Eyes on the prize
Shock have ArenaCup trophy in their sights
Spokane Shock assistant coach Matthew Sauk doubled as a photographer on Saturday afternoon.
The arenafootball2 league’s title trophy was on display at the Shock practice facility for media day on Saturday afternoon, and Sauk spent his time snapping several photos of Shock players standing next to the ArenaCup.
But there was one person who didn’t want to be in the picture – Shock head coach Adam Shackleford.
“Get in there,” Sauk said.
“I don’t want to,” Shackleford replied. “I haven’t earned that thing yet.”
Perhaps, then, Shackleford will get his photo opportunity this evening.
In addition to a one-loss record – the best this season in the af2 – and their Western Division and National Conference titles, the Shock (18-1) are looking to earn the franchise’s second ArenaCup title in three years. They’ll get that chance tonight in front of a sold-out Arena crowd against the Tennessee Valley Vipers (13-6).
“(The Vipers) are an extremely athletic team from top to bottom,” Shock coach Adam Shackleford said. “You can definitely see why they’re here. I think they are the best team, defensively, that we have seen all year.
“We have our work cut out for us.”
But the top-seeded Shock are confident they are up for the task.
“Defensively, we just have to keep playing the way we have been the last few weeks,” said Shock linebacker Kevin McCullough. “We’re trying to play a perfect game this week. We’ve been talking about it all season, we’ve come close a couple times, but I think now it’s time.”
For some, the fact that this will be the last game this group ever plays on the field together is bittersweet. After the season, some hope – and should get the opportunity – to move up and play in the AFL. Others will look for jobs off the gridiron.
“It is a little bittersweet, because this group of guys has gotten real close during this season,” three-year veteran receiver Raul Vijil said. “It’s an unbelievable feeling – there are 29 teams in the league and to be the best is something amazing.
“We feel really good that we’re in this position and we want to end on a good note.”
Three-year veteran center Rico Ochoa has already decided his time playing pro football has passed. After the season is over, Ochoa is looking to move closer to where his two children live – in the Southeast part of the country.
“It’s time for me to move on, focus on being a dad,” Ochoa said. “So the only thing left – the only acceptable thing for me – is to get another ring and finish my career on a high note.
“I want some more jewelry – and I believe I’m gonna get me some come Monday night.”
Extra points
Tonight’s game will be televised. For Comcast customers the game can be viewed on channel 78, for Dish Network customers the game will be carried on channel 409 and channel 435 and for DirecTV customers the game will be on channel 698. … Former Shock head coach Chris Siegfried will attend the game, along with former Shock quarterback Kyle Rowley, who was named the league’s Offensive Player of the Year. Siegfried and Rowley were a part of Spokane’s 2006 ArenaCup championship team and spent this season with the Arkansas Twisters.