Sports

Weathering the storm
Part II

• Coach Derek Stingley names newest Wildcat Andrico Hines the starting QB tonight just four days after joining the team.

Paul Dehner Jr.

ALBANY — Wildcats coach Derek Stingley named newly acquired QB Andrico Hines the starter for tonight’s game against the Green Bay Blizzard.

Signed on Wednesday, Hines will be asked to lead his new teammates in front of the home crowd after only three days of work.

He’ll face obstacles such as adjusting to new receivers, learning the Wildcats lingo and understanding the wrinkles in South Georgia’s offensive system.

But what obstacle is most on Hines’ mind?

“Playing Green Bay,” he said with a laugh, referencing his opponent that has already collected six sacks this season. “That’s a physical ball club.”

Hines hasn’t taken a hit since the final game of last season. Then with the Spokane Shock, a first-round playoff loss to the Louisville Fire wrapped a year in which he threw 62 touchdowns to only eight interceptions.

Stingley says the decision to start Hines over Cecil Lester, who started the first three games, was inevitably his call.

“It was a combination of practice and history,” he said. “With the numbers he put up last year and offense he was in and type of defense that was ran at him, I’m quite sure he could figure it out.”

Added Stingley: “I feel comfortable with him.”

Hines fell into the lap of South Georgia after Spokane delayed word on wanting him to return and a workout with the New York Dragons of the AFL didn’t land a job.

Adjusting to his receivers will take time, but he can always lean back on teammate Antwone Savage. The former Westover star played alongside Hines with the Shock last season as Savage hauled in 40 of Hines’ 62 touchdowns.

“It’s great having chemistry with Antwone, it is just me getting on that page with everyone else,” Hines said. “There are a lot of weapons out here. I figure once everything comes together and everybody is on the same page, it will be a dangerous offense.”

How fast Hines adjusts could determine the difference between victory and defeat. All af2 teams run the same plays and route combinations, but under different names.

Stingley says he will ease off the playbook a little bit tonight, hoping Hines’ instincts overtake any play-calling doubts.

Co-offensive coordinator Charlie Davidson looks forward to the new possibilities and hopes to see the consistent, mistake-free numbers Hines put up in Spokane come to life in the Albany Civic Center.

“We definitely need that,” he said. “The defense is playing lights out; they are getting an unheard of amount of stops each game. If we can just get somebody to manage the game with these receivers we have, we should be in great shape.”

Working on routes before practice even began Friday, the WRs showed urgency in developing chemistry with Hines.

There is only so much to work on during practice because when the lights come on and the pressure builds on the quarterback, the game changes.

But they are trying to be as prepared as possible.

“The good thing is we have been talking a lot,” WR Buchie Ibeh said.

“Even during the down time in practices we have been talking about what we are going to do in certain situations.”

Talk only goes so far and Hines knows it will be his numbers on the field and in the win column that wins folks over.

“They have been winning here lately,” Hines said. “Expectations are high. I want to help us keep getting better. That is my only job.”

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