Kent Predators win first home game; fans ecstatic - See the slide show

Dre' Mail Hardin returned a kickoff 54 yards for a touchdown on the final play to give the Kent Predators a 59-54 win over the Alaska Wild in a pro Indoor Football League game at the ShoWare Center.

Alaska scored with eight seconds left to take a 54-53 lead. Hardin took the kickoff 4-yards deep in the end zone, burst up the middle of the field behind several key blocks, broke to the outside and outran the defenders to the end zone as time expired in the April 9 game.

Kent (2-3) picked up its first home victory and second win in a row to move into third place in the five-team Pacific North Division. Alaska's record dropped to 2-4.

Kent quarterback Charles McCullum completed 12 of 17 passes for 162 yards and four touchdowns. He rushed for 59 yards and four touchdowns on 12 carries.

The victory avenged a 48-39 loss to the Wild on March 8 in Anchorage.

The Predators play the Tri-Cities Fever at 3 p.m. Sunday, April 18 at the ShoWare Center.

The indoor game features eight-on-eight players on a 50-yard field surrounded with 4-foot high dasher boards that mark the sidelines.

For tickets, go to www.showarecenter.com or call 253-856-6999. Prices range from $14.50 to $42.

Contact Kent Reporter Courts, government reporter Steve Hunter at shunter@kentreporter.com or 253-872-6600, ext. 5052.

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