SNOHOMISH – Catching a good team on the rebound is a perilous proposition.
The Everett Hawks (1-5) face one of the traditional powers of arenafootball2 when they visit the Quad City Steamwheelers (3-3) in Moline, Ill., tonight.
The Steamwheelers are a charter member of af2 and won the league’s first two championships in 2000 and 2001. In 2006 Quad City finished 7-9 and failed to make the playoffs for the first time.
This season Quad City opened with three straight victories, but have since dropped three consecutive games, including a 53-51 loss at Alabama last Saturday.
Now, Quad City, playing just its second home game, welcomes the struggling Hawks.
“They’re a great team, well-coached, with a great fan base,” Everett coach Cedric Walker said of the Steamwheelers, who are coached by Sean Ponders. “We expect it to be rowdy.”
Everett’s best opportunity to scrap its way into the heart of the West Division race was thwarted when Stockton earned a last-second victory over the host Hawks last Monday night.
Although Everett is tied with Cincinnati for the worst record in the American Conference – and three games behind West Division co-leaders Boise and Bakersfield – Walker said the team remains upbeat.
” (Stockton) is over. I told the guys to just keep playing good ball,” Walker said. “We’ve had two solid days of practice and we should be good.”
Quad City, tied atop the American Conference Midwest Division with Louisville and Green Bay, is led by veteran quarterback J.J. Raterink, who has thrown 26 touchdown passes and just three interceptions. Raterink, a University of Wyoming product, boasts a passing efficiency rating of 113.7.
His primary receiving target is Kris Peters, who has 46 catches for 630 yards and 12 touchdowns. The Alcorn State alum also returns kicks and ranks No. 6 in af2 with 171 all-purpose yards per game.
“Peters really stretches the field for them,” Walker said. “We expect (Raterink) to try to go downfield on us.”
Defensive back Kevin Adams leads Quad City with 37 tackles and ranks No. 5 in af2 with five interceptions.
Linebacker Jermaine Petty (Arkansas) is No. 8 in the league with five sacks.
Everett had its best offensive effort of the season against Stockton, led by quarterback Jason Campbell.
“Eight touchdown passes and one pick (against Stockton) is a great ratio,” Walker said of the rookie from Arkansas Tech. “(Campbell) is in a zone … he’s our leader and guys are flocking to him.”
Josh Richey (43 receptions, 431 yards, nine touchdowns) and Phil Goodman (39 receptions, 412 yards, nine TDs) have nearly identical receiving numbers.
Marvin Brown (27 receptions, 242, six TDs) has become a major target with LaMonte Jones sidelined for at least six more weeks with a broken right arm, but the veteran is expected to miss today’s game due to a right knee strain.
In his place, rookies Randell Lewis (Nevada-Reno), who returned seven kickoffs for 153 yards against Stockton, and Warren Holloway (Iowa) may see more action.
Defensive back Aaron Dunklin (Charleston Southern), who leads Everett in tackles (23) and interceptions (four), anchors a Hawks’ defense, which has improved in recent weeks and forced five turnovers against Stockton.
A tough row to hoe: To have any chance to make the playoffs Everett likely needs to win at least eight of its 10 remaining games. That would be a tall order. With the exception of Stockton, which Everett visits on June 30, none of the Hawks’ remaining opponents currently has a losing record. Aside from Quad City and the brutal West Division schedule, Everett plays non-division home games against Arkansas (currently 5-1) on June 23 and Tennessee Valley (4-2) on July 7.
Pioneers retain top spot: Wilkes-Barre/Scranton strengthened its grip on No. 1 in the af2 coaches poll, receiving 462 of 464 possible points this week. Tulsa (6-0) is No. 2. Arkansas, Rio Grande Valley and Bossier-Shreveport, all 5-1, round out the top-five.
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