by Kenyatta Spruill of Charleston in 2001.
Wyoming Area graduate Rich Musinski was the recipient of Vena’s next touchdown pass as the Pioneers and Thunder traded scores in the early part of the game. Musinski ran an 18-yard post route down the right side of the field, grabbing Vena’s pass in stride to put the Pioneers up 14-7 and logging his seventh touchdown of the season.
But the first quarter wouldn’t end with the Pioneers ahead. Thunder quarterback Shane Adler, recently acquired from Green Bay to replace injured signal caller Josh Swogger, tossed a 28-yard touchdown to Henry Tolbert for his first score of the game, tying the score 14-14 with three minutes remaining in the period.
In the second quarter, the Pioneers found their groove, scoring five touchdowns to Mahoning Valley’s three.
J.J. Outlaw grabbed two touchdowns, including a 25-yarder to open the quarter and a 41-yard score with 6:29 remaining that put the Pioneers ahead 36-21.
Vena got in on the action in the second quarter, plunging into the end zone for a 1-yard score, and Kendrick added his second score of the night on a 7-yard toss.
Micheaux Robinson, a game-time decision due to a high-ankle sprain suffered two weeks ago, came in as a late substitution. It turned out to be a good decision as the defensive back grabbed two interceptions in the game, returning one 21 yards for a touchdown in the second quarter and a 50-27 lead.
It was more of the same for Wilkes-Barre/Scranton in the third quarter as Musinski grabbed his third touchdown to open the quarter.
On the ensuing kick, however, the Pioneers coverage team found itself in trouble as Tolbert scored on a 55-yard return to cut the deficit to 57-40 with 10:02 remaining in the quarter.
The Thunder tried to capitalize on their return with a surprise onsides kick, but Pioneer defensive back Allan Barnes recovered the attempt and returned it 10 yards for the touchdown.
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton then stopped Adler and the Thunder offense on their next offensive outing, turning the Thunder’s fifth missed fourth-down conversion attempt into an 18-yard receiving touchdown by Outlaw.
Musinski was the lone Pioneers scorer in a slow fourth quarter, grabbing a 35-yard pass from Vena with 3:36 remaining to put Wilkes-Barre/Scranton ahead 77-47.
Notes: Pioneer lineman Justin Parrish added another sack to his total on Monday. Parrish is tied for fourth in the af2 with six.
Pioneers 77, Thunder 47
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton
14
36
20
7
—
77
Mahoning Valley
14
20
6
7
—
47
First Quarter
WBS, Kendrick 35 pass from Vena (Davis kick) 13:30
MVT, Murphy 36 run (Shorejs kick) 12:27
WBS, Musinski 18 pass from Vena (Davis kick) 8:56
MVT, Tolbert 28 pass from Adler (Shorejs kick) 3:00
Second Quarter
WBS, Outlaw 25 pass from Vena (Davis kick) 14:40
WBS, Vena 1 run (Davis kick) 9:10
MVT, Murphy 46 run (Shorejs kick) 7:53
WBS, Outlaw 41 pass from Vena (Vena rush) 6:29
MVT, Tackman 2 run (kick failed) :46
WBS, Kendrick 7 pass from Vena (Davis kick) :29
WBS, M. Robinson 21 interception return (Davis kick) :13
MVT, Tolbert 5 pass from Adler (Shorejs kick) :00
Third Quarter
WBS, Musinski 9 pass from Vena (Davis kick) 10:58
MVT, Tolbert 55 kick return (kick failed) 10:02
WBS, Barnes 10 kick return (kick failed) 8:48
WBS, Outlaw 18 pass from Vena (Davis kick) 4:08
Fourth Quarter
MVT, Tackman 3 run (Shorejs kick) 13:34
WBS, Musinski 35 pass from Vena (Davis kick) 3:36