Predators snag first home win

WASILLA — If the Arctic Predators have proved anything in the last two weeks, it’s the Predators are a threat to score regardless of how much time is remaining on the clock.

Last week, the Predators recorded the go-ahead score with six seconds left in regulation to score its first win in franchise history, a 66-63 victory over Yakima Valley. On Saturday, the Predators scored with 12.4 seconds left to snag a 52-48 win over Wenatchee Valley and its first home win in franchise history.

“We want to be the last team with the ball and make the last score,” Predators head coach Hans Deemer said as fans and players celebrated on the turf of Sicily’s Field inside the Curtis D. Menard Memorial Sports Complex. “That’s what we’ve been practicing.”

Quarterback Damion Ward connected with Monte Purvis on a 15-yard score and Purvis run in the ensuing two-point conversion during the final seconds of play to lead the Predators to the win and help the Wasilla-based American Indoor Football Association expansion franchise to improve to 2-3.

With the Predators facing 4th-and-7 at the 15-yard line, Purvis lined up on the right side of the line of scrimmage before cutting across to the middle of the field. Ward found the wide-open Purvis, who snagged the ball out of the air and fell into the end zone. Deemer said the Predators spent the game attacking the sidelines, but noticed a weakness in the middle of the field.

“We’ve been hitting with the corner, and we saw that play,” Deemer said. “And they executed.”

Ward threw six touchdown passes and ran for another to help the Predators overcome a Wenatchee Valley fourth-quarter rally.

Phil Goodman hauled in a 30-yard Devin Hollins touchdown score with 53 seconds left in regulation to give the Venom the temporary 48-44 lead and Maurice Bryant nearly shocked the home ground with an apparent touchdown catch on the final play of the game.

After Purvis scored the go-ahead touchdown, the Venom were left with about 12 seconds. The kickoff and a Predator penalty on the kickoff left Wenatchee Valley with just four seconds left on the clock. Hollins threw up one last Hail Mary and the ball was tipped by a Predator player and Wenatchee Valley receiver Jaymin McDonald, right into the hands of Bryant.

But luckily for the Predators Wenatchee Valley was called for offsides on the play.

“The official had already dropped the flag. I knew whatever happened, we’d have one more play,” Deemer said. “Everybody else was jumping around. But I saw the call, so I was under control.”

The penalty left Wenatchee with one untimed down. Hollins again tossed the pass into the end zone. But this time, Predators defensive back Victor Smith came down with the ball.

Another bad bounce nearly meant disaster for the Predators. After McDonald caught a 9-yard touchdown pass to cut the Predators’ lead to 44-40, the ensuing kickoff bounced off a Predator player on the front line and right into the hands of a Wenatchee player.

Less than two minutes later, Goodman hauled in the long touchdown pass.

But with improved play on defense and the help of the Predator passing game, with Wasilla squad was able to prevail. Ward finished 16-28 for 170 yards and didn’t throw an interception for the second straight week. Jones was key in the passing attack, grabbing eight passes for 104 yards and four touchdowns.

“He’s just a great route-runner. He’s very hard to cover,” Deemer said.

Purvis and Andre Velazquez also caught Ward touchdown passes.

“The other thing is we have Andre on the other side,” Deemer said. “Teams are so afraid of Andre, Solomon gets open. Damion delivered the ball.”

Travis Rhone, who played college football at Wayne State in Michigan, led the Venom with 71 yards rushing and four touchdowns. Rhone gave the Venom the early lead, scoring a 26-yard touchdown on Wenatchee’s second play of the game. He added a 1-yard score with one minute left in the first quarter and a 2-yard run with 4:43 left in the first half.

Rhone scored from four yards out early in the fourth.

Contact Frontiersman sports editor Jeremiah Bartz at sports@frontiersman.com.

Predators 52,

Wenatchee Valley 48

Saturday, Menard Arena

First quarter:

Wenatchee — Rhone 26 run (Simmons pass from Sharma) 1:18.

Predators — Velazquez 3 pass from Ward (run failed) 7:56.

Wenatchee — Rhone 1 run (run failed) 1:00.

Second quarter:

Predators — Jones 5 pass from Ward (Taylor pass from Ward) 12:26.

Wenatchee — Bryant 30 pass from Sharma (pass failed) 11:40.

Predators — Jones 11 pass from Ward (Ward run) 6:49.

Wenatchee — Rhone 2 run (pass failed) 4:43.

Predators — Jones 3 pass from Ward (Purvis run) 0:55.

Third quarter:

Predators — Ward 3 run (pass failed) 11:43.

Fourth quarter:

Wenatchee — Rhone 4 run (Goodman pass from Hollins) 10:50.

Predators — Jones 21 pass from Ward (Purvis run) 8:26.

Wenatchee — McDonald 9 pass from Hollins (run failed) 4:12.

Wenatchee — Goodman 30 pass from Hollins (Hollins run) 0:53.

Predators — Purvis 15 pass from Ward (Purvis run) 0:12.

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS:

RUSHING — Wenatchee Valley: Rhone 13-71, Sharma 1 (-7); Predators: Ward 5-8, Taylor 3-9, Jones 1-10, Purvis 1-5, Frazier 1-5, Jones 1-3.

PASSSING — Wenatchee Valley: Sharma 5-11-1—83, Hollins 11-25-1—100; Predators: Ward 16-28-0—170.

RECEIVING — Wenatchee Valley: McDonald 6-49, Bryant 4-55 Simmons 3-40, Goodman 3-39; Predators: Jones 8-104, Purvis 5-43, Velazquez 3-23.