Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Pioneers Down Manchester Wolves 69-40 

The Manchester Wolves were outplayed in every phase of the game as the Pioneers beat them 69-40 in Wilkes-Barre, Pa. on Saturday night while halting the Wolves four-game winning streak and making Manchester's road to the arena football2 playoffs a little rockier.

  The Wolves were guilty of mistakes, miscues, fumbles, incompletions, interceptions, and penalties as they dropped to 5-7. The Pioneers improved to 10-2, clinched the American Conference East Division title, and assured themselves of a home game during the first round of the playoffs. The win was the Pioneers 18th consecutive home victory, which is the second longest streak in af2 history.

  Pionneers quarterback Ryan Vena showed why he is the defending af2 Schutt Offensive Player of the Year as he picked apart the Wolves defense throughout the night for 20 completions of 32 attempts for 251 yards and seven touchdowns. Vena kept alive his personal streak of never losing a game as the starter at the Wachovia Arena.

  Wolves quarterback James Pinkney, who had been instrumental in bringing Manchester back from a 1-6 start while rarely turning the ball over, served up four interceptions and was sacked repeatedly while under constant pressure from the Pioneers heavy pass rush. Pinkney, who finished the night with 19 completions of 37 tries for 259 yards and four passing touchdowns plus one rushing score, did engineer two fourth quarter scoring drives to bring the Wolves to 62-40, but it wasn't enough to keep pace with the Pioneers.

  Once Vena headed for the bench with about 30 seconds left to play following the Pioneers recovery of an onside kick, back-up quarterback Matt Schrabert put another nail in the Wolves coffin with a two-play drive capped by a 10-yard scramble for the final score and the 69-40 win.

  The Wolves return home next Friday night to face the Albany Conquest on Brady Sullivan Field at the Verizon Wireless Arena and face a must win situation as they battle for a playoff spot.  

Scoring Summary: 1 2 3 4 Final Record

MANCHESTER WOLVES 6 13 7 14 40 5-7

W-B/S PIONEERS 21 24 7 17 69 10-2  

Passing:

Pinkney (MAN): 19-37-259- 4 INT-4 TDs

Vena (WBS): 20-32-1 INT-7 TDs  

Receiving:

  (MAN): Savoy 8-134-3 TDs

  (WBS): Kendrick 10-140-3 TDs  

Schutt Offensive Player of Game: Larry Kendrick (WBS) ADT Defensive Player of Game: Justin Parrish (WBS) JLS Ironman of Game: Rich Musinski (WBS) Cutters Catch of Game: Rich Musinski (WBS)