Wolves win first-ever home playoff game
August 4, 2006 - arenafootball2 (af2)
Manchester Wolves News Release
The Manchester Wolves (10-7) won their franchise's first ever home playoff game in a thrilling 55-47 first round win over East Division rival Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Pioneers (9-7) in front of 3,732 energetic fans on Brady Sullivan Field at Verizon Wireless Arena Friday night.
The receiving duo of WR/DB Wendell Williams and OS Ari Confesor more than made up for the absence of injured star OS Steve Gonzalez, who was limited to a few plays in the first quarter before leaving the contest for good. Confesor earned the Schutt Offensive Player of the Game honors after hauling in six passes for 114 yards and four touchdowns, all career highs for the af2 rookie. Williams, who earned the US Army Ironman of the Game Award, added eight catches for 125 yards and a touchdown, while collecting 2.5 total tackles and two pass deflections on defense.
The Pioneers jumped out to a 13-0 lead on an 11-yard touchdown catch and a pair of Doug Davis field goals. After trading touchdowns with the Pioneers, Manchester roared back to take a 21-20 lead going into halftime behind touchdown passes from QB Steve Bellisari to Marc Bacote and Williams. For the game, Bellisari completed 19-of-34 passes for 274 yards and seven touchdowns, while being intercepted once.
The Wolves took control of the game for good early in the third quarter, when DS William "Roc" Haith returned a missed Davis field goal 54 yards for a touchdown. The run was the second longest in af2 postseason history, just two yards shy of the record of 56. Haith, the ADT Defensive Player of the Game, added a pair of interceptions, 8.5 tackles and three passes defended in what was arguably in his best game of the season. His two interceptions tied the af2 postseason record for interceptions in a game, a record shared with 11 other players.
OS Yardon Brantley led the Pioneers with 10 catches for 136 yards with three touchdowns. Former University of New Hampshire signal caller QB Mike Granieri completed 25-of-44 passes for 289 yards, five touchdowns and a pair of interceptions. WR/DB Yaacov Yisrael added three catches for 70 yards and a touchdown, including a leaping fourth quarter, fourth down grab that earned him Cutters Catch of the Game honors.
The Wolves await the winner of Saturday night's playoff game between #3 Memphis and #6 Louisville, which will determine Manchester's second round opponent. If Memphis wins, the Wolves will travel to Florida to face the Firecats, a team they defeated at home earlier this season. If Louisville wins, the Wolves will travel to Green Bay to face the East Division champion Blizzard, which season series was tied at 1-1.
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