On an evening when the stars were seemingly aligned for a storybook
ending, the Everett Hawks failed to stay alive for a postseason bid,
falling 55-52 to the Green Bay Blizzard at the Everett Events
Center.

With the defeat Everett (4-10) was officially eliminated from any
possibility of qualifying for the playoffs in its first season in
the arenafootball2 league. Green Bay (9-6) remained in contention
for the American Conference East Division title with the victory.

Everett had a chance to tie the score and force overtime, but Craig
Hawley's 25-yard field goal attempt with four seconds remaining came
out low - it might have been partially blocked -and missed right.

The Hawks trailed throughout the game, but rallied from a 10-point
deficit and took their only lead, 52-48, when J.R. Thomas - who
paced the offense with 13 receptions for 228 yards - caught his
fourth touchdown pass with 50 seconds remaining in the game.

The TD was set up by Toure Butler's diving interception and 24-yard
return with a minute to play.

The Blizzard stormed back into the lead when Luke Leverson got
behind Everett's Ruschard Dodd-Masters and Green Bay quarterback
James MacPherson found him wide open for a 39-yard TD pass that
stunned the 3,885 fans in attendance and made the score 55-52 with
35 seconds remaining in the game.

Everett advanced the ball deep into Green Bay territory, but after
having converted three out of four times on fourth down, Wells opted
for the field goal try and the tie, but the kick never had a chance.

After leading by a point at the end of the first half, Green Bay
extended the margin to 34-26 on the first play of the third quarter
when MacPherson dumped a short pass to Robert Garth who broke
through three defenders and rambled 29 yards for a touchdown.

Everett battled to within 34-32 when Thomas caught his second TD
pass of the game and had an opportunity to take the lead when the
defense stopped the Blizzard on downs on its next possession, but
settled for a missed field goal.