Wolves rebound at home
Quarterback James Pinkney completed 21 of 30 passes for 282 yards and seven touchdowns to lead the Manchester Wolves to a 56-42 triumph over the Mahoning Valley Thunder on Friday night at the Verizon Wireless Arena.
The victory ended Mancheste's three-game losing streak and improved the team's record to 4-4. The Wolves are 6-0 in the all-time series against the Thunder.
Mahoning Valley dropped to 1-7 and has not won since af2's opening weekend. The Thunder has lost 16 consecutive road games.
Pinkney delivered the ball to each of his three receivers, including Patrick Rouzard, who returned to the Wolves this week after playing the entire 2007 season for Manchester. Rouzard made six catches for 97 yards. Manchester's Deyon Williams made a game-high eight catches for 86 yards and three touchdowns.
Manchester linebacker Martel Vanzant, who is the only deaf player in any professional football league, recorded seven solo tackles, recovered a fumble in the end zone to prevent the Thunder from scoring, and broke up one pass.
Thunder quarterback Blake Powers, who threw two touchdown passes, was replaced by Davon Vinson in the first half. Vinson, who was also Mahoning Valley's leading risher, competed 17 of 27 passes for 195 yards with one touchdown and a fourth-quarter interception. Quorey Payne was Mahoning Valley's leading receiver with eight catches for 115 yards and one touchdown.
The Wolves led 35-21 at halftime and took complete control by scoring on the second half's opening possesion. The TD came on a 13-yard pass from Pinkney to Williams.
