Gilliam picks perfect time

Sergio Gilliam has already set his sights on another record.

The Spokane defensive back broke the single-season franchise record for interceptions last weekend when he picked off his 11th pass of the season in the Shock’s 52-42 victory over the Stockton Lightning.

Gilliam broke former Shock defensive back Rob Keefe’s previous single-season record of 10 interceptions while Keefe was in attendance. Gilliam’s family also traveled across the country to watch his milestone.

“It was a great deal to have my family here,” Gilliam said. “They hadn’t actually gotten to experience me playing arena football. That was their first time and I was able to break a record with them in attendance also … and we came away with a win, so I won in each category.”

If Gilliam can come up with five more interceptions in the remaining seven games of the regular season, he’ll also become the all-time regular-season interceptions leader in the arenafootball2 league – a record that was set in 2002 by Tennessee Valley’s Kelly Snell (15).

“Besides us winning – and that comes first – I’m shooting for the actual af2 record,” said Gilliam, who wasn’t sure what the number was at the time. “I’m just trying to come out here and practice and help the team get a win – and if I’m able to break the record, then OK.”

Rested and ready

Shock wide receiver Raul Vijil sat out of last week’s game against Stockton to rest a handful of nagging injuries and the move paid off.

Vijil, who is second in league scoring, is rested and will be on the field for Saturday’s game at Boise.

“He had turf toe, a bad shoulder and a pulled hamstring,” said Shock coach Adam Shackleford. “At some point he was going to have to rest. He is absolutely playing this weekend – he’s running around great, healthy and ready to go.”

Starting quarterback Nick Davila has been dealing with a sore back this week in practice after he was hit hard with a helmet on a quarterback sneak for the Shock’s final touchdown last weekend. Davila practiced Wednesday and Shackleford said he will play this weekend.

Three-year veteran Katon Bethay has been wearing a boot after spraining his right foot in last weekend’s game. He will be evaluated today, but Shackleford said he is doubtful for this weekend.

Shock stand alone

Spokane (9-0) is the last remaining unbeaten team in the af2 after Bossier-Shreveport beat the Tulsa Talons last weekend.

The Shock have a four-game lead over the Boise Burn (5-4) atop the West Division, and can run that number to five games with a win Saturday in Boise.

“I think each week there’s added pressure,” Shackleford said. “But our goal is to win the division first, and the opportunity to get a five-game lead over our next opponent is a big deal, especially with only seven games left.”

Extra points

The Shock took over the top spot in the weekly coaches’ poll, ending the defending ArenaCup-champion Tulsa Talons’ (8-1) 10-week run at the top. The Shock received 27 of 29 first-place votes and 447 total points. … The Shock added two players to their roster – defensive lineman Jeff Van Orsow and defensive back Mitchell Dukes. Van Orsow was named to the All-Pac-10 Conference second team last season as a senior at Oregon State. Van Orsow and Dukes are not expected to play this weekend.