Pioneers place 4 on league’s all-af2 team

WILKES-BARRE TWP. – On a day where the league takes time to honor the individual, the mood was clearly on the team in the Pioneers camp.

Four Wilkes-Barre/Scranton players were honored Wednesday by being named to the all-af2 team with quarterback Ryan Vena, defensive lineman Isaac Hilton and defensive back Micheaux Robinson earning first-team recognition.

“Our guys are a little disappointed,” said Pioneers head coach Rich Ingold during a practice session at the Wachovia Arena, where the Pioneers (15-2) were preparing to face Tennessee Valley (11-6) in the semifinal round of the American Conference playoffs at 7:30 p.m. Saturday. The winner moves on to the American Conference championship game.

“Everyone tells us that we have AFL talent at every position, but they don’t get voted for it. I’m disappointed to not see more guys get voted for it.”

Tops on Ingold’s snub list were receivers J.J. Outlaw, Rich Musinski and Larry Kendrick. All three topped 1,000 yards receiving on the season and broke team records in nearly every receiving category.

The honorees weren’t phased by the awards. Robinson tied Chris Royal’s 2007 interception record of 14 with a pick in the final regular season game against Albany, and logged a team-high 78.5 tackles this season.

Even though it’s his name on the award, Robinson said he was accepting it for the entire defense.

“It’s definitely an honor,” he said. “But I don’t look too much into individual awards. It’s a team effort and without my guys up front I wouldn’t be able to do what I do.”

The defensive lineman said he knew he was having a good season, but the respect of other teams and coaches means a great deal to him.

“I give all credit to my defense,” said Hilton, who was third in the league in sacks with 15.5 for a total of 76 yards on the season. “This is a surprise.”

It was much the same story for Vena (264-379-12; 3,409 YDs, 87 TDs), who earned his second straight nomination to the all-af2 team and third overall after coming back to the Pioneers in the fourth game of the season from the New York Dragons of the AFL.

Vena said even though he was happy with being named to the all-af2 team, he’d trade in all three nominations in a second to hoist the ArenaCup trophy just once.

“I would trade it in a heartbeat,” said Vena. “It’s a credit to our team, our offensive line, our teammates. They’ve done a great job all season.”

QB—Ryan Vena – Pioneers; FB—Tim Murphy – Mahoning Valley; WR—Phillip Brock – Peoria; WR—P.J. Berry – South Georgia; WR—Jesse Schmidt – Quad City; C—Raymond McNeil – Green Bay; OL—Stephenol Santos – Green Bay; OL—Aqua Etefia – Green Bay; DL—Joe Sykes – Green Bay; DL—Eric Scott – Tennessee Valley; DL—Isaac Hilton – Pioneers; MLB—Gus Tyson – Green Bay; JLB—Bradly Chavez – Manchester; DB—Matt Forbes – Louisville; DB—Micheaux Robinson – Pioneers; DB—Roland Cola – South Georgia; K—Bob Forstrom – Green Bay; ST—P.J. Berry – South Georgia

QB—J.J. Raterink – Quad City; FB—Demetrius Forney – Louisville; WR—Kris Peters – Quad City; WR—Maurice Brown – Tennessee Valley; WR—Antwun Williams – Albany; C—Joe Villani – Pioneers; OL—Daniel Oliphant – Manchester; OL—Mike Dansby – Iowa; DL—Royce Morgan – Mahoning Valley; DL—Terrance Ford – Tennessee Valley; DL—Michael Lewis – Albany; MLB—Tyus Jackson – Quad City; JLB—John Tackmann – Mahoning Valley; DB—Donnie Amadi – Green Bay; DB—Nate Green – Green Bay; DB—Carlos Campbell – Florida; K—Nick Hayes – Tennessee Valley; ST—William Mulder – Lexington

QB—Kyle Rowley – Arkansas; FB—Jason Schule – Bossier-Shreveport; WR—Chris Denney – Arkansas; WR—Chavis McCollister – Bossier-Shreveport; WR—Raul Vijil – Spokane; C—Nick Codutti – Bossier-Shreveport; OL—Ryan Belcher – Spokane; OL—Chris Hollie – Bossier-Shreveport; DL—Ben McCombs – Central Valley; DL—Estus Hood – Austin; DL—Devon Parks – Spokane; MLB—Kamau Jackson – Austin; JLB—Mel Long – Austin; DB—Sergio Gilliam – Spokane; DB—Aaron Williams – Amarillo; DB—Phillip Geiggar – Bossier-Shreveport; K—Nick Gatto – Texas; ST—Ivory McCann – Corpus Christi

QB—Andy Hall – Austin; FB—Kamau Jackson – Austin; WR—Jeff Hughley – Tulsa; WR—Alvance Robinson – Lubbock; WR—John Roberson – Austin; C—Rico Ochoa – Spokane; OL—Kyle Young – Spokane; OL—Richard Seals – Boise; DL—Tito Hannah – Arkansas; DL—Shalom Tuimalealiifano – Lubbock; DL—Neal Purvis – Arkansas; MLB—Marvin Byrdsong – Bossier-Shreveport; JLB—Jamar Ransom – Tulsa; DB—James Todd – Texas; DB—Delenell Reid – Tulsa; DB—Terrance Sanders – Boise; K—Brian Hazelwood – Rio Grande Valley; ST—Jeff Hughley – Tulsa

Jamie A. Raub is a sports writer for The Times Leader. He may be reached at 970-7139.