Four selected from Shock

Four Spokane players received All-National Conference honors Monday, a number that probably would have been higher had several other Shock players been with the team longer.

Receiver/linebacker Charles Frederick, offensive line specialist Ed Ta’amu and defensive specialist Rob Keefe were first-team National Conference selections. Offensive/defensive lineman Jerome Stevens made second team.

“I’m happy that the other coaches around the league and whoever else votes recognized a few of our players,” said Shock coach Chris Siegfried, whose team entertains Arkansas in the National Conference championship game Saturday at 7 at the Spokane Arena. “We wish there could have been more guys, but I’m happy for those four.”

Arenafootball2 has separate first- and second-teams for the American Conference and National Conference. Individual awards (top kicker, international player, lineman, rookie, assistant coach, head coach, defensive player, offensive player and ironman) will be announced over the next week. Coaches and media voted on the awards.

There were all-af2 teams in the league’s first three years of existence (2000-2002). It went to separate honors for the two conferences in 2003.

Frederick ranked eighth in scoring with 36 touchdowns during the regular season. He scored four TDs, including the game-winner with 2 seconds left, in Spokane’s 50-47 playoff victory over Bakersfield on Saturday.

“What can you say about him? He’s a playmaker,” Siegfried said.

Keefe intercepted 10 passes, second in af2, and returned two of them for touchdowns.

“It’s an example of 2-3 years of hard work and patience paying off for the kid,” Siegfried said of Keefe.

Ta’amu joined the Shock near midseason and helped solidify the offensive line.

“I haven’t seen everybody, but he’s the best offensive lineman I’ve seen in this league,” Siegfried said.

Several other Shock players with solid credentials were probably hurt by their length of service with the team. Quarterback Kyle Rowley has the top passer rating in af2, but he’s only played in eight games with the Shock. He’s 6-0 as the starting quarterback, including a 46-23 victory over Arkansas last month in his first start. Isaiah Trufant has played in just five games, but he’s already regarded among af2’s better defensive backs. Antwone Savage also posted strong statistics, sharing the team lead with Frederick with 85 receptions.

Spokane’s three first-team selections led National Conference teams. Oklahoma City, which was eliminated by Arkansas in the first round of the playoffs, had two first-team and four second-team selections.

Twister grounded

Spokane won’t have to deal with Arkansas defensive line specialist C.J. McLain, a first-team National Conference selection who was third in af2 with 14.5 sacks. McLain was suspended for four games by the league after a meltdown in the second half of Saturday’s game.

McLain was ejected for kicking a Tulsa player. As the Twisters were getting ready to receive a kick, McLain ran onto the field and started high-fiving teammates, drawing another penalty. Finally, McLain was escorted off the field by a police officer.

Excruciating final seconds

Shock players celebrated wildly after Frederick’s touchdown catch with 2 seconds left Saturday, drawing a penalty for excessive celebration when at least two players were seen taking off their helmets. The penalty cost Spokane 10 yards, gave Bakersfield an untimed down after it took possession and made for the longest 2 seconds of Siegfried’s life.

Remember, teams are always in field-goal range in af2, so the Shock couldn’t just squib kick and give away valuable yardage.

“First, we had to kick off to one of the best guys in the league (DeRonn Finley) and he took one back against Central Valley the week before,” Siegfried said. “It was a sick feeling for about a minute. We covered it pretty well and at least the field goal was a tester (48 yards). I can’t tell you what I would have done had it gone overtime.”