EVERETT – If hope floats your boat Kai Ziegler might just be your man.
Following a hard week of practice in preparation for Monday night’s af2 game at Tri-Cities, the Everett Hawks’ offensive lineman bounds with optimism despite the team’s disappointing 0-3 start.
“We haven’t lost hope not even close,” the 6-foot-3, 310-pound Ziegler insisted at an event for Hawks’ season ticket holders Friday night at The Flying Pig restaurant. “The attitude is there and the effort is there.”
Ziegler, a second-year player from Middle Tennessee State is one of a handful of returnees from last year’s team and has made his massive presence felt on an offensive line that has been a pleasant surprise thus far.
“Kai’s a true defensive lineman, but now he’s an offensive lineman,” Everett coach Cedric Walker said. “He’s doing a great job and has become one of my leaders.”
In last Saturday’s 70-34 loss at Boise the offensive line more than did its part, allowing only a single sack of quarterback Ben Bowling, who enjoyed sufficient protection to produce his best outing of the season (30-for-45, 304 yards, five touchdowns).
“We gave up a little pressure and had some mental breakdowns early,” Ziegler said. “But we regrouped and picked it up.”
While every other af2 team has already had at least one home game, Everett does not play in front of its own fans until May 6 against Central Valley.
Ziegler acknowledged the difficulty of opening the season with four road games.
“It’s tough when you can only practice three or four days and then travel,” Ziegler said. “But, that’s what this is about, overcoming adversity and building character.”
Ziegler said that although the Hawks suffered their third consecutive loss at Boise, the team continues to jell and improve.
“We’re working hard and grinding everyday; our morale is up,” Ziegler said.
“A few weeks ago we were five or six steps away from being a good team…now we’re just a step or two from being very good.”
Ealy traded for FB/LB Medlock: The Hawks on Friday traded defensive back Charles Ealy, who led the team with 15.5 tackles, to Lubbock in exchange for fullback/linebacker Orlando Medlock.
“We wish Charles the best of luck and I know he’s going to be successful,” Walker said. ” (Medlock) is going to give us more push up the middle.”
Not so special teams: Everett’s kicking game has been the worst in af2. Kirk Yliniemi and Josh Collins combined to go 1-for-5 on PAT kicks, 0-for-4 on field goal attempts and consistently failed to cause any havoc for receiving teams by hitting the net on kickoffs.
Yliniemi and Collins have been released and replaced by Adam Williams, a 6-foot-3, 225-pound rookie from the University of San Diego. Williams said he is certain of his ability to hit the net, split the uprights and even make a touchdown saving tackle if called upon.
“If it comes down to it,” Williams said. “I’m going to make the hit.”
Boise’s White earns honor at Hawks’ expense: For the third time in as many games against Everett an opposing player has received one of af2s weekly awards. Emmett White of Boise was named af2 Ironman of the Week after recording 8.5 tackles, a tackle for a loss, forcing one fumble and recovering another in the Burn’s 70-34 victory over Everett last Saturday. The former Utah State standout added a 6-yard touchdown run.
A reason to cry in your Lone Star beer: While some expansion teams have prospered (Mahoning Valley 3-0, Boise 2-1) others have struggled, most noticeably the Texas foursome of Lubbock (0-3), Corpus Christi (0-3), Laredo (0-3) and Texas (1-2), which were a combined 1-11 going into Saturday night’s games.
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