McNally tastes pro ball in arena

Jeff McNally, a 2006 Wahkiakum High School graduate, is playing professional football with the Wyoming Calvary of the American Indoor Football Association.

McNally is finishing his senior year at Eastern Oregon University, La Grande, taking classes on line to earn a bachelor degree in business management.

An all-American defensive back and four-year starter at Eastern Oregon, he and a couple teammates participated in a professional football training camp earlier this year in Arizona and demonstrated their talents for professional scouts at Portland State University.

A former teammate playing for the Calvary mentioned mentioned McNally's talents to his coach; one thing led to another, and McNally ended up in Casper, where the Calvary play their home games.

The Calvary are a 10-year old franchise and have played for the arena football championship the past three years, coming up short each time.

"The game is a lot quicker," McNally commented. "There are just three receivers and three defensive backs. Linebackers are limited to zones. You have to make your reads a lot faster. The receivers can take a 15 yard run before the snap, and it's real easy to get beat deep."

The Calvary have won their first three games this season. McNally scored a touchdown in the first game on a fumble return.

"I was playing linebacker, and I was waiting for things to clear out and I saw the ball come out between somebody's legs," he said. "I scooped it up and ran for the endzone."

It was his first since he played for the Mules. As a Mountaineer, he returned a pass interception 104 yards for a touchdown, but a penalty nullified the score.

Arena ball is tough on the body, he added. He is still getting used to playing on artificial turf, and sometimes the players smash into the boards that line the field.

McNally earns $200 per game, with a $50 bonus for a win. Proven star players can earn up to $1000 per game, McNally said.

The franchise is active in the Casper community, and players make frequent public appearances. Many players have second jobs; McNally said he has an interview for a possible job this week.

McNally said he would like to try professional ball for the next few years and see how many levels he can move up.

"If nothing happens, I'll move back to the Pacific Northwest, get a job and start a family," he said.

The Calvary head north this week; they play Wasilla, Alaska on Saturday. They travel to Washington for two games: On April 24, they'll play the Wenatchee Valley Venom, and on May 15, they'll take on the Yakima Valley Warriors.

McNally is the son of Carol McNally of Cathlamet and Steve McNally of Longview.

Wyoming Calvary: http://www.wyomingcalvary.com