Federal Way Jets Refuel -- Semi Pro Football Team Gets Infusion Of Talent For '91

Some have size, others speed. A few have major colleges on their resumes, and one even has professional experience. Nearly all have dreams of getting the Big Break at the pro level.

Meet the Federal Way Jets, who open their second semipro football season next month with high hopes for a complete turnaround from last year's losing record.

The club, a member of the six-team Northwest Football League, has bolstered its roster with numerous ex-college players and a former Canadian Football League defensive standout.

"We expect to be very good this year," said General Manager Joyce Nolan.

Coach-owner Ken Austin is more cautious but nonetheless optimistic.

"The team we have is definitely better than last year (when the Jets were 1-7)," he said. "We have a lot more talent and experience on both sides of the ball. The majority of our players last year had only high-school experience."

The Jets, who practice at Sacajawea Junior High School in Federal Way, open their 10-game regular season July 20 in Oregon against the Eugene Blast. Their home opener, versus the Snohomish-King County Blue Knights, is scheduled for July 27.

Other teams in the NWFL are the defending league champion Pierce County Bengals of Puyallup, the Eastside Panthers of Bellevue, and the Portland Thunderbolts.

"Some of these guys on this team may get a chance to win college scholarships or play pro ball," said Nolan.

And Austin, a tight end and linebacker for the CFL's British Columbia Lions in the late 1970s and 1980, said: "There's some of these guys I'd like to get into the World Football League (the World League of American Football)."

One of them is Jeff Hash, an NAIA All-American in 1988 and 1989, when he led Central Washington University to a third-place finish in the NAIA playoffs. At 6 feet 6 and 320 pounds, Hash will anchor the offensive line. He'll get help from 6-5 Chad Kearney, a Mount Rainier High graduate.

The quarterback they'll protect will be either Craig McConnell, an Auburn High School graduate, or Dwayne Brown, who played at Arkansas State from 1985 to 1988.

McConnell (6-1, 190) was the South Puget Sound League passing leader in 1986. He was a defensive back at Spokane Falls Community College and for the Jets last season.

Brown was an NCAA Division 1-AA All-American as a wishbone-formation quarterback at Arkansas State. A stocky 5 feet 10, 205 pounds, he played a year of football in Italy, then called signals for the now-defunct Seattle Express.

Leading candidates at running back in Austin's pro-set, I-formation offense are Greg Dial (6-3, 230), who averaged more than five yards per carry at the University of Idaho in 1985 and 1986, and Richard Harris (6-0, 193), who played at Illinois from 1982 to 1984.

The defense will be anchored by linebacker Joe Jackson, scheduled to join the team soon. Jackson was runner-up as CFL rookie of the year in 1986.

Bob DeSoto (6-1, 275) will be at one defensive tackle. DeSoto, 27, was a four-year starter at Cal Poly-San Luis Obispo. Defensive end Barry Wing played four years at Western Washington University, and last year was an assistant coach for the Vikings. Defensive tackle Gary Oswald (6-7, 290) is an Evergreen High alumnus with five years of semipro experience.

Outside linebacker Darryl Muhammad (6-0, 220) was a teammate of Brown's at Arkansas State when the team placed second nationally in Division 1-AA. Cornerback Mark Whitsett (6-0, 215) was an all-city high-school player in Denver and subsequently played semipro ball in Richmond, Va. Cornerback Ron Johnson (5-8, 197), a Lakes of Tacoma grad, is a former Washington State redshirt.

Strong safety Pete Shirley (5-10, 185) is a 1984 graduate of Kentwood High School. He was one of the NWFL leaders with 10 interceptions a year ago; he also returned punts and kickoffs. Shirley has four years of semipro experience.

The Jets launched their 1991 campaign in April with a series of Saturday tryouts. Practices began in May.

About 20 of the 60-odd players are returnees from last year's roster.

"Despite our record, we were very competitive last year," Nolan said. "But we used three different quarterbacks and lacked offensive consistency.

"Everybody figured out our offense pretty quick last year. They're going to have a tougher time this year."

All home games will be at 7:30 p.m. Saturdays at Federal Way Memorial Field. Tickets are $5 for adults, free for children 10 and under. Season tickets are $20, with revenues paying for team travel, equipment and field maintenance charges. ---------------------------

FEDERAL WAY JETS

-- Coach/Owner: Ken Austin -- League: Six-team Northwest Football League. Other teams are Pierce County Bengals (Puyallup), Snohomish-King County Blue Knights (Edmonds), Eastside Panthers (Bellevue), Portland (Ore.) Thunderbolts, Eugene (Ore.) Blast. -- Openers: Season opener July 20 at Eugene, Ore.; Home opener July 27 vs. Snohomish-King County. -- Home-game data: All home games will be 7:30 p.m. Saturdays at Federal Way Stadium. Tickets are $5 for adults, free for children 10 and under. Season tickets are $20, with income going to pay for team travel, equipment and field maintenance charges.