Pioneers Use Huge Defensive Effort To Knock Off Vipers
June 13, 2008 - arenafootball2 (af2)
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Pioneers News Release
(Wilkes-Barre) In a battle of two of the best defenses in the af2 it was the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Pioneers who asserted themselves in the second half as the Pioneers poured it on late to pull away with a hard fought 77-49 victory over the Tennessee Valley Vipers in front of 5479 at the Wachovia Arena.
The Pioneers outscored the Vipers 42-14 in the second half with a huge defensive effort. Micheaux Robinson intercepted two passes. The Pioneers also forced two fumbles on returned for a touchdown by Geisinger MVP Rich Musinski.
Ryan Vena finished the game 16 of 27 for 225 yards and six touchdowns and added two more rushing. A great job by the Pioneers offensive line of Joe Villani, Zach Love, Jason Acquaye and Jaden Volchoff, filling in for an injured David Dean, kept Vena upright and completing passes all game long.
The Pioneers got on the board early with a Ryan Vena touchdown pass tipped by JJ Outlaw to the waiting arms of Rich Musinski for the Cutters Catch of the Game. Musinski would finish with just that one eight yard touchdown catch.
The Pioneers' defense forced the second stop of the game when a pooched field goal was recovered by Alan Barnes on the 16 yard line. Ryan Vena quickly completed a touchdown pass to Larry Kendrick to put the Pioneers up 14-0; Kendrick would finish with 6 for 83 yards and three touchdowns. Tennessee Valley answered just as quick when Kevin Eakin found Alonzo Nix for a 30 yard touchdown pass. Nix had a big night leading the Vipers with 12 catches for 168 yards and three touchdowns.
The Vipers started the second quarter with Eakin's second TD pass to Alonzo Nix. Tennessee Valley defense stepped up on the next drive stopping the Pioneers and then blocking a Dave Davis field goal attempt. Two plays later it was a Kevin Eakin fade pass to Maurice Brown to tie the game at 21.
The Pioneers offense quickly came back from the stalled drive with a Ryan Vena 30 yard touchdown pass to Larry Kendrick. The Vipers tied the back and forth affair back up with a 38 yard touchdown pass to Alonzo Nix.
Ryan Vena two yard touchdown sneak to put the Pioneers up again, but with :38 seconds to go it was the Vipers going down the field quickly and Eakin was able to find Brown in the same corner of the end zone to send the game to the half tied at thirty-five.
The Pioneers defense stepped up in the third quarter Micheaux Robinson picked off Kevin Eakin in the end zone. The Pioneers quickly took advantage taking two plays to go 45 yards on a Ryan Vena touchdown pass to Schutt Offensive player of the game JJ Outlaw, who would finish with 8 catches for 106 and a TD. Then on a first down and goal Darius Leak forced a fumble that JLS Ironman of the Game Rich Musinski picked up and took to the house to put the Pioneers up 48-35.
With eleven minutes to go in the fourth quarter Tennessee Valley got on the board with a great diving touchdown catch by Gary Elliott to pull the Vipers within 48-42. Travis Blanchard then intercepted Ryan Vena on the next play; it was Elliott then finding Alonzo Nix in the end zone to give the Vipers the lead 49-48.
A pitch to JJ Outlaw results in a 6 yard touchdown run and put the Pioneers back on top 55-49. The Pioneers defense stepped up with Justin Parrish hitting Kevin Elliott and forcing a fumble picked up by his fellow sack brother Isaac Hilton. Ryan Vena would not waste the defenses gift finding Larry Kendrick for a quick touchdown pass. JJ Outlaw ran in the two point conversion to put the Pioneers up 63-49 with 2:57 to go. Micheaux Robinson than used his second pick of the game as a pick six to give the final margin.
Despite the two interceptions and the two fumbles Eakin did finish the game 29-49 for 351 yards and seven touchdowns.
The Pioneers move to 9-2 with their 17th straight win at home. They will be home again next week as the Manchester Wolves come to the Wachovia Arena for a grudge match Saturday night, June 21st at 7:30. Children 12 and under will receive a Pete the Pioneer bobblehead. For tickets visit the Wachovia Arena box office, call the Pioneers at 970-4232 or visit www.wbspioneers.com.
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