Consistency is key to victory
Michael Balakier
Friday May 3, 2002
Heading into the Pioneers’ final game against a non-divisional opponent, and their only home game of the month, head coach Terry Karg has set the goal this week for his team to play all four quarters of the football game.
“We have not played consistently,” said Karg. “The way I look at it is you got a deer in the headlight. I just want to play four quarters of good, sound football on offense, defense and special teams, and I want to get a win.”
Another part of the problem is the Pioneers inability to rack up the points. The Pioneers are averaging less than 30 points a game, which in arena football isn’t very good.
“We need to score some points,” Karg said. “We’ve had too many three and out’s and we’re losing the field position battle every week.”
This week’s game against the 2-2 Roanoke Steam marks a crucial game since it is the Pioneers only home game of the month as well as their last game against a non-divisional opponent. The remaining eleven games that the Pioneers have will be against Rochester, Albany, New Haven, and Mohegan.
What remains to be seen is if a Pioneers’ loss will send the team searching for the panic button. “We’re 0-4 and to go 0-5 would not be good,” said Karg.
On the bright side though, the Pioneers are only 0-1 in their division, which means that they can make up for lost ground with their remaining division games.
Kibble, Gary adjusting well to the arena game
Pioneers kicker Jimmy Kibble called his arena football debut a baptism by fire. That was three weeks ago, and since then, Kibble has started to adjust to the confines on the arena game as well as the dreaded obstacles of the First Union Arena.
“I fell a lot more comfortable,” Kibble said, “and my teammates have put a lot of confidence in me which gives me a little of an edge.”
Pioneers head coach Terry Karg also feels that Kibble has adjusted well to the indoor game.
“I think he’s doing a good job,” Karg said. “It’s unfortunate for him that we haven’t protected very well on field goals and PATs. That’s not his fault, but when we have protected him, he’s gotten better every week.”
Kibble may be thrilled that the Pioneers only have one home game this month. In his last home game, the First Union Arena seemed to get the better of him as some of his kickoffs and field goals struck the arena’s low ceiling and speakers.
However, Kibble has been fortunate lately playing road games at Albany and Greensboro, but says that he looks forward to overcoming the obstacles that the First Union Arena presents. “I was kind a spoiled at Albany and Greensboro with the high ceiling,” said Kibble, “but beating this arena is my main goal.”
Opio Gary is another arena football rookie who is adjusting quiet well to the indoor game. Last week against the Prowlers, Gary handled the returns for the Pioneers, averaging just under 25-yards a return.
Gary said that his performance brought praise from his teammates for doing the best job so far this year on returning the football.
Gary, who has been doing kick returning since high school, loves every chance his gets at returning the football.
“I love it,” Gary said. “I feel comfortable back there because whenever I’m back there I feel I can set a tone.”
As far as the nets of arena football go, Gary hasn’t had much trouble adjusting. “As long as they give me five yards, I don’t have a problem getting it off the net.”
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.
