The expansion Daytona Beach ThunderBirds upset the Manchester Wolves, 56-42, for their first win of the season and the first in team history. The Wolves dropped their fourth straight game and second home test in front of 5,2000 disappointed fans at the Verizon Wireless Arena on Sunday afternoon.

Making his first start of the season in place of injured QB Brian Jones, James Pinkney completed 13 passes for 212 yards and four touchdowns. But it was his final throw of the game with 1.3 seconds remaining on the clock and Daytona Beach holding onto an eight-point lead that sealed the win for the ThunderBirds. With Manchester facing first-and-goal from the Daytona Beach 6-yard line and down 50-42, Pinkney’s pass intended for Emery Sammons was picked off in the end zone by Jacques Richardson and run back for the ThunderBirds final score.

The ThunderBirds, who came in ranked last in scoring in the af2 in the 29th spot, had no trouble putting points on the board against the Wolves defense. Daytona Beach QB Matt Bohnet had a banner day, completing 30 passes for 303 yards and four touchdowns while tacking on another two rushing touchdowns. Manchester, which dropped to 1-4 on the season, travels to Florida to take on the Firecats on Saturday, May 10th.

Scoring Summary                               1         2          3           4        Final      Record

Manchester Wolves                           13       13         10          6          42        Record: 1-4

Daytona Beach ThunderBirds              13       11         13        19          56        Record: 1-5

LEADERS:

PASSING: Pinkney (MAN) 13-19-2-212; Bohnet (DAY) 30-49-2-303

RECEIVING: Sammons, Emery (MAN) 5-116-2; Grier, Jeremy (DAY) 14-107-3

JLS Ironman of the Game: Bradly Chavez,  Manchester

Schutt Offensive Player of Game: Jeremy Grier, Daytona Beach

ADT Defensive Player of Game: Raquan Pride, Manchester

Cutters Catch of Game: Emery Sammons, Manchester

Attendance:  5,200