EVERETT – In the course of a single afternoon the Everett Hawks’ emotional pendulum swung from a state of desperation to one of supreme confidence – and very nearly back again.
Everett built an early four-touchdown lead then withstood a furious Central Valley rally – a comeback that included a missed 38-yard field-goal attempt by the Coyotes on the game’s final play – to escape with a 43-41 triumph in its arenafootball2 home opener Sunday at the Everett Events Center.
“The kids played their butts off,” Everett coach Cedric Walker said as he mopped his brow in relief. “These kids came through adversity and are still fighting. … That helped us turn the corner today.”
Two interceptions by Aaron Dunklin, coupled with dominant line play on both sides of the ball and a clutch 19-yard field goal by Adam Williams in the final minute, helped the Hawks (1-4) end a month’s worth of misery.
The second-smallest crowd in franchise history (estimated by Hawks officials at 1,700) made a considerable amount of noise before, during and after the final field-goal attempt by Central Valley kicker Derek Pearson.
“The people who came out were a factor,” Walker said. “The fans helped him push it to the right.”
Late drama seemed only a remote possibility after Larue Burley’s 49-yard return for a touchdown off a failed Central Valley field-goal attempt made the score 26-0 in Everett’s favor early in the second quarter.
Everett settled for a 33-14 halftime advantage, then saw the Coyotes creep within 40-34 on Wes Borba’s 3-yard TD catch in the fourth quarter.
“We got a little flat,” Walker said, “and Central Valley did a good job of coming back.”
Everett quarterback Jason Campbell (20-for-41, 245 yards, five touchdowns) threw his third interception on Everett’s next series, but Walker was far from critical.
“Jason did a great job,” Walker said. “He stayed tough through adverse situations and made some big plays for us.”
Protected by a Kai Zeigler-led offensive line that for the third consecutive game did not allow a sack, Campbell threw three TD passes in the first quarter.
And, Dunklin got the rookie quarterback from Arkansas Tech off the hook for a late interception with a diving interception of his own to snuff out Central Valley’s bid to take the lead.
“I was in my back pedal,” Dunklin said. “I saw the pass was thrown and thought I could knock it down … but I got there quicker than expected and just laid out and got it.”
Clutch catches by Josh Richey (seven receptions, 121 yards, two touchdowns) and Randall Lewis, who was playing in his first af2 game, set-up a field goal by Williams that extended the lead to 43-34 with 48 seconds remaining.
Central Valley (2-3) was not done.
Jason Barnes (12 receptions, 125 yards, two TDs) caught a 3-yard scoring pass from Clay Groefsema with 24.7 seconds remaining to get the Coyotes within 43-41. Then Central Valley’s Micheal Lawrence recovered the Coyotes’ ensuing on-side kick at his own 13-yard line.
Groefsema (23-for-36, 223 yards, four TDs, two interceptions), harried throughout by Everett’s defensive line, drove the Coyotes to the Everett 18-yard line in the waning seconds.
CV set-up for a 33-yard field goal attempt with five seconds remaining, but a false-start penalty pushed the ball back to the 23, forcing Pearson’s 38-yard try that did not come close.
On the game’s opening series, Campbell flipped an 11-yard TD pass to Phil Goodman. Goodman later left the game with a left-foot injury.
Elliott Powell and Dunklin broke up passes on Central Valley’s first series to key a four-and-out, and two plays later Campbell fired a 24-yard scoring strike to Marvin Brown (six catches, 46 yards, two TDs).
On Central Valley’s next possession, Dunklin intercepted a long pass by Groefsema and returned the ball 22 yards to set-up Campbell’s 16-yard scoring strike to Richey. Goodman’s two-point conversion run extended Everett’s lead to 20-0.
Hawks 43, Coyotes 41
Valley 014720-41
Everett2013010-43
First Quarter
EVE-Goodman 11 pass from Campbell (Williams kick failed), 10:40
EVE-Brown 24 pass from Campbell (Williams kick failed) 6:31
EVE-Richey 16 pass from Campbell (Goodman run) 4:50
Second Quarter
EVE-Burley 49 missed field goal return (Williams kick failed) 10:51
CV-Barnes 25 pass from Groefsema (Pearson kick), 8:40
EVE-Brown 4 pass from Campbell (Williams kick), 1:06
CV-Barnes 17 pass from Groefsema (Pearson kick), 0:21
Third Quarter
CV-Groefsema 1 run (Pearson kick), 3:25
Fourth Quarter
EVE-Richey 22 pass from Campbell (Williams kick), 14:41
CV-Booker 5 pass from Groefsema (Pearson kick), 11:52.
CV-Borba 3 pass from Groefsema (Pearson kick failed), 7:36
EVE-Williams fg 19, 0:48
CV-Barnes 3 pass from Groefsema (Pearson kick), 0:24.7.
Attendance: 1,700 (estimated)
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