Sunday, Jun. 14, 2009

Fever fall to Boise 56-21

By Ben Reynolds, Herald staff writer

At some point things have got to get better -- at least a little bit.

Right?

"You would think so," said Fever defensive back Jamie Hattley.

It didn't happen Saturday night, and the clock is quickly running out on the Tri-Cities Fever.

The Fever suffered its fourth straight loss Saturday, falling 56-21 to the Boise Burn in an arenafootball2 game at Toyota Center in front of 2,818, the smallest crowd in franchise history.

The Fever has just five games left in what has already been a forgettable season. Next week Tri-Cities (1-10) is at top-ranked Spokane (10-0), a team that beat the Fever 60-21 less than three weeks ago.

"We have to do the basics," frustrated Fever coach Pat O'Hara said after the game. "It's unacceptable. It has to change."

It was the Fever's fourth straight loss to the Burn (9-2), and its trails the all-time series 6-2.

The Fever figured to have turned a small corner last week when its offense scored on all four of its first-half possessions.

But Tri-Cities couldn't even score four different times Saturday night and committed a comedy of errors.

Tomotsuna Inoue, in his second start, completed just 23 of 45 passes for 215 yards, including two first-half interceptions. The Fever has thrown an af2-high 23 interceptions this season.

"We lost our poise early and gave them easy points," said Fever receiver Finas Rabb, who caught seven passes for 63 yards and two touchdowns.

The Fever figured to have a chance against a depleted Boise team that was missing its starting quarterback and its top two receivers.

And early on, it looked like the Fever might have a chance to stay close, if not pull off an upset.

Tri-Cities forced two turnovers and made a goal-line stand in the first half. Yet mistakes negated all those plays, and the Fever trailed 35-14 at halftime.

"Against a top-five team, you have to take advantage of all the opportunities," Hattley said.

The Fever was again plagued by penalties. Tri-Cities, which was leading the league in flags coming into the night, added 13 more to its total for 107 yards.

"Slow and sloppy," said Boise coach Brent Winter, "and get as much out of execution as you can."

And that was the difference: Boise executed on offense just enough to allow its stout defense and explosive special teams to compensate for the rest.

Terrence Sanders, who is averaging more than 32 yards per return, ran a kick back for a touchdown for the fourth straight game. It was his play off a Michael Braunstein field goal try as time expired in the first half that delivered the early knockout blow.

"Mistakes, turnovers and penalties," Rabb said. "That's pretty much it right there."

Notes: Fever receiver Kameron Kranz, who was signed Thursday, left the game in the second quarter with a knee injury and did not return. Kranz, a rookie from Wingate, led all Fever receivers in the first half with five catches for 50 yards. ... Offensive lineman Ta'ase Jennings was injured late in the first half and did not return. ... The Fever's leading receiver, Tremayne Kirkland (hamstring), missed his second straight game. Receiver/linebacker Chris Hemphill (knee) also did not play for the second straight game.