FOOTBALL HITS VALLEY

WASILLA — The Arctic Predators made Mat-Su Valley history Sunday afternoon, but the Yakima Valley Warriors spoiled the Predators’ hopes of tying a victory with their feat.

Yakima Valley scored 35 unanswered points in the second half to post a 52-21 win over the Predators, on Sicily’s Field inside the Curtis D. Menard Memorial Sports Center, in the home debut of the Valley’s first professional football franchise.

The Predators, an American Indoor Football League expansion team, took a 21-17 lead into the half, but Yakima Valley (1-1) scored twice during a three-minute span of the fourth quarter to spark the Warrior second-half rally.

“I thought we learned a few things,” Predators coach Hans Deemer said. “And in the second half, we didn’t get the job done.”

Predators quarterback Damion Ward sparked his team with three touchdown passes in the first half. Receiver Andre Velazquez grabbed two of those touchdown scores.

Velazquez, who played with Ward for four seasons on a team in California, raced down the right side of the field and hauled in a 45-yard Ward touchdown pass midway through the first quarter to put the Predators on the scoreboard and tie the score at 7.

“That was textbook me and D-Ward,” Velazquez said. “It was just natural. He knew and I knew. We’ve always had chemistry.”

Velazquez gave the Predators the halftime lead when he caught a 23-yard touchdown pass during the final seconds of the second quarter. Ward rifled a pass toward to his left and the throw was nearly picked off by a Yakima defensive back. Velazquez made the grab in front of the Warrior, right at the wall and continued untouched into the end zone.

“He’s dangerous, no doubt about it,” Deemer said. “It think anybody that’d argue that would be a fool.”

Deemer said the Predators signed Velazquez to play in the defensive backfield, but during the team’s first game of the season — a 64-12 loss to San Jose last week — the Los Angeles, Calif., product was sent in on offense. Velazquez responded by catching five passes for 102 yards.

Velazquez said he’s a receiver by nature, but will play anywhere his team puts him. Velazquez started in the defensive backfield on Sunday.

“We’ve got to get better on defense, so (Andre) can play more offense,” Deemer said.

Victor Smith also scored for the Predators, snagging a 3-yard touchdown catch midway through the second quarter.

Yakima Valley running back Don Chapman scored three of his four rushing touchdowns in the second half for the Washington state-based Warriors. Three of his scoring runs came from within two yards of the goal line. His longest touchdown burst was a 7-yard score.

Chapman capped Yakima Valley’s first drive of the second half, with a 1-yard plunge. Later in the third quarter, Chapman posted another 1-yard score, the first of two Yakima Valley touchdowns in just more than three minutes.

Following Chapman’s second touchdown of the quarter, the Warriors fooled with Predators with an onside kick. Yakima Valley recovered the ball, and five plays later Gabe Hatchett caught a 25-yard Jason Williams touchdown pass to give the Warriors the 39-21 lead.

“That onside kick was absolutely silly. We trained for that, so we’ve got to be able to stop that,” Deemer said. “That’s what happens in arena ball. You’ve got to be awake at all times.”

Sacks and turnovers proved to cripple the Predators during the final 30 minutes of play. Three Yakima touchdowns were set up by Predators turnovers.

“You’ve got to catch the ball,” Deemer said. “They had three picks off of tips from our receivers.”

Overall, Velazquez said good things can be taken from the Predators’ first home game in franchise history.

“It’s coming together,” Velazquez said. “We put some drives together. It’s the little things that got away from us.”

The Predators (0-2) will hit the road with a date against the Wyoming Cavalry in Casper, Wyo., Friday at 5 p.m. AST.

Yakima Valley 52,

Predators 21

Sunday, Menard Sports Center

Yakima Valley 14-3-21-13—52

Wasilla 7-14-0-0—21

First quarter:

Yakima Valley — Chapman 2 run (No. 15 kick) 8:41.

Predators — Velazquez 45 pass from Ward (Tongate kick) 6:18.

Yakima Valley — Amoah pass from Williams (No. 15 kick) 1:13.

Second quarter:

Yakima Valley — No. 15 field goal.

Predators — Smith 3 pass from Ward (Tongate kick) 6:32.

Predators — Velazquez 23 pass from Ward (Tongate kick) 00:3.4

Third quarter

Yakima Valley — Chapman 1 run (No. 15 kick) 11:53.

Yakima Valley — Chapman 1 run (Chapman run) 4:38.

Yakima Valley — Hatchett 25 pass from Williams (No. 15 kick) 1:11.

Fourth quarter

Yakima Valley — Hatchett 30 pass from Williams (No. 15 kick) 12:46.

Yakima Valley — Chapman 7 run (kick failed) 1:08.