Blizzard bashes Thunder, 69-27; Clenton Rafe increases TD output

GREEN BAY, Wis. — The Mahoning Valley Thunder turned the ball over on the second snap from scrimmage and never recovered.

Friday, the Thunder fell behind 14-0 in the opening stanza before dropping their 10th game of the season, losing to the Green Bay Blizzard 69-27 in an af2 game.

A Melvin Matlock 58-yard kick return for a score provided a late first-quarter spark for the Thunder, but three turnovers proved to be too much to overcome.

The Thunder (2-10) scored just six second-half points. Thunder wideout Clenton Rafe, the reigning af2 offensive player of the week, was a bright spot, scoring two more TDs to give him 13 in the past three games.

Blizzard QB Collin Drafts threw for four scores in just over two quarters of work and was not intercepted, helping Green Bay take a 38-21 halftime lead.

Green Bay scored on all 11 of its offensive possessions before running the clock out on the final snap of the game.

Shane Adler made his fifth start of the season for the Thunder and failed to ignite the offense.

Adler passed for two touchdowns and was intercepted twice. Mahoning Valley’s John Tackmann added his 12th rushing TD of the season.

Mahoning Valley hosts the Louisville Fire on Friday.