Sports

Arenafootball2

JAMIE A. RAUB jraub@timesleader.com

Last season, it was Manchester that ended the Pioneers’ 13-game winning streak, stopping their momentum just short of a perfect regular season.

Two seasons prior, the Wolves beat Wilkes-Barre/Scranton twice. And, it was the same story in 2005.

This year’s Manchester team will bring a new head coach in Danton Barto and a number of problems to Wachovia Arena today when the Wolves (1-2) face the Pioneers (3-1) at 7 p.m. in Wilkes-Barre Township.

“Every year, every game is different,” said Pioneers Coach Rich Ingold. “This is a close rivalry. Right now, they’re 1-2, but don’t let that fool you.”

Manchester has undergone an overhaul since last season, including a change at the quarterback position.

In three games, the Wolves have used three different signal-callers – each one seemingly less effective than the previous one. Now, heading into the fourth game, they’ve called in the reserves.

Brian Jones, who threw for a little less than 400 yards in Manchester’s 64-54 loss to Albany last week, was with the now-defunct Memphis Xplorers when Barto led the team to the ArenaCup championship in 2005. Now, the two have paired up again in hopes of making another run at the title.

Jones spent two seasons with Memphis before the team folded in 2006 and has since bounced around between several af2 and AFL teams. Now that he and Barto have been reunited in Manchester, it adds stability to an offense desperately in need of it.

“They definitely upgraded,” Ingold said. “(Jones) is the one that is going to put points on the board for them.”

Barto recently surpassed the career 50-win total with Manchester’s 45-39 Week 2 win against Mahoning Valley. He is 12 wins behind Ingold, who is the league’s all-time leader with 63 wins. But only a season ago, Ingold was looking up at Barto from sixth on the career wins list.

Right now, the only thing on the Pioneers coach’s mind is defense, and lots of it, heading into today’s East Division matchup. With defensive stalwart Micheaux Robinson on the mend after suffering a high ankle sprain in the third quarter of last week’s rout of Peoria, more pressure will be on the rest of the defense to contain Manchester’s wide receivers.

Robinson’s availability will be a game-time decision.

As in the last four games, Ingold stressed the importance of his team’s pass rush – this week more than ever.

“I definitely don’t want to get into these shootouts like last year, where the last team with the ball that scores wins the game,” said Ingold.

Last season, Manchester pulled out a 49-46 win over Wilkes-Barre/Scranton in a game that ended the team’s winning streak at 13. In that game, the Wolves scored five touchdowns in the second half to pull out the victory.

When Jones was with Memphis in 2005 and 2006, he ranked near the middle of the league in passing statistics, but was second in rushing yards and touchdowns. That makes him all the more dangerous to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton if he’s not contained.

“If we’re going to have success with (Jones), we have to keep him out of his comfort zone,” said Ingold. “If we don’t, he’ll get us.”

Even though Manchester has struggled through its first three games, the Wolves have found ways to score.

Bradley Chavez (24-321, 6 TDs) ranks near the top of the league in touchdowns and receiving yards, and Emery Sammons (18-231, 7 TDs) isn’t far behind.

“They’ve got some talent. They’re still trying to find their identity,” said Ingold. “With the addition of their quarterback, it’s like having another coach on the field. He’s what makes them go.”

Notes: The Pioneers followed through with their promise to trade defensive back Jamaine “CoCo” Blalock this week. Blalock was traded to the Green Bay Blizzard for future considerations, putting him closer to home and family. The six-year AFL veteran is originally from Kenosha, Wis., and played his college football for Western Illinois University.

• The Pioneers jumped another three places in this week’s af2 coaches poll from seventh to fourth, thanks to a 74-26 win over Peoria last Saturday. Defending ArenaCup champion Tulsa (4-0) holds the No. 1 spot, while Spokane (3-0) and Florida (3-0) are second and third, respectively.

• Pioneers defensive back Larry Kendrick grabbed the league’s U.S. Army Ironman of the Week honors for Week 4 thanks in part to his game-breaking three fumble recoveries for touchdowns. Kendrick also grabbed two catches on offense for 15 yards, including a 5-yard touchdown catch. He’s tied for the team lead in scoring with 36 points.

UP NEXT

Manchester (1-2) at WBS (3-1)

WHEN: 7 p.m. today

WHERE: Wachovia Arena, W-BTwp.

RADIO: WILK (103.1-FM, 910-AM, 980-AM, 1300-AM)

WHAT’S AT STAKE: A win puts the Pioneers atop the American Conference East Division, a full game over Albany.