Hawks improve to 4-0 with win over Caps

Published 9:00 pm Friday, April 15, 2005

LINCOLN, Neb. – The Lincoln Capitols knew they were facing a tough opponent in the Everett Hawks, but they had no idea just how tough things would actually get.

Behind the arm of quarterback Albert Higgs, who completed 21 of 33 passes for 205 yards and five touchdowns, the Hawks dominated the Capitols on both sides of the ball en route to a 56-16 victory Friday night in a National Indoor Football League game at Pershing Center.

The Hawks improved to 4-0. Lincoln fell to 0-3.

Leading 14-0 at the end of the first quarter, the Hawks scored four touchdowns in the second quarter – two on passes by Higgs – to build a 42-7 halftime lead.

“At halftime they looked like they had had enough,” Everett coach Dan Maciejczak said.

The Hawks were in control the rest of the way.

“I don’t even know where to start,” Lincoln coach Pat Schaben said. “It snowballed on us. A bad start snowballed into an inconsistent night. They’ve got a hell of a team.”

Along with the play of Higgs, the Hawks’ win was highlighted by the play of their defense.

Everett allowed Lincoln just 97 yards of total offense – including just 41 in the second half.

“Our defensive line did a great job shutting down the running game,” Maciejczak said in reference to linemen Tai Tupia, Tupo Tuupo, Reggie Hargrove and Sabree Anderson.

The Hawks also intercepted four passes and scored a defensive touchdown on a 38-yard interception return by Jaquwan Brackenridge.

Lincoln starting quarterback Garth Glissman was pulled from the game in the first quarter after completing just two of his nine pass attempts for 5 yards and throwing two interceptions.

His replacement, Mike Pozzi, ended the night 8-for-30 for 71 yards and two interceptions.

On the ground, the Capitols accumulated just 25 yards on 16 carries. Phil Kniep led the team with 10 rushes for 13 yards.

Verna Owens led the Hawks in rushing with 83 yards on 11 carries.

With the Capitols’ offense held in check, the pressure was on its defense to keep the game close. Judging by the scoreboard and the Hawks’ 293 yards of offense, the pressure was too much.

“Basically, we didn’t come to play and they did,” Lincoln defensive back Ty Goode said. “They’ve got a great offense and one of the best quarterbacks in the league. They executed tonight.”

One thing Maciejczak was not impressed with was the playing surface at Pershing Center.

“The turf looked like the Tetons that way it was going up and down,” he said.

For game statistics, see the Scoreboard on Page E7.