EVERETT – Who might have guessed that as their season reaches the midway point, the Everett Hawks would need an improbable nine-game victory streak in order to achieve a winning record.
After demolishing opponents en route to last year’s 15-1 mark in the National Indoor Football League, the 0-7 start to their maiden arenafootball2 season has put Everett in a position where it likely needs a nine-game run to have a shot at the postseason.
The bold campaign starts at 7:30 p.m. tonight when the Hawks host the Stockton Lightning (3-4) in an af2 National Conference West Division game at the Everett Events Center.
Everett coach Tony Wells says he has settled on Brian Baker as his starting quarterback for tonight’s game after Baker and Wes Beschorner both played well in last Saturday’s 53-49 road loss to the Tulsa Talons.
“It was a virtual coin toss,” Wells said. “We’re gonna ride with Brian and see how it goes.”
The 6-foot-6, 250-pound Baker, acquired from South Georgia on May 4 as part of the Julian Reese trade, is a three-year veteran from Austin Peay. Against Tulsa he completed 11 of 23 passes for 168 yards and four touchdowns. He was sacked three times.
Beschorner, a 5-10, 190-pound rookie from the University of South Dakota made his first-ever af2 start at Tulsa, completing 8 of 14 passes for 123 yards, two touchdowns and an interception.
Both quarterbacks mixed the attack well as Hassan Brockman, Milton Myers and A.J. Street each caught six passes.
Wells said he expects Beschorner – who has made two touchdown saving tackles on special teams – will see action at quarterback, receiver or elsewhere, although he does not intend to alternate the pair at QB as he did against Tulsa.
“It’s the one position on the field where we don’t have a drop-off in talent,” Wells said. “Wes is such a class guy, I love him to death.
“He accepted the role and said he’ll do anything to help the team win.”
The expansion Lightning remains in the thick of the playoff chase after last Saturday’s impressive 49-42 road victory over Bakersfield (5-2).
Stockton quarterback Josh Blankenship threw five TD passes in the Lightning’s 50-40 victory over the Hawks at Stockton, Calif., on May 6.
The Lightning feature offensive specialist George Williams, who is No. 7 in the league with an average of 154.5 all-purpose yards per game. Receiver Phil Goodman has 29 receptions, for 388 yards, and 11 touchdowns.
Re-constructed line solidified: Injuries to starters Ed Powell (ankle), Brett Jones (knee) John Fields (groin) and Dannie Snyder (knee), among others, have forced the Hawks to rebuild around veteran stalwart Clay Harrell.
Amid the injuries, trades and cuts a sense of continuity and trust, critical in the trenches, has been difficult to attain.
“You get in there and fight as hard as these guys do they develop a bond and when you split guys up it hurts,” Wells said. “These are guys you have sweat and bled with.”
It’s been particularly tough for Harrell, who has pressed on despite nagging injuries (knee, shoulder).
“When you give your full effort and come up short it wears on you,” Harrell said.
Replacements have come and gone in recent weeks – Chris Cole and Kelvin Wallace were designated for re-assignment on Thursday – but the emergence of Kai Zeigler, Jesse Duncan, Calvin Greenwood and veteran Ufuoma Pela has given the Hawks stability. Against Tulsa’s highly-touted line, the defensive line forced two fumbles and constant pressure.
Things should only get better with the return of Fields today.
“We’re just gonna pick up where we left off against Tulsa,” line coach Rodney Swanigan said. “Wait until you see ‘Foam’ (Pela) coming off that end … it’s beautiful.”
Humphries, Jones traded: Frustrated by the departure of coach Rickey Foggie, who was fired on May 13, offensive specialist D.J. Humphries sought a trade to the Macon Knights to be near his family in Atlanta. This week the Hawks sent Humphries, its No. 3 leading receiver (26 catches, 264 yards, four touchdowns), to Macon in exchange for future considerations.
Chuck Jones, a lineman acquired in April from Spokane after playing two games for the Shock, was traded to Bakersfield for future considerations. In four games for Everett, Jones had six tackles (including 2.5 for a loss), one sack and a fumble recovery.
Veteran WR/DB Adrian Cockfield (5-foot-10, 190-pounds) and Vichael Foxx (6-4, 312), a rookie from VMI, were assigned to Everett by the league office this week.
Injury update: FB/LB Mike Wild (neck) and FB/LB Thomas McKenzie (knee), along with defensive specialist Kohei Satomi (hamstring) will miss today’s game.
Welcome back Tuupo: Today marks the return of former Hawks lineman Tupo Tuupo, who now plays for Stockton. Tuupo pounded the turf in anguish in the aftermath of Everett’s 54-52 loss to Tri-Cities in the National Indoor Football League playoffs last July 15.
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