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One-win Mahoning Valley yapping again

Thunder’s third head coach says his team can defeat East Division champion Pioneers.

By Dave Rosengrant drosengrant@timesleader.com
Sports Reporter

Bulletin board material always stirs things up when teams in the same division are playing.

The ongoing war of words between the Pioneers and Mahoning Valley Thunder is gaining more and more recognition every time the teams get together. And since the two meet at 7 p.m. today in Youngstown, Ohio, it was time for more banter.

Seven weeks ago when Wilkes-Barre/Scranton made the trek to Ohio, it was greeted with a testament from a MV receiver that the Pioneers weren’t as good as publicized.

The Pioneers answered by “not calling off the dogs” and won decisively 73-37. Now, they enter the state with a proclamation from new Thunder head coach Chris MacKeown.

Mahoning Valley’s third coach this season told The Vindicator newspaper in Youngstown the following:

“We believe that we can beat Wilkes-Barre. Going on a winning streak starts with this game and we will always believe that we can beat whoever comes into our building and Wilkes-Barre is no different.”

That got the juices flowing for the Pioneers (10-2) and head coach Rich Ingold.

“My team is looking at a 1-11 team. They should have learned their lesson last time we beat them by 50 and I didn’t call off the dogs,” Ingold said. “That team ain’t going anywhere. The coach wants to run his mouth let him do it. I’m gonna be the man and take the high road and just let our play do the talking.”

MacKeown’s squad has had a terrible season. He is only entering his fifth game with the Thunder. He was named head coach after interim coach Brennen Booth was moved back to defensive coordinator after being head coach for three games. Booth took over after Week 5 when Mike Hold was fired after more than two years on the job.

The team’s troubles are a lot deeper than the coaching situation. In the last two weeks, MV quarterbacks have combined to throw 15 interceptions, including 11 in a loss to Albany.

Going up against a lesser team, the Pioneers are hoping to remain at a high level of play and not get sloppy, especially since a win moves the team closer to wrapping up home-field advantage in the American Conference for the upcoming playoffs.

“Our guys know what’s at stake. They know the importance of playing at home,” Ingold noted. “They know what we’re playing for. We want to finish with the best record in our conference. There’s never a point when this game is meaningless and they know that.”

On the field for WBS, wide receiver Rich Musinski will see his first action since June 6. His ankles are fully healed and will start tonight.

He will give quarterback Ryan Vena another much-needed catcher to target. And Vena can use the help. Despite being just one rushing touchdown away from trying the af2 career record, the veteran has struggled in the last few games throwing the ball.

He began the season on a tear with a pass completion percentage of more than 69 percent. In his last three games, he has only been completing passes at a 61 percent clip, including a 59 percent showing in a loss to Tulsa.

“He’s missing some throws that are uncharacteristic of him, some wide open throws,” Ingold said of his QB. “We got to get him being more precise, more accurate and making every throw count. I know the kid is a competitor, it’s just that I got to evaluate our team and we need our quarterback to play better.”

A rebound by Vena this week and the rest of the season could make the team click on all cylinders once the playoffs begin at the end of July. The defense is second in the league in pass defense and third in scoring defense and total defense.

Up Next

WBS Pioneers (10-2)

at Mahoning Valley Thunder (1-11)

When: 7 p.m. today, Covelli Centre, Youngstown, Ohio

Radio: WILK (910-AM, 980-AM, 1300-AM, 103.1-FM), with Rob Neyhard

Internet: Live video streamed via af2 TV at www.niftytv.com

Game Notes: The Pioneers have never lost a game to the Thunder in seven games over the years. They have met twice already this season with the Pioneers outscoring MV 153-80. The Thunder are in the midst of an 11-game losing streak after beginning the season with a win over Albany.

Prediction: Pioneers 85-20

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