Shock hope to maintain momentum

The Spokane Shock are playing with fire this weekend.

In their last three games there has been something at stake for the top-ranked Shock (14-1), and head coach Adam Shackleford doesn’t see this Saturday’s arenafootball2 contest against the Boise Burn as being any different.

Four weeks ago the Shock locked up their third straight Western Division crown with a win over Central Valley. After their final bye week three weeks ago, the Shock hit the road and defeated Stockton to become the fourth team in af2 history to go unbeaten away from home in the regular season. Last Saturday’s win over Quad City assured Spokane home-field advantage throughout the playoffs.

What’s on the line for Spokane this week, Shackleford said Wednesday, is momentum heading into the postseason.

“We’ve talked about the fact that this is a situation where we don’t want lose a game going into the playoffs,” said the second-year Spokane coach, who is 26-6 as a head coach in the af2.

There’s also the possibility that Spokane could face Boise (8-7) in the opening round of the playoffs Aug. 2. As it stands now, Spokane would host the Lubbock Renegades (8-7, third in Central Division). But with a pair of teams (Amarillo and Bossier-Shreveport) boasting the same record as Lubbock and Boise heading into the weekend, anything can happen.

“We honestly don’t expect to know who we are going to play in the first round until this Sunday, that’s how tight that race is,” Shackleford said. “Boise is a real possibility, though, so that gives us even more reason to fight for the win this weekend. If they win, it gives them reason to believe they can come back and beat us the following week up here if we do end up facing them.

“We don’t want to give them that. We’re taking this game very seriously.”

Davila getting it done

Nick Davila’s game continues to grow.

Davila scored 10 touchdowns – seven passing and three rushing – in the Shock’s 78-51 victory over Quad City last weekend. The rookie quarterback has now thrown for 63 touchdowns this season – a single-season high for the Shock.

He eclipsed former Shock quarterback Andrico Hines (who had 62 in 2007) last weekend.

“Nick played real well,” Shackleford said. “He’s doing all the right things on and off the field. He’s made that commitment that he wants to move up to the AFL and he’s taking the right steps to get there.

“He’s not always spectacular, but he’s very consistent and steady and when he does make a mistake it’s not the kind that kills you.”

Davila has 2,737 total passing yards this season, 69 shy of Hines’ single-season record of 2,806 last season.

Davila is ranked among the league’s best quarterbacks. He is third in pass completion percentage (67 percent) and pass efficiency (119.7), seventh in yards per play (7.3), and his 71 total touchdowns are tied for eighth in the league.

Shock top final poll

The Shock were picked No. 1 in the final af2 coaches poll – the fourth straight week and seventh time overall Spokane has earned the top ranking this season.

The Shock received 443 out of a possible 448 points and 24 of 29 first-place votes.

Second-ranked Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (13-2), the top seed in the American Conference, earned 423 points and five first-place votes.

The South Georgia Wildcats (11-4), the only team to beat Spokane this season, are ranked third. The Arkansas Twisters (10-5), who are coached by 2006 ArenaCup champion Shock coach Chris Siegfried, and the Tulsa Talons (11-4) are ranked fourth and fifth, respectively.

Extra points

After reaching the end zone five times against Quad City, Shock receiver Raul Vijil moved up to second in the af2 in scoring (19.4 points a game). Vijil ranks fourth in all-purpose yards (187.2 a game). … Kicker Brian Jackson is fourth in the league in points a game (7.6). Jackson has made 102 of 113 PAT kicks and is 5 for 11 on field-goal attempts.