Shock keep rolling

Home or away. Ranked or unranked opponent. Nick Davila or Jason Murrietta.

It doesn’t seem to make a great deal of difference because somehow the Spokane Shock are going to find a way to win. They provided another example of their resourcefulness by pulling away for a 62-42 arenafootball2 victory over division rival Boise in front of a sell-out crowd of 10,573 Saturday.

The win hiked the second-ranked Shock’s record to 6-0. They’ve knocked off four opponents who were ranked 10th or higher at the time. Fifth-ranked Boise (4-2) had its four-game winning streak snapped and fell two games behind Spokane in the West Division standings.

“This is arena football and it’s going to go back and forth,” Shock coach Adam Shackleford said. “If it’s played right by both teams, it’s going to come down to the last couple of possessions.”

That was the case Saturday as the Shock, playing at home for the first time in more than a month, fell behind 35-34 late in the third quarter. Davila, who unseated Murrietta as the starting quarterback, guided Spokane to the Burn’s 2-yard line where defensive back Tremaine Tyler lined up at QB, took a direct snap and dashed into the corner of the end zone.

Spokane led 41-35 and was back in business three plays later when linebacker Kevin McCullough scooped up a fumbled center-quarterback exchange.

“They had three of those and I almost got one earlier,” McCullough said. “Kudos to our nose guards because they did a great job. When that ball squirted out, I tried to pick it up and score, but I just lost my balance.”

Davila hit an open Raul Vijil, who reverse-pivoted and picked up a key block from receiver Andy Olson to complete a 25-yard scoring play that bumped Spokane’s lead to 47-35.

Boise closed within 47-42 on George Williams’ fifth touchdown, a 2-yard run, but Spokane’s Lee Foliaki recovered the ensuing on-side kick. Two plays later, Olson hauled in a pass near the left sideline, bulled over a defender at the 5 and dragged a couple of Burn players across the goal line.

“I didn’t have a (touchdown) yet and I really wanted to get in and I knew I could,” said Olson, who has been battling illness the last two days.

In his first af2 start, Davila was steady, tossing seven touchdown passes, three each to Vijil and Kelvin Dickens. Spokane didn’t commit a turnover and finished with 271 total yards.

“He did well,” Olson said of Davila. “He had some ups and downs obviously, but he pulled us through in the end.”

Spokane’s defense held the Burn to 194 yards, 62 less than their average. Boise came in averaging 54.2 points per game.

The defense sealed the victory when Justin Warren drilled Boise quarterback Royal Gill, knocking the football loose. McCullough pounced on the ball in the end zone for his third touchdown of the season. His previous two came on interceptions.

“We do feel like we’ll win if we hold teams to 42 points or less, but there are so many things to be corrected,” McCullough said. “When we come together as a defense and get rid of our mental mistakes, it’s going to be a pretty sight.”

Spokane dominated the first half. Davila and Vijil connected for a touchdown on the second play from scrimmage. Dickens broke into the clear on two long TD receptions as the Shock led 27-14 at half.

Boise caught up in the third quarter on Gill’s three touchdown passes, two of which came following long kick returns by Demond Williams.

“We’re still lacking a little bit in the third quarter, but our guys came back and our defense made some big plays,” Shackleford said.

Spokane entertains Tri-Cities at 4 p.m. Saturday.