Shock face tough challenge

This week it’s No. 2 vs. No. 3.

Ranked second in this week’s coaches’ poll, the Spokane Shock (1-0) will host third-ranked Quad City (1-0) tonight at the Arena.

Quad City may have steamrolled the Cincinnati Jungle Kats last week, but when the Steamwheelers face the defending ArenaCup champion Shock, the 81 points they scored last week won’t matter.

“We block out how many points they scored and focus in on their personnel,” Shock defender Alex Teems said. “We’re not really trying to psych ourselves out that they scored 81 points because that was a different team – in order for them to psych us out, they’ve got to put 81 points up on us.”

That’s exactly what the Wheelers will try to do.

Though Cincinnati, unranked in the coaches’ poll, is a different team than Spokane, the Wheelers’ quick offense makes them a serious threat to the Shock.

Wheelers quarterback J.J. Raterink was 19 of 24 passing, finishing with 246 yards and five touchdowns in last week’s 81-21 victory over the Jungle Kats. He ran for another TD while leading the Steamwheelers into the end zone on their first nine drives. Receiver Kris Peters had four TDs, finishing with 10 catches and 161 yards.

Quad City’s defense played just as well. The Steamwheelers, two-time winners of the ArenaCup, had six defensive stops and forced five turnovers on Cincinnati – three fumbles and a pair of interceptions by Sidney Lewis and Kevin Adams.

Troy Biladeau, the former Shock defensive coordinator filling the same position for the Steamwheelers, knows his team has a tough task in knocking off the defending ArenaCup champions.

To him, the 81 points the Steamwheelers scored last week doesn’t mean anything this week.

“We’re facing a really good team,” Biladeau said. “They have a lot of guys back from last year and there will be 10,000 fans there. I told my guys it’s going to be playoff atmosphere.

“People want to say statement games, (the game against Cincinnati) wasn’t a statement game – beating the defending champs is a statement game. I think both teams will be up for the game and the crowd will be up for it.”

Shock coach Adam Shackleford admits this week will be more of a test than last week’s 51-35 victory over Stockton but said he is confident in the team.

“Offensively, we have to control the football game,” Shackleford said. “We have to take exactly what they give us defensively and not turn the ball back over to them.

“Big plays on special teams will also be key, but watching us play last week – these guys are confident coming into this game and so am I.”

Rookie quarterback Andrico Hines will be instrumental for the Shock.

Hines had a solid performance last week, completing three TD passes and running the ball in for two more.

“Andrico played very well for his first time out,” Shackleford said. “His first game he controlled the offense; he led us down the field on his opening drive and threw a touchdown pass.

“He had one interception, which he immediately noticed he made the wrong decision and a couple of times he held on to the ball too long, but those are things rookies do and we’re looking forward to getting him more and more reps. He’s going to be phenomenal.”

Biladeau, who said being back in Spokane brings back good memories, mentioned the crowd will also be a factor.

“We’ve got to take their crowd out of the game early,” Biladeau said. “(The Arena) gets rocking and (Quad City) isn’t used to 10,000 fans.”

Acknowledging the cliché, Biladeau said: “I think the team that wins will make the least amount of mistakes. We can’t turn the ball over.”