The 2009 Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Pioneers season was the team's eighth season of arena football. The Pioneers made another attempt to return to the ArenaCup after falling out of the playoff race for ArenaCup IX. The team signed many key players from the 2008 campaign, including quarterback Ryan Vena and defensive lineman Alan Barnes.
The Pioneers returned to the ArenaCup, but lost to the Spokane Shock 74–27.
Rosters
Training camp Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Pioneers 2009 training camp rosterQuarterbacks
Ryan Vena
Receivers Irving Campbell James Lukowiak Rich Musinski J. J. Outlaw Jarrett Smith
Kickers David Davis Offensive linemen Mike Butterworth Jaden Volchoff
Defensive linemen Troy Blackwell Justin Parrish
Offensive/Defensive linemen Brandon Cook Randy Degg Kalani Heppe Jacob Hobbs Eugene Newsome Joe Villani Monroe Weekley Deon McPhee Fullbacks/Linebacker Jason Acquaye Brett Albanesius Matthey Brunck Charles Bryant Kirby Griffin Cory Lacek Darius Leak Adam Lipiski
Wide receivers/Defensive backs Allan Barnes LaBrose Hedgemon Joshua Taylor
Wide receivers/linebackers Larry Kendrick Jermaine Moye Defensive backs Darrell Carlton Barry Drakeford Clay Hamblin Dionte Henry Raymond Lamb Micheaux Robinson
Injured reserve
Week 1 Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Pioneers 2009 Week 1 rosterQuarterbacks Ryan Vena Joe DeLuise
Receivers Rich Musinski J.J. Outlaw James Lukowiak Irving Campbell
Kickers David Davis Defensive linemen Justin Parrish Troy Blackwell
Offensive/Defensive linemen Joe Villani Eugene Newsome Jacob Hobbs Royce Morgan Brandon Cook Deon McPhee Keith Glover Fullbacks/Linebacker Darius Leak Kirby Griffin Cory Lacek Adam Lipski Jason Acquaye
Wide receivers/Defensive backs LaBrose Hedgemon Allan Barnes
Wide receivers/linebackers Larry Kendrick Defensive backs Micheaux Robinson Darrell Carlton
Injured reserve
Final roster Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Pioneers RosterQuarterbacks Joe DeLuise Ryan Vena
Fullbacks Kirby Griffin
Wide receivers Irving Campbell Rich Musinski J. J. Outlaw Antwun Williams Offensive linemen Jacob Hobbs Eugene Newsome Joe Villani
Defensive linemen Troy Blackwell Keith Glover Deon McPhee Royce Morgan Justin Parrish Linebacker Larry Kendrick Darius Leak
Defensive backs Allan Barnes LaBrose Hedgemon Micheaux Robinson Christopher Royal
Kickers David Davis Inactive Jason Acquaye LB Tutu Ferguson James Lukowiak Cory Lacek Brandon Cook
Source:
Updated 2009-07-11
Team staff Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Pioneers 2009 team staff Executive Administration Owner – Cosmo DeNicola CFO-Susan DiBrango General manager – Joe Shaughnessy Executive assistant to the Owner – Natalie Scarantino
Coaching staff Head coach/Director of football operations – Rich Ingold Assistant coach – Les Moss Assistant head coach and Defensive coordinator – Jake Grande Offensive and Defensive Line Coach – Joe DeMelfi
Schedule
Regular season Week Kickoff Date Opponent Result Record Game site af2.com Recap 1 7:30 PM EDT March 27, 2009 Manchester Wolves W 59-28 1-0 Wachovia Arena af2.com recap 2 7:30 PM EDT April 3, 2009 Albany Firebirds W 70–28 2–0 Wachovia Arena af2.com recap3 7:00 PM EDT April 11, 2009 Kentucky Horsemen L 63–56 2–1 Rupp Arena af2.com recap4 7:30 PM EDT April 18, 2009 Mahoning Valley Thunder W 80–43 3–1 Wachovia Arena af2.com recap5 7:00 PM EDT April 25, 2009 Albany Firebirds W 70–26 4–1 Times Union Center af2.com recap6 7:30 PM EDT May 1, 2009 Manchester Wolves W 53–505–1 Wachovia Arena af2.com recap7 7:05 PM EDT May 8, 2009 Mahoning Valley Thunder W 73–37 6–1 Chevrolet Centre af2.com recap8 Bye9 7:30 PM EDT May 23, 2009 Green Bay Blizzard W 69–19 7–1 Wachovia Arena af2.com recap10 7:30 PM EDT May 30, 2009 Tennessee Valley Vipers W 48–34 8–1 Wachovia Arena af2.com recap11 8:00 PM EDT June 6, 2009 Tulsa Talons L 66–48 8–2 BOK Center af2.com recap12 7:30 PM EDT June 11, 2009 Manchester Wolves W 63–34 9–2 Verizon Wireless Arena af2.com recap13 7:30 PM EDT June 20, 2009 Central Valley Coyotes W 58–20 10–2 Wachovia Arena af2.com recap14 7:05 PM EDT June 27, 2009 Mahoning Valley Thunder W 62–47 11–2 Covelli Centre af2.com recap15 Bye16 10:00 PM EDT July 11, 2009 Spokane Shock L 56–52 11–3 Spokane Arena af2.com recap17 7:30 PM EDT July 18, 2009 Albany Firebirds W 49–40 12–3 Wachovia Arena af2.com recap18 7:30 PM EDT July 24, 2009 Manchester Wolves W 63–38 13–3 Verizon Wireless Arena af2.com recap
Postseason Week Kickoff Date Opponent Result Record Game site af2.com Recap1 7:00 PM EDT August 1, 2009 Albany Firebirds W 78–21 1–0 Wachovia Arena af2.com recap2 7:00 PM EDT August 8, 2009 Kentucky Horsemen W 82–49 2–0 Wachovia Arena af2.com recap3 7:00 PM EDT August 15, 2009 Green Bay Blizzard W 72–67 3–0 Wachovia Arena af2.com recap4 10:00 PM EDT August 22, 2009 Spokane Shock L 27–74 3–1 Orleans Arena
Final standings American Conference East Division Team Overall DivisionWinsLossesPercentageWinsLossesPercentage Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Pioneers 12 3 .812 10 0 1.000 Manchester Wolves 7 9 .438 4 7 .364 Albany Firebirds 7 9 .438 4 6 .400Mahoning Valley Thunder 2 14 .125 2 7 .222
Attendance Week Opponent Attendance 1 Manchester Wolves 4,781 2 Albany Firebirds 5,067 4 Mahoning Valley Thunder 4,718 6 Manchester Wolves 4,913 9 Green Bay Blizzard 6,058 10 Tennessee Valley Vipers 5,472 13 Central Valley Coyotes 5,178 17 Albany Firebirds 7,050 Playoff Opponent Attendance1 Albany Firebirds 2,4742 Kentucky Horsemen 2,9803 Green Bay Blizzard 5,863 Total 54,554Average 4,960
External links ArenaFan Online 2009 Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Pioneers schedule ArenaFan Online 2009 af2 standings ArenaFan Online 2009 af2 attendance