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Wilkes-Barre Scranton Pioneers game notes

May 20, 2005 - arenafootball2 (af2)
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Pioneers News Release


QUICK FACTS:
Wilkes-Barre Scranton Pioneers (4-2)
@ Rio Grande Valley (3-3)
Date: Saturday, May 21st
Kickoff: 8:30 p.m. EST
Site: Dodge Arena (5,500)
National Anthem: TBA
Coin Toss: TBA
Referee- David Malone
Umpire- Eric Griffin
Head Linesman- Bradford Edwards
Line Judge- Wayne Winkler
Back Judge- Mike Williams

Radio: 980 AM - WILK
TV: None
Series Record: This will be the two teams' first meeting.
Last Meeting: N/A
Streaks: Pioneers W1
Dorados L1
Coaches:
Les Moss (WB/S)(2004 14-4, 2005 4-2)
Kevin Guy (RGV) (3-3)

THE STAKES: This will the first time the Pioneers and Dorados

THE SERIES: N/A

THE IFs:
If the Pioneers defeat the Dorados their record will improve to 5-2.
If the Pioneers defeat the Dorados, WBS will take a 1-0 series lead.
If the Pioneers defeat the Dorados their winning streak will extend to two games.


Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (4-2)
Date Opponent Result Score
4/1 OKLAHOMA --- W 59-47
4/10 QUAD CITY --- W 64-28
4/15 @ Albany --- W 57-34
4/22 LOUISVILLE --- L 50-58
4/30 GREEN BAY --- L 40-48
5/14 Quad City --- W 63-55
Date Opponent Time Streak Series
5/21 @ Rio Grande 8:30PM W1 N/A
5/27 MANCHESTER 7:30PM -
6/3 @Green Bay 8:00PM -
6/11 ALBANY 7:30PM -
6/18 @ Macon 7:30PM -
6/25 @ S. Georgia 7:30PM -
7/8 @ Manchester 7:30PM -
7/16 @ Florida 7:30PM -
7/23 ALBANY 7:30PM -
7/30 MACON 7:30PM -

Rio Grande Valley (3-3)
Date Opponent Result Score
4/9 LOUISVILLE --- L 56-42
4/16 @ Florida --- L 63-30
4/22 @ Bakersville --- W 40-32
5/2 BOSSIER CITY --- L 77-69
5/7 SAN DIEGO --- W 51-45
5/14 @CentralValley --- W 61-55
Date Opponent Time Streak Series
5/21 WILKES-BARRE 7:30PM W2 N/A
5/28 @ S. Georgia 6:30PM -
6/4 @ Oklahoma 6:30PM -
6/11 TULSA 7:30PM -
6/18 CENTRAL VALLEY 7:30PM -
6/24 @ San Diego 8:00PM -
7/9 @ Bossier City 7:00PM -
7/16 @ Tulsa 7:00PM -
7/23 OKLAHOMA 7:30PM -
7/30 BAKERSVILLE 7:30PM -

HEAD COACH: Les Moss, one of the most experienced and respected coaches in Arena Football history, will lead the Pioneers into the 2005 arenafootball2 season. This will be Coach Moss's second season with the Pioneers. He was awarded af2's Coach of the Year for the 2004 season while with the Pioneers. Coach Moss served as Assistant Coach/Director of Player Personnel for the AFL's Orlando Predators. During his career with Orlando, Moss helped guide the Predators to 11 playoff appearances, six ArenaBowl championship games, and two titles (1998 and 2000).
LAST SERIES MEETING: N/A

SERIES NOTABLES: This will be the first time the Pioneers square off against the Dorados.


TALE OF THE TAPE:
Statistical PIONEERS DORADOS
Category Rank Stat Rank Stat
Scoring Offense 2nd 55.2 8th 48.8
Scoring Defense 8th 45.5 17th 54.0
Total Offense 4th 278.0 12th 252.2
Total Defense 3rd 222 16th 281.0
Pass Offense 2nd 268.7 13th 227.8
Pass Defense 6th 208.7 13th 252.0
Rushing Offense 19th 9.3 6th 25.0
Rushing Defense 2nd 13.3 16th 29.0
Scoring (Non-Kick) 3rd 284 t-9th 252
Scoring (Kicking) 4th 47 t-8th 39
Pass Rating 5th 119.7 16th 97.1
Pass Def. Rating 9th 106.7 5th 101.6
Kickoff Returns 4th 22.8 t-19th 17.2
MFG Returns 18th 4.0 4th 14.8
Turnover Margin t-14th -.33 12th +.17
Field Goals 1st .667 t-6th .400
PAT Kicking 2nd .833 17th .724
Sacks By t-5th 10 t-5th 10
Sacks Against 1st 2 6th 5
First Downs t-4th 115 16th 104
Opp. First Downs t-14th 110 t-3rd 98
Penalties 11th 55.5 7th 51.2
Opp. Penalties 3rd 68.8 9th 60.2



PIONEERS INJURY REPORT:
Pos. Name Injury Status


THIS WEEK'S QUOTE: "This past game was a big win for us," stated Head Coach Les Moss. "Not only did we break our two game losing streak but it was a victory on the road. We have a lot more road games this season. Hopefully we can keep the wins coming."

DROPBACK: Steamwheelers Drop Second Straight, Fall 63-55 to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton
Pioneers Win Fourth Straight Over Quad City, Become First af2 Team Ever to Beat ‘Wheelers on Four Occasions

MOLINE, Ill. — The Quad City Steamwheelers suffered their second straight loss and fell to 3-3 on the season with a 63-55 defeat at the hands of the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Pioneers in front of 6,322 fans at OS Field at The MARK of the Quad Cities. Tim Dodge had 128 yards receiving on eight catches, including two of quarterback Sam Clemons' seven touchdown passes, but it was not enough to overcome the Pioneers who picked up their second win of the year over Quad City and their fourth straight overall.

The ‘Wheelers had a chance to send the game into overtime with a touchdown and two-point conversion, but Clemons was sacked at the Wilkes-Barre eight-yard line by David Barnard and Chris Ekwueme on the game's final play to send the Pioneers home from The MARK victorious for the second straight season.

In addition to Dodge's two scores, Jack Walker, Jr. also had a pair of scores while Travis Burns, Jeff Hewitt and Torey Morris all added single touchdown grabs from Clemons. The Quad City quarterback, who completed 26-of-35 passes for 310 yards, also added a rushing score to round out the ‘Wheelers scoring.

The turning point of the game came midway through the third quarter when, following a Pioneer score to go ahead 41-34, Burns fumbled the ensuing kickoff, giving Wilkes-Barre/Scranton the football near midfield. On the very next play, Kyle Rowley hooked up with JR Thomas on a 33-yard strike to give their squad a two score lead, an advantage that it would never relinquish. That was the fifth of Rowley's six touchdown passes on the evening, and the first of two to Thomas.

The two teams continued to trade scores for the rest of the second half, putting the ‘Wheelers in a position to win the game or at least send it to overtime. Clemons tallied a one-yard rushing score with 54 seconds left, but Ameer Riley returned the ensuing onside kick for a touchdown, stretching the Pioneer lead back to eight points where it would stay, though without some controversy. AJ Novak blocked the ensuing extra point and following a lengthy scramble, Antonio Watson picked up the loose ball and returned it for a score. However, the referee's conferred and ruled that the ball, after being blocked, caromed off of the side boards, making it a dead ball and keeping the score at 63-55.
.
The Pioneers will be back in action May 21st at Rio Grande Valley. The team will return home against the Manchester Wolves on May 27th at the Wachovia Arena. Single game and group tickets for that game are now on sale. Anyone interested in purchasing Pioneers tickets should call the team's ticket sale office at either (570) 270-5811 or (570) 270-5813. Tickets may also be purchased at the Wachovia Arena box office or online at Ticketmaster.com.

Offensive Player of the Game: Kyle Rowley (WBS)
ADT Defensive Player of the Game: Ronnie Kaymore (WBS)
U.S. Army Ironman of the Game: Tim Dodge (QCS)



FORWARD MOTION: This will be the Pioneers second straight game on the road. The team will return home May 27th, hosting the Manchester Wolves.

TEAM NOTES/TRENDS: The Pioneers have a large group of new faces with some key-returning players such as OS JR Thomas, WR DB Rocco Forgione, OL DL Jim Sodano, Chris Ekwueme and Ufuoma Pela along with DS Ronnie Kaymore and Jamie Hattley.
Wilkes-Barre snaps a two game losing streak with a victory at Quad City, May 14th.

PLAYERS/MATCHUPS TO WATCH:
QB-Kyle Rowley
OS-JR Thomas
DS-Ronnie Kaymore
WR/DB-Rocco Forgione
FB/LB-Taso Apostolidis
DS- Jamie Hattley

KEY DATES IN TEAM/LEAGUE HISTORY:
· September 19, 2001 – Wilkes-Barre/Scranton's af2 team becomes the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Pioneers.
· November 1, 2001 – Pioneers logo unveiled.
· November 21st – Carl Majer becomes the first player ever assigned to the Pioneers.
· April 1, 2002 – Receiver Jonathan Pittman and kicker Marc Samuel sign contracts with NFL teams (Tampa Bay and Buffalo) five days prior to opening night.
· April 6, 2002 – Pioneers open season at home to a sell-out crowd of 8,191. Pioneers lost to Greensboro 42-28.
· May 18, 2002 – Pioneers gain first victory in team history (47-43) against the New Haven Ninjas at the New Haven Coliseum.
· August 14, 2004- Pioneers win their first playoff game in franchise history against Cape Fear 40-37.




GAME MVP AWARD (selected by media)
Week Opp. Player
7 QCS Kyle Rowley (WBS)- Offensive
7 QCS Ronnie Kaymore (WBS)- Defense

GAME IRONMAN AWARD (selected by media)
Week Opp. Player
7 WBS Tim Dodge (QCS)




RECENT ROSTER MOVES (most recent first):
Date Action Player
5/12 Traded from SDG James Parham
5/16 Placed on suspension Ufuoma Pela



arenafootball2 Stories from May 20, 2005


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

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