Can Everett finally beat the Shock?

EVERETT – Cedric Walker has every intention of deriving satisfaction from each of the 60 clock minutes remaining in the 2007 campaign.

“We just need to go out and play with intensity for four full quarters,” the Everett Hawks coach said of tonight’s arenafootball2 season finale against the Spokane Shock at the Events Center.

The West Division champion Shock – who launch their defense of the ArenaCup title they won in 2006 with a home playoff game next Saturday – has blown away their past four opponents by a combined 107 points.

At first glance, Everett (6-9) seems to be the ideal stopover for Spokane (11-4) as it continues building a full head of steam heading into the postseason.

In four previous meetings the past two seasons, Everett has never beaten Spokane.

But, the Hawks – who boast a little momentum of their own with three consecutive victories – have a history of playing the Shock tough, including three heartbreaking losses in Spokane.

In the third game of the 2006 season, the Hawks led late, but Spokane scored with 34 seconds remaining to pull out a 44-41 victory.

In last year’s 15th game of the season, Everett scored with 10 seconds remaining, but a penalty nullified what would have been the tying PAT. Driven back by the penalty the Hawks went for the win, but Brian Baker’s 2-point conversion pass attempt fell incomplete and the Shock prevailed 69-68.

In this season’s June 2 game at Spokane, the Hawks battled but lost 52-47 when Phil Goodman could not quite come up with Jason Campbell’s short pass in the end zone as time expired.

“That was a gift I personally wrapped,” Goodman said prior to Friday’s walk-through at the Events Center.

Campbell’s pass was slightly behind Goodman.

“It hit my hands and I should have had it,” Goodman insisted. “The guys played hard and deserved to win. Take nothing away from Spokane, they’ve earned every win, but I should have made that play.”

The Shock, who shook off a 1-2 start and have now won 10 of 12 games, is led by rookie quarterback Andrico Hines (275-for-428 for 2,806 yards with 62 touchdowns and eight interceptions). Hines, who has the exact same passing efficiency rating as Everett’s Campbell (111.4), suffered a strained back in last Saturday’s 55-19 victory at Amarillo, but is expected to be ready today. If he does sit, Justin Rummell will start at QB.

Spokane’s leading receiver Antwone Savage (110 receptions for 1,482 yards and 40 TDs) is nursing a hamstring injury and, with the playoffs looming, his status is less certain.

After Savage, the Shock boasts other talented receivers including Raul Vijil (57 catches for 616 yards and 15 TDs), Kelvin Dickens (56 catches, 560 yards, 11 TDs). Chico Mackey is a running threat and has caught 11 passes for 117 yards in the last two games.

“We got after them pretty good last time,” said Everett defensive lineman Johnny Jackson who had 1.5 sacks in the previous meeting in June. “I think we’ll be OK.”

Veteran Rob Keefe leads Spokane on defense with nine interceptions and is No. 2 in tackles (77.5) behind Alex Teems (86.5). Nygel Rogers has eight interceptions and Devon Parks has a team-high six sacks.

Everett’s Campbell is in a four-way tie for fourth in the league with 82 touchdown passes. Forty two of them have gone to Josh Richey, but Campbell has other targets, including LaMonte Jones who caught all four of Campbell’s TD tosses in last Saturday’s 45-43 victory over Tri-Cities.

With 90 receptions for 987 yards and 21 TDs, Goodman can go over the 1,000 yard mark today, but that’s not his motivation.

“(Spokane) got away slick last time,” Goodman said. “Now, we want to come back and get one.”

Of note

Receiving race goes to wire: With 1,776 yards Josh Richey is battling Tri-Cities JR Thomas (1,722) and Louisville’s Tiger Jones (1,717) for the receiving yardage title. With 1,617 yards Kris Peters of Quad City remains a long-shot threat to overcome the trio.

Hot time tonight for Fever, Burn: Tri-Cities (8-7) hosts Boise (7-8) in a game that will determine the final playoff spot in the American Conference.

The Fever is in with a win. For the Burn to advance they must beat Tri-Cities by more than 13 points to overcome the head-to-head advantage the Fever derived with a 55-42 victory at Boise June 30.

Shocking aberration: In its only previous visit Spokane hammered the Hawks

58-29 at the Events Center in Game No. 6 last season.

That ugly affair left Everett with a 0-6 record and cemented the departure of coach Rickey Foggie, who was fired by team owner Sam Adams and replaced by Tony Wells.