Spokane Empire hope to vault atop conference standings with win against Colorado
Spokane Empire head coach Adam Shackleford knows what’s at stake on Friday as his team hosts the Colorado Crush at the Arena.
The Empire (4-2, 3-1) return offensive specialist Trevor Kennedy and defensive lineman Harold Love III against the Crush (1-5, 1-5) for a chance to retain a one-game lead in the Indoor Football League Intense Conference standings.
Spokane surrendered the tiebreaker to Nebraska after losing to the Danger 42-36 at home on April 1. But the Danger opened the door for the Emprie to reclaim the conference lead after Nebraska fell 39-36 to Arizona last week while Spokane was on a bye.
Keeping distance from the Danger is important.
“We have good teams on our heels,” Shackleford said. “And that doesn’t scare us. We want to be pushed.”
The bye came at a great time for Spokane.
The addition of Kennedy, the league’s offensive rookie of the year last season, is especially important. He’ll join Mulku Kalokuh, who has 147 yards on 36 carries this season, in what Shackleford hopes is a formidable two-headed rushing attack.
“We’re going to make defenses find Trevor, we’re going to move him around and put the pressure back on the defense to stop him,” Shackleford said.
Kennedy has played in two games this season, rushing for 83 yards on 19 carries. The Empire have kept him out recently to nurse him back to 100 percent.
Shackleford hopes his team’s second meeting with Coloardo this season goes as well as the first. The Empire dominated on both sides of the ball, as quarterback Charles Dowdell was 17 of 23 for 200 yards and seven touchdowns and Spokane’s defense limited the Crush to 173 yards of offense in a 70-37 thumping on March 17 in Loveland, Colorado.
This version of the Crush will be different, as the team features a new quarterback in Liam Nadler. He led the Crush to their first victory last week at Salt Lake in his second game under center.
“He’s instantly made them better,” Shackleford said.
And even while facing a team that’s 1-5 and firmly at the bottom of the conference standings, the Empire aren’t downplaying the importance of finishing their three-game homestand on a high note.
“We’re not going to take Colorado lightly,” defensive back John Hardy-Tuliau said.
Fischer likely lost for season
Offensive lineman Kyle Fischer, who has been playing center for the Empire, likely will not be back this season after sustaining a right knee injury in the Empire’s win over Salt Lake on March 24.
“With those knee injuries, I don’t see a possibility of him being back,” Shackleford said.
Tweaking the roster
Defensive lineman OJ Mau has been signed to replace Toby Jackson, who was placed on the refused to report list earlier this week. Mau was on the Empire’s exempt list and has been plyaing with the Arena Football League’s Tampa Bay Storm after being placed on the recallable reassignment list. … The Empire also activated wide receiver Orlandus Harris Jr. from the inactive list and released offensive lineman Siosifa Tufunga.