Pioneers Win Home Opener
Jason Moyer
Saturday April 2, 2005
The Pioneers entered the season with some questions that needed answering, especially at quarterback. Tim Hicks led the team to a 13-3 record last season, a Northeast Division Championship, and one win away from the ArenaCup championship game.
However, Kyle Rowley was brought in after the team he played for last season ceased their operations. Rowley’s statistics were at the top of the league, despite playing for a team that did not win very many games.
Head Coach Les Moss chose to start Rowley in a decision that was tough for both he and his players.
"It was a gut wrenching decision for me and this team," Moss said. "Tim has a lot of good friends on the team, but I have to take my emotions out of it as a coach and play the guy that I think earned the job. I can’t go by what happened last year."
Rowley’s first pass attempt of the game was intercepted by Oklahoma City’s defensive specialist Gana Joseph as the team struggled to post only three first quarter points. The second quarter was a different story as the offense found its rhythm. Rowley and Thomas connected three times for scores as the Pioneers took a 32-27 lead into halftime.
The Pioneers continued their momentum in the third quarter scoring two quick touchdowns to extend their lead to 19 points, 46-27. Oklahoma City responded outscoring Wilkes-Barre/Scranton 20-7 during the end of the third quarter and the early stages of the final stanza to close the gap to 53-47.
Oklahoma City’s come back attempt came no closer, as Demetrius Austrum rumbled for a six yard score and Ameer Riley intercepted a Craig Strickland pass to preserve the victory for the Pioneers.
Asked to assess his team’s performance Coach Moss responded, "I thought we played excellently offensively and defensively. We can get a little better on special teams as far as kick coverage goes, but I thought we played an excellent game."
Inside the numbers:
JR Thomas was named Offensive Player of the Game. Thomas caught 10 passes for 172 yards and five touchdowns.
Demetrius Austrum earned US Army Ironman of the Game with a six-yard touchdown run and assisting on the lone sack of the game. Austrum had three total tackles, 1.5 of them for a loss of yardage.
Ameer Riley’s fourth quarter interception helped him garner the ADT Defensive Player of the Game award.
Kyle Rowley finished the game 17 of 24 for 266 yards with seven touchdowns; twice Oklahoma City’s Gana Joseph intercepted Rowley.
Oklahoma City kicker Dylan Pohlman nailed a 53-yard field goal as time expired before halftime.
Looking ahead:
The Pioneers return to the Wachovia Arena next Sunday to take on the Quad City Steemwheelers. The game kicks off at 4:00 pm.
Jason Moyer is an elementary school teacher in the western New Jersey area. He is an avid follower of the Arena Football League and has been covering the Philadelphia Soul with ArenaFan.com since 2005. Jason resides in Whitehall, PA with his wife and daughter.
