By Marc Thaler
Staff Writer

Observer/Marc Thaler The Manchester Wolves, the defending arenafootball2 East Division champions, showcase their offense during a recent scrimmage with the Albany Conquest at Milford’s Hampshire Dome.

The Manchester Wolves of arenafootball2 are, fittingly, a hit with many Neighborhood teens.

Several reasons exist for the Wolves' increased popularity among middle and high school-aged adolescents since the organization arrived in the Granite State in 2004.

Affordable costs and close proximity are near the top of the list for several locals. Placing a winning product on the field – Manchester won the af2 East Division title a year ago – hasn't hurt the organization, either.

Still, a sizeable number of young adults – the age group Wolves officials constantly work to attract to Verizon Wireless Arena – eagerly anticipate the '06 af2 season for other reasons.

Offensive onslaught

The majority of teens said the rules of arena football, which often result in increased scoring, keep them connected to the action.

Manchester Central sophomore Michael Leclerc of Hooksett attended a Wolves game last year. Well-versed in winning football as a Little Green football player, the 16-year-old said understanding arena rules is critical since they differ from the outdoor game.

Upon grasping the indoor concepts, he said it's best to buckle up for four quarters of fireworks.

“It's more exciting. There's more energy,” Leclerc said. “Receivers can have running starts, and if they break it, they're gone.”

Kyle Roman, a Pelham High junior, said he's never been to a Wolves game. But the 17-year-old is well aware an arena football scoreboard earns a workout due to constant scoring.

“I watch (Arena Football League) games on TV sometimes. It's interesting,” Roman said. “It seems like they can work harder for longer periods of time because the field's not as big.”

True, the length of an arena football field – half the size of the 100-yard surface associated with traditional football – plays a key role in fan excitement. Since the distance between goal lines is 50 yards, teams can post a plethora of points.

And high-scoring contests result in plenty of high fives among Wolves supporters.

“When you're rooting for the Wolves, you feel like you're making a difference,” said Hopkinton Middle School eighth-grader Oakley Garlow, who went to a Wolves game during the '05 season. “You really feel like you're boosting up the energy of the players.”

However, the arena game isn't for everybody. Hopkinton High sophomore Michelle Behan said she was skeptical upon entering the Verizon last season.

Hardly a football fan, the 16-yearold was initially turned off by the arena concept.

“Hockey is much more my thing,” Behan said, “because you get to beat the snot out of the person in the process.”

Nonetheless, Behan said the overall experience altered her opinion of arena football for the better. Her explanation was echoed by other teens, too.

Endless entertainment

Like Behan, Kelly Badger, an eighth-grader at Bedford's McKelvie Middle School, said she's not a football fan. However, she, too, said attending a Wolves game was enjoyable.

“You can get into the game without even liking it,” Badger said.

The 14-year-old was referring to the in-game entertainment – a staple of a Wolves outing.

In between quarters, at halftime and after the game, young fans stay tuned with help from team mascot Blitz, the Wolves dance team, and a lively public address announcer.

“I've never been to see the Wolves, but I've heard the halftime show is fun because kids get to play (an abbreviated game) on the field,” Goffstown High junior Briana Willander said. “I think that definitely attracts a lot of kids.”

According to Karl-Sven Bertelmann, Wolves director of communications, New Boston's Willander is on target with her assessment.

“Imagine it,” Bertelmann said. “You're in front of thousands of fans about to play football. You can't get them off field.”

According to Bertelmann, the Wolves don't want it any other way.

“The fans are the most important aspect of our whole game,” Bertelmann said. “It's a main priority ... We want the whole family out there where it won't cost an arm and a leg to come out.”