Pioneers Get Past Albany/

By JOE PETRUCCI [email protected]
Sunday, July 24, 2005 Page: 7C

WILKES-BARRE TWP. — The first 30 minutes of the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton
Pioneers’ arenafootball2 game against the Albany Conquest on Saturday at
Wachovia Arena seemed as long as the recent 42-day stretch in which the
Pioneers played all four of their games on the road.

But at some point during halftime in their locker room, the Pioneers
realized how good it could feel to return home.
Bryan Snyder threw four second-half touchdown passes, including three to
Rocco Forgione, and the Pioneers defense clamped down on Albany to erase a


The Pioneers (8-7), who had lost three of their last four games (all on the
road), kept their hopes alive to host a first-round playoff game, pending
Green Bay’s game against Florida on Saturday. Green Bay was leading 37-33 at
press time. The Pioneers, who entered the weekend as the sixth and final seed
in the American Conference playoffs, must win next week and need Green Bay and
Macon to lose at least once.

The Pioneers close out the regular season at home next Saturday against
Macon. Albany, which won the highest scoring game in af2 history last week —


Wilkes-Barre/Scranton and Albany traded touchdowns and the lead during the
final 10 minutes. Trailing 47-46, the Pioneers scored on the first play of
their drive with 1:41 remaining when Snyder hit a streaking Forgione in the
end zone from 18 yards out.

The Pioneers defense, which didn’t stop Albany’s dangerous offense at all
in the first half, then put an exclamation point on its second-half dominance.
After Albany gained 13 yards on first down, the Conquest lost yards on their
next two plays. Fullback Karleton Thomas was stopped for a 1-yard loss and
then Jurron Kelly made a great tackle of receiver Jeremiah Pope, who caught a
quick swing pass and was thrown for a 5-yard loss.

Albany quarterback D. Bryant then misfired on third and fourth down and the
Pioneers closed out the final 15 seconds to snap their two-game losing streak.

The Pioneers played for the second time this season without head coach Les
Moss, who was hospitalized Friday with what appeared to be a non-serious
ailment. Offensive coordinator Terry Karg assumed the head coaching duties and
also called the defense.

Albany scored on all six of its first-half possessions to take a 40-27
lead, but the Pioneers held the Conquest on their first three possessions of
the second half. Meanwhile, the Pioneers scored on three of their first four
possessions in the final 30 minutes. Snyder and Kelly connected on a 14-yard
touchdown pass to draw within 40-33 at 10:48 of the third quarter.

Albany faced a third-and-two on its next possession when linebacker Taso
Apostolidis jarred the ball loose from Pope. The ball touched the
out-of-bounds line at the back wall of the end zone and the Pioneers took
over.

Four plays later, Snyder threw a perfect ball to Forgione for a 34-yard
touchdown. The extra-point attempt failed because of a bad snap and the
Pioneers still trailed 40-39.

But Jamie Hattley intercepted Bryant on Albany’s next possession and after
Pioneers kicker David Davis missed a 56-yard field goal, Ufuoma Pela sacked
Bryant on fourth down. That set up a 13-yard Snyder-to-Forgione scoring strike
that gave the Pioneers their first lead of the game, 46-40.

Macon at Pioneers



Wachovia Arena