Shock end regular season with rout

EVERETT – Even with some of its key pieces missing, Spokane continues to puzzle the Everett Hawks.

The Shock looked to be every bit a contender for a second consecutive ArenaCup title with their thoroughly convincing 65-38 victory over Everett at the Events Center Saturday night.

Spokane (12-4) wrapped up the regular season with its fifth consecutive double-digit victory and hosts Louisville in a first-round arenafootball2 playoff game Saturday.

Everett, hampered by four lost fumbles, saw its modest three-game winning streak come to an end and finished 6-10.

Minus starting quarterback Andrico Hines (back), leading receiver Antwone Savage (turf toe) and No. 2 receiver Raul Vijil (ankle), Spokane beat Everett for the fifth consecutive time since the two teams joined the league in 2006.

In their absence, Chico Mackey picked up the slack with 14 receptions for 98 yards and three touchdowns. The rookie from Grambling State also rushed for 25 yards and three more scores.

“We had some big stars out so me, Kelvin (Dickens) and AB (Anthony Brown) had to step up,” Mackey said. “But, it’s not only about me…it’s about the offensive line.”

“Chico’s been out most of the year, but he’s playing real well,” Spokane coach Adam Shackleford said. “We were able to rest some starters and other guys stepped up and played real well.”

Backup quarterback Justin Rummell was superb in relief of Hines, completing 22 of 26 passes for 204 yards and five TDs with one interception.

Linebacker Jermaine Harris shined with two fumble recoveries, two sacks and a forced fumble.

Spokane led 20-7 after the first quarter and enjoyed a 46-29 advantage by midway through the third quarter.

Shackleford said the missing trio of starters would have played if the stakes had been higher.

“If this was a playoff game they would have been playing a little banged up,” Shackleford said. “But this gave them a chance to rest.”