Pioneers prove they don't believe in curses

June 18, 2004 - arenafootball2 (af2)
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Pioneers News Release


Albany, N.Y., June 18, 2004 – The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Pioneers ended all suspicion that being the No. 1 ranked team in the af2 Coaches' Poll is a curse by defeating the Albany Conquest by a convincing 69-43 margin on Friday evening in front of 7,237 fans at the Pepsi Arena in Albany, N.Y. The Pioneers (9-2), alone in first place in the Northeast Division, became the first number one team in eight weeks to be victorious when holding the top spot in the Coaches' Poll.

Pioneers' QB Tim Hicks, the Baby Ruth Real Deal Offensive Player of the Game, was a stellar 20-of-24 passing for 288 yards with seven TD passes and no interceptions. He led his squad to a 42-7 halftime lead, the largest halftime deficit that the Conquest has faced in franchise history. Hicks threw five TD passes in the first half, including tosses of 16 and 21 yards to WR/DB Leroy McFadden on the teams' first two possessions in the opening quarter. Hicks' primary receiver, though, was offensive specialist J.R. Thomas catching nine passes for 89 yards with two TD catches.

Albany (4-7) mounted a brief comeback in the second half as they went on a 30-14 run, capped by a Timothy Perren one-yard TD run, his second of the game, with 10:45 left in the game, making the score 55-37. The 18-point deficit was the closest the Conquest got in the second half as Hicks responded with a 35-yard TD strike to Rocco Forgione putting the Pioneers ahead 62-37, before the two teams traded scores in the final minutes.

The Conquest were led by WR/DB Cy Butler, who continued to be a bright spot for the team catching a team-high eight passes for 106 yards, while also rushing for a touchdown. Albany scored five of their six touchdowns on the ground. In addition to Perren and Butler's scores, Rashon Burns found the endzone twice in second half, while rushing for a team-high 22 yards on eight carries.

Albany offensive specialist Tony Locke was held two just two catches for 53 yards, but managed to catch a 35-yard TD pass from Albany QB D. Bryant to start the Conquest's run early in the second half. Bryant was 19-of-35 passing for 245 yards with one TD pass and one interception.

As part of the games "Show Me Curves" dance contest put on by Liz Claiborne; Vicki and Ryan Rocheleau, Sabrina Pierce and Cordon Carlton, and Elizabeth Anselmo and Mark Ovdekerk, advanced to compete again in finals competition on July 23, the Conquest's final home game of the season. The winning couple of the dance contest will win a trip to Barbados.

The Albany Conquest will return home next weekend to play the Green Bay Blizzard on Friday, June 25 at Pepsi Arena in Albany, N.Y. in a game that will feature a full post-game concert by The Alabama Blues Brothers Band. Fans interested in buying tickets can do so at the Pepsi Arena Box Office or by calling TicketMaster at (518) 476-1000. More information is available by visiting www.albanyconquest.com.



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