PASSING GAME AND STAUNCH

DEFENSE LEAD THUNDER PAST

OHIO FOR THIRD STRAIGHT VICTORY.

BY JON GERAMITA JGERAMITA@NCNEWSONLINE.COM

CLEVELAND -- Who says quarterback is the toughest position to play in all of sports? When you have Pat Cain and Manuel Johnson to throw to, the job is pretty simple -- just get them the ball. Led by quarterback Josh Orr and his two stellar receivers, the New Castle Thunder won its third straight game Saturday, beating the Ohio Invaders 34-15 at James Ford Rhodes field in Cleveland. Orr was on all night for the Thunder. He went 14-for-20 for 198 yards and three touchdowns. Two of those scores went to Johnson. "I think we opened up the passing game tonight," Orr said. "We still have a long way to go but we did pretty good tonight." The Thunder stormed out of the gates to take a 14-0 lead in the first quarter and never looked back. Steve Cupec got things started on the Thunder's first drive, running for a nine-yard touchdown on a sweep. Later in the quarter, Orr hit Johnson down the seam of Ohio's defense for a 38-yard strike to put the Thunder up 14-0. Johnson, a wide receiver, joined the team last week and saw his first action last night. He caught two passes for 78 yards and had two scores. "I'm still a little rusty," said Johnson, a counselor in Erie. "I'm still learning everything, like the playbook, but my coaches and teammates welcomed me and helped me out a lot." The Thunder, up 14-7 late in the second quarter, scored again when Cupec's halfback option pass was hauled in by Cain in the back of the end zone. On the Invaders' next play from scrimmage, Thunder cornerback Josh Vannatten, who earlier recovered a fumble, picked off a Ray Henderson pass and returned it 50 yards until he was knocked out at the one yardline. Three plays later, Orr found Cain in the back of the end zone again, this time from eight yards out, to give the Thunder a commanding 27-7 lead at the half. "The passing game is opening up," said Cain, who led the Thunder with eight catches for 82 yards and two scores. "Josh Orr is stepping up and working hard in practice and finding me in games." The talented tight end also was impressed with Johnson. "He opens things up for me and is doing a good job for us." Johnson's second touchdown was one for the highlight reel. On a first-and-15 from the Invaders' 38, Orr dropped back and threw the ball into double coverage to Johnson. As the two defenders and Johnson went up for the ball, the ball was tipped by an Ohio safety and dropped into Johnson's hands as he fell into the end zone. The score was 34-7 and the rout was on. Although overshadowed by the offense, the Thunder defense had another outstanding game. New Castle held the Invaders to just 52 total yards in the first half and continually put pressure on Henderson. The Thunder recorded five sacks and recovered two Ohio fumbles. New Castle moved to 3-1 overall and 2-1 in the Grass Roots Division of the North American Football League. The Thunder plays next week against the Columbus Fire in Columbus.