Tuesday, Jul. 07, 2009

Fever gets back to work after af2 bye week

By Ben Reynolds, Herald staff writer

KENNEWICK -- It's no secret that this season has been filled with some not-so-memorable firsts for the Tri-Cities Fever.

The Fever had its worst lost in franchise history, an 84-34 loss to South Georgia on April 18.

It had its worst scoring game ever, totaling just 15 points in a 48-15 loss to Boise on March 27.

The team had its worst attended game in three seasons with just 2,818 watching the Fever's 56-21 loss to Boise on June 13. It was first home crowd of less than 3,000 in franchise history.

But for all the low points this season, the Fever has a chance to make a little more history -- of the good variety -- in the final three games of the year.

This year's version of the Fever (2-11) has a chance to become the first team in franchise history to win a game in the final month of the season.

The Fever returns to practice today after its third bye week of the season, getting ready for another game against Boise (11-2) -- its fourth of the season -- on Saturday night.

"They have an opportunity," said Fever coach Pat O'Hara. "It's kind of up to them."

Despite making the playoffs in 2007, the Fever lost its final three regular-season games to finish the year at 8-8 before losing to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton in the playoffs.

Then last season, the Fever dropped its final seven games of the regular season.

The Fever's final stretch starts Saturday night against the Burn, which has already clinched a home playoff game. The following week, the Fever heads to Rio Grande Valley (7-6), and finishes at ome July 25 against Central Valley (3-10).

If somehow the Fever finds a way to win two of its final three games, mathematically, it could still make the playoffs. The Fever sits 10th in the American Conference standings, two games behind Stockton (4-9) for the final playoff spot. The Lightning, which has lost twice to the Fever this season, closes out the season with Central Valley, at Amarillo (2-12) and against Peoria (4-9).

The Coyotes could still sneak into the final spot. Central Valley finishes up at Stockton, at home against Spokane (12-1) and at Tri-Cities.

The players are "coming off a win and are confident and excited," O'Hara said about the final three games.

-- After the Fever's win over Stockton, O'Hara released kick returner/receiver Emery Beckles. O'Hara said Ray Little and Tommy Devereaux could share time off the nets this weekend.

-- The Spokane Shock had its 12-game winning streak and af2 record 16-game road winning streak snapped Saturday night with a 54-48 loss at Iowa.

-- The penalty-plagued Fever committed a franchise-low three penalties in its June 27 win for a record-low 23 yards. The team's previous low for penalties was five for 27 yards.

-- Despite scoring 42 points -- almost 12 more than its average in its win over Stockton, the Fever still ranks last in the league in scoring at 31.5 points per game. Mahoning Valley ranks second-to-last at 40.4 points per game.

-- Prior to its win over Stockton, the Fever was the only team in the league completing less than 50 percent of its passes. After Colin Drafts completed 27 of 36 passes (75 percent), the Fever inched above the 50-percent mark at 51.5.

-- Former Fever quarterback Ryan Porter made his first start for Central Valley in the Coyotes' 55-19 loss at home to Boise on June 27. Porter, who played in three games for the Fever this season, threw for 208 yards and three touchdowns. He was also intercepted four times. Porter replaced another Fever quarterback, Joe Ayoob, who started for Central Valley the previous week, but was injured in the fourth quarter of a loss to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.