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Arenafootball2

BRENT WORONOFF Special to The Times Leader

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- Rod Rutherford seems to be getting the hang of football played on a 50-yard field.

Rutherford threw five touchdowns and ran for another as the Wilkes Barre/Scranton Pioneers crushed the expansion Daytona Beach Thunderbirds 68-14 in an arenafootball2 game Sunday at the Ocean Center.

The Pioneers (1-1), who jumped out to a 42-0 halftime lead, dominated in just about every phase of the game except kicking. They converted just two of 11 PATs.

“I fired the kicking coach. That’s me,” said Pioneers head coach Rich Ingold.

“It got lopsided early, and I just wanted to make sure we’re getting better. Obviously we’re not getting better in our kicking game.”

But three newcomers to the team this season gave Ingold a lot to smile about. Micheaux Robinson, who played for the Arena Football League’s Orlando Predators last year, intercepted three passes, returning two of them for scores. But it was the one he dropped that he couldn’t forget.

“It’s going to be real frustrating all night, thinking about that one,” Robinson said.

Receiver J.J. Outlaw caught three touchdown passes. Outlaw, like former Pitt star Rutherford, is new to the arena game.

“Today was my day to come out of my shell,” Outlaw said. “Last week I didn’t get as many opportunities.”

Rutherford, who was intercepted twice, said he is getting more comfortable with the speed of the indoor game.

“It was a productive day,” he said. “I think my reads were better tonight. My understanding of the game is a lot better.”

Rutherford got rid of the ball quickly despite a proficient pass rush by the ThunderBirds.

“The score didn’t show it, but they were out there competing,” Rutherford said.

“Their defensive line was tough. They were in my face all night.”

Rutherford’s backup, Matt Schabert, added two more touchdown passes in the fourth quarter.

The Pioneers also made big plays on defense and special teams. Besides Robinson’s interception returns of 11 and 25 yards for scores, Larry Kendrick scored on a 10-yard fumble return. Kendrick ripped the ball out of Daytona Beach fullback James Jackson’s hands and sped into the end zone.

Coco Blalock’s 48-yard return of a missed field goal set up Rutherford 2-yard scoring run that made the score 24-0.

“Our defense buzzed around well,” Ingold said. “We swarmed to the ball. We also made some key pitches and catches, but we need to get more fluid on offense.”

The ThunderBirds got on the scoreboard with 7:40 left in the third quarter as backup quarterback Scott Jefferies hit 310-pound tight end Odell Brown with a 4-yard touchdown pass three plays after George Williams recovered a fumble near midfield.

“Most times they don’t look for a tight end/offensive lineman,” Brown said. “I snuck into the end zone. Fortunately, Scott threw to my backside, away from the defense.”

Pioneers 68, Thunderbirds 14

First Quarter

WBS -- Saviour 26 pass from Rutherford (kick blocked)

WBS -- Outlaw 29 pass from Rutherford (kick failed)

WBS -- Kendrick 10 fumble return (run failed)

WBS -- Rutherford 2 run (kick failed)

Second Quarter

WBS – M. Robinson 11 interception return (kick failed)

WBS -- Outlaw 30 pass from Rutherford (kick failed)

WBS -- Kendrick 39 yards from Rutherford (kick failed)

Third Quarter

DB -- O. Brown 4 pass from Jeffries (Adams kick)

WBS -- Outlaw 24 pass from Rutherford (Parish kick)

WBS -- M. Robinson 25 interception return (kick failed)

Fourth Quarter

WB -- Acquaye 7 pass from Schabert (kick failed)

WB -- Dean 14 pass from Schabert (Parrish kick)

DB -- Hughes 13 pass from Jeffries (Adams kick)