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Team hoping for better results after suffering loss following its last bye week.
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton kicker David Davis felt something he didn’t expect to last Saturday night.
Davis said an odd sense of calm fell over him when he was lining up the 19-yard field goal with only three seconds left in a tie game.
The kick sailed through the uprights at the Germain Arena in Estero, Fla., as time expired and the Pioneers (11-2) won the East Division championship and secured home-field advantage throughout the American Conference playoffs.
“Times before that, I would be a nervous wreck,” said Davis of his game-winning kick in a 59-56 win against the Florida Firecats (8-4). “But this time I was excited. What gave me confidence was knowing that (Pioneers quarterback Ryan Vena) was going to get the ball down and the line in front of me was going to protect me.”
Davis has been a one of several constants for the Pioneers since his return to the team following an eight-game stint with the L.A. Avengers of the AFL earlier in the season. He says the experience has paid off.
“It was a real boost for my confidence,” Davis said. “Those eight games I played with the Avengers and even the games I’ve played here since, I just feel like I’ve gotten a big boost from that.”
Riding high from perhaps the most important win of the season at Florida, the Pioneers will have a week off to enjoy the Independence Day weekend before returning to practice Monday.
They’ll prepare for a lackluster Peoria team this week as the schedule takes a dive in terms of quality teams. After the Pirates, they’ll face Mahoning Valley and then Albany on the road.
The Pioneers have accumulated five wins from those three teams this season, winning by an average of 35 points a game.
But bye weeks can wreak havoc on a team’s momentum. Following its last bye week, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton dropped a 70-63 decision at Manchester. After the game, head coach Rich Ingold said he saw a decidedly different team take the field.
“When I saw them take the field (in the loss to Manchester), there was no edge, no nastiness,” he said. “It was like I was looking at a completely different team.”
This time, there shouldn’t be any surprises.
The Pioneers appear to have their swagger back, riding a four-game winning streak heading into the July 12 game against the Pirates.
“The guys feel really good,” said Davis. “They’ve faced adversity being down 21 points, getting the job done and coming back. After the bye week, we want to pick up where we left off. Coach (Ingold) realizes that. He’s said a bunch of times before we left we’re going to take it one day at a time.”
Walking the plank
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton’s next opponent, the Peoria Pirates, boast one the worst offenses in the af2.
In last week’s 61-33 loss to Lexington, Peoria’s scoring unit yielded a fumble that was recovered for a touchdown, an interception that was returned for a touchdown, and a safety. Lexington also recovered a fumble on Peoria’s 1-yard line and punched it in with a run on the next play.
The Pirates’ offense has allowed nine touchdowns on fumble and interception returns. Their line has surrendered two safeties and nine times opponents have scored touchdowns on drives started inside Peoria’s 10-yard line following fumbles, interceptions or failed fourth-down tries.
The Peoria offense is ranked 26th in scoring, averaging only 40 points per game, and 22nd in turnover margin (minus-8).
Playoff picture
With last weekend’s win over the Firecats, the Pioneers guaranteed themselves the No. 1 spot in the American Conference playoff standings, as well as home-field advantage throughout the playoffs.
Louisville (7-6) is the current eighth seed and would play the Pioneers in the first round of the playoffs. The Fire is also on a bye this week, as is most of the league, but return to action July 12 against Albany (4-9). If Louisville wins and No. 7 Quad City (7-6) loses to third-seeded Green Bay (9-4), the Fire will take over the No. 7 seed, giving the Pioneers a matchup against Quad City in the first round on Aug. 2.
The Pioneers split the season series with Quad City, losing their season-opener, 48-41, and beating the Steamwheelers, 84-26, on May 10.