Shock know how to win
Statistically, Spokane and Louisville look like arenafootball2 twins.
They score and allow roughly the same number of points. They’re both plus-two in turnover margin. They’re penalized at nearly an identical pace.
All of which amplifies the point that the difference between af2 haves and have-nots is razor thin. Despite similar stats, Spokane is a league-best 8-1 and ranked No. 1 while Louisville is on the playoff bubble at 4-5.
The teams collide today at 4 p.m. PDT at Freedom Hall in Louisville with the Shock hoping to continue their trend of winning on the road and winning close games. Spokane is 4-0 away from the Spokane Arena with wins over three ranked opponents. The Shock are 6-0 in games decided by five points or less.
“It’s just the guys’ will to win and the guys’ ability to overcome,” Shock coach Chris Siegfried said. “We’ve got a special group of guys who believe in themselves and each other and they do the little things on a day-to-day basis that is the difference from being 8-1 and 3-6 or 4-5.”
Nowhere is that more evident than on the road. Spokane has knocked off No. 6 Bakersfield, unranked Everett, No. 12 Amarillo and No. 10 Central Valley.
Louisville is 3-2 at home, including a 51-48 loss to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton last Saturday in front of a season-high crowd of 7,753. The Fire’s chance at a comeback win ended with a fumble on their final possession.
Quarterback Brett Dietz has averaged 315 yards passing and seven touchdowns in the last four games, but the Fire is only 2-2 in that span. Receiver Rob Mager, a product of NCAA Division II University of Indianapolis, leads the league in receptions and receiving yards. He’s second with 28 touchdown catches.
“They’re a good offensive football team,” Siegfried said.
Louisville’s downfall has been defense, which ranks last in yards allowed (292.4 per game) and passing yards (265.7 per game). Those numbers surely rankle head coach Tommy Johnson, a defensive back on the University of Alabama’s 1992 national championship team.