Friendship on sidelines for opener

The ArenaCup champs begin their title defense tonight, and it couldn’t be a more fitting first matchup for Spokane Shock coach Adam Shackleford.

Head to head with a good friend, former boss, and tonight – a friendly foe.

For three years Shackleford called the offense for the Louisville Fire. Just last year Fire head coach Tommy Johnson stood in Shackleford’s wedding.

Off the football field, the two remain close friends. Tonight, though, it’s business.

Shackleford and the Spokane Shock host the Fire in the opening round of the arenafootball2 playoffs at the Arena in a game that features two teams that are nearly even, statistically speaking.

“This is pro football, this is all business,” Shackleford said. “Neither one of us want to lose this football game – not because we are playing each other, but because of what’s at stake.”

Shackleford, in his first tenure as a head coach, has led the defending ArenaCup champion Shock to their second consecutive Western Division title and a 12-4 record, while Johnson and the Fire (9-7) are making their fourth straight playoff appearance.

The numbers the Shock and Fire offenses have put up this season are incredibly similar. The Fire averaged 49.7 points a game while the Shock average 54.2.

Fire quarterback Joel Steele’s numbers are also similar to Shock starter Andrico Hines.

Hines completed 64 percent of his passes with 2,806 yards during the regular season, while Steele connected 63 percent of his passes for 2,610 yards.

The Fire’s leading receiver, Tiger Jones, averages 13.4 yards per catch, with 37 touchdowns on the season, while Shock veteran receiver Antwone Savage averages 13.5 yards per catch, and has reached the end zone 40 times.

A season-long factor for the Shock has been injuries.

Hines, Savage and receiver Raul Vijil rested last week when the Shock defeated the Everett Hawks in the regular-season finale, and Shackleford confirmed Friday that the move paid off.

“Andrico’s great, Antwone is great,” he said. “We are all healthy and ready to go.”

The difference in this game, like it has been for the Shock in so many others, will be the defense.

The Fire have a strong defensive line which has accounted for 28 sacks this season. The Shock have compiled 19 sacks in the regular season – six in the last three games.

The Shock’s stingy secondary – Alex Teems, Nygel Rogers and Rob Keefe – have collected 24 interceptions and 97 pass break-ups.

“Our defense is playing real well – we are going to do some things to create problems for (Steele),” said Shackleford, who coached Steele for four years at Anderson University and went on to coach him as backup QB for two seasons during his three-year stretch as Louisville’s offensive coordinator.

The Fire’s secondary – Nate Green, Matt Forbes and Rusty Midlam – have 18 picks in the regular season and 69 pass breakups.

“(The Fire’s secondary) are very athletic and experienced,” Shackleford said. “They are not going to be out of position very often and they have showed that on film.”

The Shock, who clinched the second seed in the division and will host at least one more playoff game if they win, have one important advantage – the ninth man.

“Our crowd is a huge benefit for us,” Shackleford said. “All season long our fans have come out and shown unbelievable support but we need them now more then ever in the playoffs.

“Home-field advantage is always a factor, they have to travel to us and deal with our crowd.”