Wolves lacking QB options
The Manchester Wolves played most of the second half without the services of the only two quarterbacks on their roster and fell to the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Pioneers, 63-38, at the Verizon Wireless Arena on Friday night.
The Wolves completed the arenafootballl2 league regular season with a 7-9 record and will be either the No. 7 or No. 8 seed in the playoffs. The Pioneers wrapped up their season with a 13-3 record and secured the top seed in the conference plus home-field advantage throughout the postseason.
Manchester suffered some bad breaks in the game, none more damaging than the loss of starting quarterback Mike Potts to a broken finger on his throwing hand. The injury occurred in the first half. Potts tried to play at the start of the second half with his fingers taped and while wearing a glove.
Back-up QB Willie Copeland, who has not thrown a pass this season, broke his foot early in the first quarter on a special teams play.
Wide receiver Steve Savoy took over behind center with 8:02 remaining in the third quarter and the Wolves trailing 42-26. It was his first appearance as a quarterback in an af2 game. Savoy completed two of three passes for 14 yards and one touchdown. He also rushed 12 times for 97 yards and one touchdown.
Pioneers quarterback Ryan Vena, a former af2 Offensive Player of the Year, had a record-setting night. Vena entered the game tied for most rushing touchdowns by a quarterback in af2 history and added to that total by rushing for his 88th career TD in the first quarter. Vena completed 19 of 27 throws for 260 yards and eight touchdowns with no interceptions.
The Wolves will begin postseason play on the road next weekend.
