Victory keeps the Pioneers’ playoff door open
Michael Balakier
Sunday July 7, 2002
Pioneers head coach Terry Karg didn’t care how long the first drive took, as long as it resulted in a score.
“They (New Haven) scored early on that first drive and I wanted to make sure we matched it,” said Karg. “We came out a little bit sluggish, had a couple drops, but the guys hung in there.”
Karg also added that despite controlling the time of possession, offensive possessions are the more important statistic.
“Every time we stop them, that’s an advantage for us,” said Karg. “The advantage for the game tonight was we had some stops in the first half, and then we got the ball to start the second half, and we were already up fourteen points. The key is to have more offensive drives and capitalize on those drives.”
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton’s special teams play also played a major contributing factor in the victory. Pioneers kicker Jimmie Kibble, who went 1-2 on field goals and 4-5 on PATs, explained that the team had implemented a strategy earlier in the week to keep the ball away from New Haven’s Terrence Quattlebaum on kickoffs. Kibble executed this strategy by not standing as far back as he normally would on kickoffs so he could kick the ball higher and not as deep.
Obviously, the strategy was an effective one. Aside from Quattlebaum’s first return of 17 yards, he was held to a combined 9 yards on his next three. “I think it worked,” Kibble said.
Karg commended Kibble on his performance this week as well. “We had a good plan this week as far as covering,” said Karg. “Kibble kicked the ball pretty good for us.”
The Pioneers also made perhaps their biggest surprise play of the season, as they went for two points after their second touchdown of the game. However, at first sight, it seemed as if a botched snap forced holder John Knust to take off and run into the left corner of the end zone. But, after the game, Knust explained how the play was planned in advance.
“That was coach’s call and he wanted two points after the second touchdown and we got it done,” said Knust.
Despite being a long shot, Karg said that making the playoffs would be great, but his main goal is to control what his team does in their final two games of the regular season.
“I want to play with pride and come to work everyday and play our toes off on Saturday night,” said Karg. “We don’t control what Rochester does. Anything can happen but the bottom line is I want us to take care of us and what we have control of.”
As for the question of whether motivation will be a problem for the team if they are eliminated from post-season play, Knust perhaps put it best.
“If you have to get motivated at this point and you’re a professional athlete then I don’t know what to tell you,” said Knust. “These guys ought to come out and everybody expects to win and that what you play for.”
Game Notes
The touchdown that never was: With 6:20 left to play in the fourth quarter, Bryan Snyder connected with John Knust for a three yard touchdown pass which resulted in arguably the best touchdown celebration of the season for the Pioneers. Knust celebrated by grabbing a small boy out of the stands, placing him in the end zone and tried to get the boy to celebrate the touchdown by dancing. (Knust danced, but the boy didn’t) After Knust picked the boy up and placed him back in his seat, he proceeded to bow heads with center Brett Clark with their hands folded in something that looked similar to an oriental greeting.
The sad part is, however, that the whole celebration, in theory, never took place because of an offensive pass interference penalty that was called against Knust. After the game, Knust shared his comments on the touchdown that never was. “I’ve been wanting to do it all year long,” said Knust. “I’ve been wanting to bring a kid onto the field after I scored, but I wasn’t sure if I’d get fined. So, we’re gonna find out.” (Note to the af2 league office: since the play never actually took place because of the offensive penalty, there is no reason that Knust should be fined. Besides, celebrations like that should be encouraged. They pump up the crowd and that small boy will never forget and what John Knust did Saturday night.)
Practice makes perfect: The First Union Arena kept playing games Saturday night with Pioneers kicker Jimmie Kibble. After going through his first two phases of warm-ups, which consists of him kicking in sweats and then with his pads on, Kibble said that he was on fire. Then in his third phase of warm-ups, when Kibble comes out with the team and practices, Kibble said that it’s like he forgets how to kick, as he struggled to knock balls in-between the uprights. “I always go to the coaches, ‘I miss them before the game so I don’t miss them during the game’,” Kibble said.
The steel beams of the First Union Arena also gave Kibble a hard time against New Haven. On one of Kibble’s kickoffs, the ball bounced off one of the arena’s low steel beams. On Kibble’s next kickoff, it appeared as if the same thing was going to happen again. Except this time the ball sailed over the beam and was returned by New Haven to the 11 yard line.
Kibble explained his thoughts on the two kicks. “The first one I thought I hit good,” said Kibble. “The second one, when I saw it going up I stopped and said ‘oh not again’. So when it went over I said ‘oh, I better run back and cover now’.”
Michael Balakier first discovered a knack for writing during his senior year in high school while reporting for his school`s newspaper. Aside from being an Arenaball fan, Michael is an avid Syracuse University athletics follower, which poses a problem for him, as he attends the University of Pittsburgh. Michael plans on using what he has learned through his Arenafan experience to remain as impartial as he can during future Syracuse/Pitt events. Michael also serves as co-Editor of the af2 section of Arenafan Online.
