Author: Ryan Baker

Photos: SEDIII Productions

The Indianapolis AlleyCats will look to get back on track in their rematch against the Chicago Union on Saturday night.

The 1-4 AlleyCats are coming off a narrow loss to the Madison Radicals, where they were hurt by execution errors and a lack of special teams play. The Union, meanwhile, is coming off a brutal loss to the Pittsburgh Thunderbirds, so both teams will be foaming at the mouth to redirect their momentum at Kuntz Stadium.

The last time these two teams played, Indy beat them 23-20 behind the masterful 15-assist performance of Elliot Hawkins. That game was a shootout between the two squads, with both teams combining for 30 hucks.

The AlleyCats dominated the end-of-quarter situations, which was a major reason they walked out with the win. That stands out because those were exactly the situations where they struggled against Madison. Under Coach Bussberg, this has been an emphasis all season & something they have performed well at until last game.

It was also the first time we saw the trio of Jake Felton, William Wettengel, and Hawkins. Felton and Wettengel were the main beneficiaries of Hawkins’ special night, combining for 10 goals and over 900 total yards.

We will see that trio again, but another trio will make the headlines this week: the Hawkins brothers. Carter has been a mainstay in the AlleyCat offense this season, grinding in the backfield, while Spencer will be making his UFA debut alongside his two brothers.

“I'm absolutely stoked,” Spencer exclaimed. “Not just to play with Carter, Elliot, and the rest of the team, but also because our family will be in attendance.”

“It’s something I’m really looking forward to,” Carter said. “Both Spencer and Elliot are super hard workers and have done what it takes to make a pro roster. Getting to take the field with them makes me proud, and to do it in front of the home crowd is extra special.”

It will be a special night for the Hawkins family, and a lot of buzz will be centered on that trio hitting the field together for the first time in the UFA. Still, the pressure will be on the entire team to perform. Both teams are sporting a 1-4 record and are at the bottom of the Central Division, so the window to make the playoffs is narrowing down the stretch.

There was a sense of disappointment after the Madison loss, so getting back to unwavering support will be key in this one. Spencer fits that mindset and has set the expectation for himself to build it up.

“Same as they always are,” Spencer said, referring to his expectations for himself. “To be a great teammate on and off the field. There is a ton of support and drive in this team, and I'm excited to contribute to that culture.”

When asking Spencer about the message Head Coach Nathan Bussberg had for the team after the frustrating loss to the Radicals, and during the week leading up to this game, it was about standards.

“You can set them and talk about them all you want, but when it comes down to it, how do you act on a day-to-day basis and what habits have you put in place that will allow you to perform when the opportunity comes up on the field,” Spencer said.

Those standards will have to be met without  Sofiène Bontemps this weekend, but they do get Xavier Payne back on the field, which will be big against his former team. For Chicago, that challenge may be even tougher without some key guys out.

Chicago will likely do everything in its power to avoid getting beaten by Elliot in this one, so the offensive load will have to be carried by Wettengel, Felton, Jonathan Mast, and Cameron Brock. Of course, guys like Seth Gudeman, Carter, and Spencer will have to step up as well.

Defensively, Nate Little had his breakout game against the Union last time, scoring three goals and recording two blocks, so keep an eye on Little’s impact. Also, James Pollard made his presence felt against Madison last week, and Kai Creed continued his solid rookie season.

Granted, these two teams have played the fewest games in the league, but block generation has been an issue, more so for the Union, as they average the second-fewest blocks per game.

If Indy can get their deep game going early, incorporate Elliot in other ways as they did against Madison, and minimize the self-inflicted wounds, they will set themselves up for success. It’s just a matter of which AlleyCat team shows up.

To watch the game on Saturday at 6 p.m. EDT, go here!

To buy tickets for the AlleyCats’ fourth home game, go here!