Wolves Head Coach Needs Two More Wins To Become Fourth af2 Coach All-Time to Reach 50 Wins

Tuesday May 1, 2007

Manchester Wolves Head Coach Ben Bennett will be looking for a early birthday present this Friday, in the shape of a 'W' in the win column, when his team travels to Wilkes-Barre Scranton, Pennsylvania for a rematch against the undefeated Pioneers (4-0) at 7:00pm at the Wachovia Arena.

A win would not only bring the Wolves to above .500 for the first time this season at 3-2, but would up Bennett's all-time win total one step closer to the coveted 50-win plateau. Bennett currently sits at 5 th all-time in the arenafootball2 league with his 48 wins while his adversary Rich Ingold, head coach of the Pioneers, is one win behind him at 47. Both Bennett and Ingold are entering their fifth seasons as head coaches in the af2.

"Rich is like me, he's an Arena Football lifer," said Bennett. "He's a good coach that always has his team well prepared."

Bennett, who turns 44 on Cinco De Mayo (Saturday May, 5 th), has his Wolves riding a current two-game win streak with victories against the Fort Wayne Fusion (54-41) and the previously undefeated Mahoning Valley Thunder (67-49) in back-to-back weeks at home on Brady Sullivan Field at the Verizon Wireless Arena in Manchester, N.H.

The Wolves and Pioneers, who will face off for the 17th time this Friday, kicked off their respective 2007 seasons against each other back on March 31 in Wilkes-Barre with the Pioneers claiming a 50-36 victory. Bennett though has never lost back-to-back games versus Ingold and is currently 3-2 all-time against him. The all-time series between the Wolves and Pioneers is knotted up at 8-8.

"We've played each other numerous times now so we have both picked up on each other's tendencies," added Bennett on Ingold's play calling. "However the basics are still the same in this game; you have to protect your quarterback, knock theirs down and win the turnover battle."

Manchester will enter the rematch with their new gunslinger Ryan Porter who is now 2-0 as a starter after throwing for 449 yards and 14 touchdowns while rushing for one touchdown in the Wolves back-to-back wins. Porter will go against af2 veteran Ryan Vena who has thrown for 974 yards, 24 touchdowns and no interceptions in the Pioneers four wins. Vena ( 133.6 rating) and Porter (132.7) are currently the top two rated quarterbacks in the af2 respectively.

Fans can watch all the action live on the B2 Networks for just $6.00 or can listen live on TEAMLINE by visiting www.manchesterwolves.com or by tuning their radio dial to WFEA 1370AM.

Don't miss another exciting action-packed season of Manchester Wolves football in 2007! For information on tickets, or the casting call fans can contact the Wolves at 603.627.WOLF (9653) or visit them on the web at www.manchesterwolves.com.