Sewell Up And Running Knee Of Eagles Running Back Appears Fully Healed

It’s been a year since the shredding of Joe Sewell’s left knee. Or was it his right knee?

One couldn’t tell Thursday afternoon at Woodward Stadium, where Sewell ran with authority, his left knee appearing fully healed as Eastern Washington concluded two-a-day practices with its final football scrimmage before the Sept. 7 season-opener at Southwest Texas State.

“I’m ready to go,” Sewell proclaimed, having carried eight times for 49 yards and one touchdown in the 90-minute rehearsal. Sewell has earned a spot in the Eagles’ backfield rotation, joining incumbents David Lewis and Rex Prescott. “I worked hard in the off-season and now I’m ready to hit,” Sewell added.

The EWU defense did the heavy hitting early, led by freshman linebacker Chance Koepke. The Republic High School graduate struck Prescott with a savage hit, bending the shifty runner over backwards and forcing the first of four EWU fumbles.

Sewell followed with a 30-yard run to the right, behind guard Ken Henningsen and tackle Tom Ackerman. Moments later, starting quarterback Brian Sherick (5 of 9, 69 yards) found Matt McKinstry wide-open over the middle. The junior linebacker returned Sherick’s offering 25 yards.

Ackerman aggravated an old hamstring injury while chasing McKinstry on the runback, falling face first and raising the Eagles’ concerns. “My hamstring popped,” EWU’s best lineman said to Dion Alexander, EWU’s best linebacker. Ackerman’s injury did not appear to be serious. Alexander, meanwhile, missed Thursday’s scrimmage with injuries to his right leg - a bruised knee and sprained ankle.

“I’ll be OK for the opener, Alexander said.

So should the Eagles, according to Sewell. “We’ve got a great offensive line, he said. “We’re gonna surprise some people. With the two Ackerman’s up front (Tom and younger brother T.J.), and center Kevin Peterson, those guys are going to open some holes. We’re gonna sneak up on some people.”

Notes

Wary of injuries, Kramer played it safe. Starting receiver Jerrold Jackson saw limited duty, catching one pass for 25 yards, against a freshman walk-on who probably played his last down of the season. Held out altogether with minor injuries were Alexander, tight end Tim Hunsaker, linebacker Terry Cloer and offensive tackle Aaron Barfield. … Linebacker Ho Pak, a junior-college transfer from Orange Coast (Calif.) College, has emerged as EWU’s fifth linebacker. “I don’t think our defensive front is going to be as much as a concern as I had thought, Kramer said, “because of the emergence of Pak.”

, DataTimes