SNOHOMISH – Coming into the season, Josh Richey seemed little more than an afterthought among an Everett Hawks receiving corps thought to be as talented as any in arenafootball2.
But, after splitting time between Amarillo and Bossier City as a rookie in 2006, it is the 6-foot-3, 195-pound Richey who has come up big for Everett.
With 71 receptions for 858 yards and 19 touchdowns, Richey ranks near the top of every key af2 receiving category and, barring injury, seems destined to shatter a slew of Everett franchise records in the coming weeks.
Richey has become a major force for opponents to deal with, including the defending af2 champion Spokane Shock (5-3) who host Everett (2-6) in a West Division game at 5 p.m. today.
Richey’s current standing is even more remarkable, considering the somewhat rocky start he had with 23 receptions for 196 yards, three touchdowns and more than a few dropped passes in the first four games.
“We had a heart-to-heart about things he needed to do if he wants to get to the next level,” Everett coach Cedric Walker said.
Richey, a product of Northeastern State University (Okla.), has responded by going on a tear with 48 receptions for 696 yards and 16 TDs in the past four games.
Richey’s 18 receptions for an af2 single-game, season-high 236 yards and five touchdowns in the May 18 defeat at Quad City earned him the league’s offensive player of the week award.
He followed up with 12 catches for 191 yards and five more TDs in the home victory over Bakersfield last Sunday.
“J-Rich has come into his own,” offensive coordinator Steve Papin said. “JC (quarterback Jason Campbell) and I just realized we’re hungry and we’re going to eat with Josh.”
Campbell said it might be possible for opposing defenses to contain Richey, but he’s not giving away any secrets.
“I don’t want to give out any advice,” Campbell laughed.
How did the athletically-gifted, but largely unheralded Richey – who has an uncanny ability to lay out, leap or just plain beat defenders with speed – rise so quickly?
Entering the season the Hawks boasted af2 “Ironman of the Year” LaMonte Jones who had 107 receptions for 1,419 yards and 40 touchdowns for Central Valley in 2006.
Central Valley’s Marvin Brown also joined Everett after catching 74 passes for 876 yards and 12 TDs last season.
Phil Goodman arrived from Stockton where he caught 91 passes for 1,227 yards and 30 touchdowns in 2006.
But, injuries have taken a toll on the talented trio.
Jones broke his right arm at Tri-Cities April 30 and is out until at least June 30.
Brown hurt his knee in the home opener against Central Valley May 6 and may be out three more weeks. Goodman has been slowed for four weeks by an ankle injury suffered against Central Valley and is only now returning to full strength.
“Coming into camp they were going to be our go-to guys, but we knew Josh would surprise everybody,” Papin said. “And, with LaMonte going down and Phil and Marvin being injured he just stepped up.”
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