EVERETT – For a good part of the first professional football game ever at the Everett Events Center, it seemed like the Everett Hawks were in a test tube.
The crowd, officially 3,538 fans that never appeared to be in the building all at one time, studied its new team as it thumped the Wyoming Cavalry 64-28 on Sunday. The Hawks noticed that the spectators spent much of the game seeing what the game had to offer. Loud cheers, they believe, will come if the 2-0 team continues its success.
“I thought the turnout was nice,” said Hawks receiver Cory Grow, who caught a 39-yard touchdown pass from Albert Higgs on the team’s first-ever play from scrimmage at the Events Center. “If the game had been a little bit closer, I’m sure they would have been a little bit louder. But, I was very impressed for it being the first game.”
As the game began to take the shape of a blowout, fans and coaches began serving as cheerleaders.
After catching an 11-yard TD pass from Higgs to put the Hawks up 34-7 in the second quarter, Jason Quinn jumped up on top of the hockey boards bordering the end zone, keeping his balance while pointing to the fans. Moments later, he leaped backwards into the stands after catching a 2-point conversion pass.
“I had a great time, and I think the fans did as well,” said Quinn, who caught a team-high six passes.
Quinn, who played for Billings last season, was impressed by the new fans.
“It was good (in Billings), but I think the crowd out here was more involved,” Quinn said. “I think the fans here are ready to get into Everett football.”
The wide receivers, who combined to catch five TD passes from Higgs, seemed to possess the most cheerleading skills. Hassan Brockman ran along the end zone giving high-fives before the Hawks kicked off early in the fourth quarter. Brockman and fellow receivers Quinn, Grow, Anthony Simmons and AJ Street often began waving their arms upward when they sensed some complacency amongst the crowd.
Hawks coach Dan Maciejczak, who coached Billings last season, began waving his arms at the crowd shortly after his team took a 42-7 lead.
“I like to get the fans a little worked up while we’re on defense,” Maciejczak said. “Everybody told me when I moved up here from South Dakota that Everett is a football town. It doesn’t matter whether it’s indoor or outdoor. Football fans are football fans.”
Higgs, the 35-year old quarterback who played minor league baseball in the Detroit Tigers’ system for four years before bouncing around several football leagues, believes the fan turnout will increase and voices will get louder as they get used to the game.
“They were a little unsure about the game,” Higgs said. “But once they figured it out – it’s a high-scoring, fast-paced game – I think they caught on real quick and learned when to cheer and when not to cheer. They were great.”
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