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Spokane Shock

Shock set for showdown with Rattlers

From Staff Reports

The Spokane Shock holds the second-best record in the Arena Football Leauge. Trouble is, it’s also the second-best in the AFL’s Western Division behind tonight’s opponent, the Arizona Rattlers.

The Shock (9-3) are coming off two lopsided home wins, but need to take down the host Rattlers (11-1) tonight to have a decent chance of taking home-field advantage in the playoffs.

The game will kick off at 6 p.m. PST at US Airways Arena in Phoenix.

Spokane beat Arizona 66-49 in its home opener on April 12; since then, the Rattlers have won eight straight.

The game also matches the two most efficient quarterbacks in the league. Spokane’s Erik Meyer (127.2 rating) has completed 280 of 400 passes for 80 touchdowns and just six interceptions; Arizona’s Nick Davila, who led the Shock to two af2 ArenaCup appearances, is rated second at 125.4 and is 237 for 355 with 76 TDs and nine interceptions.

In its last two games, both at home, the Shock routed San Jose (75-45) and Jacksonville (76-41).

A loss tonight would leave the Shock three games out of first and almost certainly relegated to a wild-card playoff spot; a win would put them within one game of the Rattlers and give them the tie-breaker advantage.