Shock, Burn ignite things
BOISE – Boise Burn coach Lee Leslie was hoping Saturday night’s arenafootball2 game against the Spokane Shock at Qwest Arena would be a good start to a longstanding rivalry between the two American Conference West Division teams.
Unfortunately, the rivalry wasn’t sparked with touchdowns or field goals but with clenched fists.
The Shock deflated the chances of a competitive game early on in a 62-44 victory, but tempers flared during the fourth quarter and five players were ejected after an on-field melee as a sold-out crowd of 5,353 watched.
“I’m not going to dignify the rivalry right now. We didn’t play well, but we still had a chance to win,” Leslie said. “And then we didn’t act like men. It’s embarrassing. It’s unacceptable. It’s too bad we stooped to that.”
“I warned the guys beforehand,” said Burn defensive end Levi Madarieta, who played with the Shock last season. “I said, ‘We’ve never even played and this is going to be a rivalry, I guarantee it. … It’s going to be heated, so try to keep your head,’ It’s sad it had to happen like that. I’m embarrassed.”
Spokane improved to 4-3, 3-1 in league with the win. Boise falls to 4-3, 2-2.
Boise looked a little out of sorts for the duration of the contest. And it wasn’t even because they were wearing their road white uniforms and Spokane donned its home navy blue and orange jerseys with white pants.
The Shock still are waiting to get their road uniforms, but showed why they won the ArenaCup in their first season and are contending for the division and conference titles again this season.
Spokane scored on eight of 11 possessions in the game, including two quick strikes that put Boise on its heels early. After the Burn went four downs and out on their first two possessions of the game and failed to recover a kickoff, Spokane had a 13-0 lead just 8 minutes into the game.
Spokane increased its lead to 48-20 early in the fourth quarter, and things went downhill from there.
Spokane defensive back Rob Keefe said something to Leslie that Burn offensive lineman Dustin Rykert didn’t agree with. Rykert threw a punch and then both teams converged on the field.
Spokane defensive backs Nygel Rogers and Keefe were tossed, along with Boise’s Chris and Tyler Bruhn and Rykert.
Leslie and Spokane coach Adam Shackleford apologized to one another after the game.
“I don’t think there’s any bad blood,” Shackleford said. “Those things unfortunately happen in football. … Players just need to be smarter. There’s a heat of the moment sometimes and some things happen and you move on from there.”