Wild can't catch up

If only they had a few more minutes.

The visiting Maryland Maniacs came out with an offensive scheme the Wild had trouble containing early Thursday night and built a big enough lead to beat the home team 49-40 before an estimated crowd of 2,000 at Sullivan Arena.

"One more quarter and I think we would have pulled it out," said Earl Mason, who made his Wild debut at quarterback midway through the game.

The Wild trailed by as many as 21 points but slowly clawed back in the fourth quarter and trimmed Maryland's lead to nine points with 18 seconds to go on Mason's 5-yard touchdown run.

But Maryland's early touchdowns were too much for Alaska to overcome. Maniacs quarterback Bryson Spinner dominated the Wild's shaky pass defense on 16-of-23 passing for 104 yards and four touchdowns.

The win was significant for the Maniacs (1-2), a first-year franchise. Not only did they win for the first time, they came out strong after losing to host Fairbanks by 31 points last week.

Meanwhile, the loss was frustrating for the Wild, who dropped to 0-2 and into a last-place tie with Colorado in the Pacific Division of the Intense Conference.

Mason, an Alabama native playing in his first indoor football game, remained optimistic.

"I think next week you'll see a totally different team," he said. "We'll have a little more time to gel."

Chances are good he will replace Thursday's starting quarterback, Jamie Williamson, who hardly did himself any favors to win the support of the hometown crowd.

The former player from Coastal Carolina College was already on thin ice after getting pulled two weeks ago in the season opener against Fairbanks.

Coach Floyd Johnson gave Williamson another chance Thursday, but it wasn't pretty. Williamson was booed off the field after an atrocious first half.

With the Wild on their own 7-yard line, Williamson fumbled in the end zone with 56 seconds left in the first quarter for a Maryland safety.

The Wild got the ball back after DeMarcus James blocked a Maryland field goal, but Williamson fumbled the snap on third-and-1, which led to a Maryland touchdown and a 15-7 Maniacs lead.

On the Wild's next possession, Maryland forced Williamson out of the pocket on third-and-6 and sacked him for a 10-yard loss with 5:48 to go in the half.

That was apparently enough for Johnson's taste buds.

At 2:58 of the second quarter, Johnson replaced Williamson with Mason, who made the Wild's coaching staff look like geniuses.

On Earl's second play from scrimmage, he threw a 27-yard touchdown strike to Solomon Jones, which cut Maryland's lead to 21-14 with 1:48 left.

"It was my first (indoor) game, but not my first time behind center," said Mason.

The Maniacs responded with back-to-back touchdowns to take a 35-14 lead, but that didn't keep the Wild from trying to grind out their first win.

The Wild started the third quarter on a mission, marching 37 yards downfield and scoring on Paul Mosley's 5-yard touchdown run. Mosley's fourth rushing touchdown of the season pulled the Wild within two touchdowns.

DeMarcus James ran back a 54-yard kickoff and Mason's 5-yard touchdown with 18 seconds to go in regulation put the Wild within nine points.

Mason finishing 6-of-15 for 64 yards and two touchdowns.

The Wild get another shot at Maryland next week when they travel to Laurel, Md., and face the Maniacs for one of the longest road trips of the season.

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Find Kevin Klott online at adn.com/contact/kklott or call 257-4335.

Maryland 9 18 16 6 -- 49

Wild 7 7 7 19 -- 40

First Quarter

Wild -- Williamson 5 run (Tongate), 12:25.

Maryland -- Moss 17 pass from B. Spinner (Willis kick), 7:53.

Maryland -- Safety, 0:56.

Second Quarter

Maryland -- Bryant 15 pass from B. Spinner (kick failed), 8:18.

Maryland -- B. Spinner 3 run (pass failed), 3:26.

Wild -- Jones 27 pass from Mason (Tongate kick), 1:48.

Maryland -- Overton 10 pass from B. Spinner (pass failed), 0:11.

Third Quarter

Maryland -- B. Spinner 8 run (Overton pass from B. Spinner), 11:48.

Wild -- Mosley 5 run (Tongate kick), 7:43.

Maryland -- Moss 7 pass from B. Spinner (Moss pass from B. Spinner), 1:59.

Fourth Quarter

Wild -- Mosley 5 pass from Mason (Tongate kick), 11:28.

Maryland -- Overton 3 run (pass failed), 2:37.

Wild -- James 54 kickoff return (pass failed), 2:24.

Wild -- Mason 5 run (pass failed), 0:18.