Savage leads Shock to victory

FRESNO, Calif. – It was a career night for Spokane Shock receiver Antwone Savage.

The former Oklahoma receiver, who missed last week because of a hamstring injury, returned from his one-game absence by setting a franchise record with eight touchdown receptions in the Shock’s 76-57 victory over the Central Valley Coyotes on Saturday at Selland Arena.

“When he’s healthy,” Shock coach Adam Shackleford said, “Antwone is the best receiver in this league.”

Still, it took three onside kicks to turn a close bout into a rout, with the Shock benefiting each time.

The Shock (9-4) scored two touchdowns on one-play drives of 15 yards or less thanks to failed onside kicks by the Coyotes in the third quarter. Spokane also recovered an onside attempt that resulted in another touchdown in the third.

The victory extended the Shock’s lead to 1 1/2 games in the American Conference West Division over the second-place Coyotes (7-5).

Spokane, which has won six of its past seven games, remained undefeated in four games against Central Valley in two seasons.

“That was the game changer,” Savage said of the onside kicks. “When we’re getting short fields and recovering our own onside kicks, we’re pretty much unstoppable.”

Savage alone proved to be too tough for the Coyotes to stop as he finished with 13 catches for 195 yards, burning one defensive back after another.

Savage’s night started off strong after reeling in touchdowns of 25, 32 and 7 yards in the first half.

He had five more scoring strikes after halftime, with his last touchdown coming with 3:19 left in the game.

Spokane quarterback Andrico Hines completed 20 of 38 passes for 243 yards and nine touchdowns.

After the teams exchanged touchdowns to start the second half and Central Valley led 30-27, the onside kicks began.

Central Valley’s first attempt was nullified because of a penalty. Spokane responded with a 3-yard touchdown to Raul Vijil that put the Shock ahead 34-30.

The Coyotes immediately reclaimed the lead at 37-34, on a 56-yard kick return.

But the Coyotes followed with another failed onside kick.

Spokane pulled back ahead 41-37 with Savage scoring on a 14-yard pass.

Spokane extended its lead to 48-37 after recovering an onside kick and scoring four plays later when Hines hit Savage on a 13-yard strike.

Spokane secured the victory after intercepting Central Valley quarterback Clay Groefsema two plays into the fourth quarter.

“Someone needed to break momentum,” Shackleford said. “It seemed like we were going back and forth on the scoring. Then we got those onside kicks and broke the game wide open.”