Shock, Burn tangle again
Back with the game preview for Saturday's showdown between Boise and Spokane at the Arena. Read on for an unedited version that will run in Saturday's paper.
By
Staff writer
Coaches never look too far ahead. It would violate the tenets of the profession and contradict the cliché about “taking it one game at a time.”
So,
Not to mention what’s coming down the road.
For
“This has head-to-head tiebreaker implications,” said Shock coach Adam Shackleford, whose team defeated
The teams’ schedules differ on several fronts.
“I truly have no clue. I was handed the schedule and I have no idea how they do it,” first-year Burn coach Brent Winter said. “They have a tough schedule, but they’re the best team in the league. They’re the measuring stick for everybody else.”
The Burn didn’t measure up three weeks ago, committing five turnovers and giving up 63 points, roughly 26 more than their af2-leading average of 37.2.
Tharp, a former Boise State Bronco, has completed 61.2 percent of his passes and tossed 19 touchdowns, including seven vs.
“He brings a little bit of stability and calmness to the position, and he’s improving week to week,” Winter said.
A week ago, the Burn scored on a kickoff return, an interception return and a fumble recovery. On the season,
“They capitalize on people’s mistakes and that makes them a better team than some of the teams we’ve been facing,” Shackleford said.
Linebacker Levi Madarieta, one of four former Shock players with the Burn, has four interceptions and he’s returned two for touchdowns. Ex-Shock defensive back Tremaine Tyler, second on the team in tackles, is out with a knee injury. Nygel Rogers is seeing time in the secondary. Palauni Ma Sun and David Stanton are starting linemen.
“The (Shock) are going to play intelligent football,” Winter said. “If you don’t match them, it’s going to be a long night, as we proved the first time we played them.”
Notes
Shock offensive lineman Ryan Belcher (mono) returns after a two-week absence. … In anticipation of a loud