Sauk on roll with Rattlers
Spokane Shock coach Adam Shackleford was only half-joking when he told Matt Sauk he doesn’t want him back on the coaching staff anytime soon.
Sauk, who began the indoor football season as an arenafootball2 assistant coach with the Shock (10-0), signed a contract with the AFL’s Arizona Rattlers in mid-May and has been on a roll since.
The backup quarterback quickly earned the starting nod and led Arizona to a victory over the Orlando Predators two weeks ago. The win clinched a playoff berth for the Rattlers and assured their ownership would keep the $2.2 million that was guaranteed to season-ticket holders if the Rattlers didn’t make the playoffs.
Sauk started again last week, leading Arizona to a 73-34 victory over the Kansas City Brigade, and is hoping he gets the nod again when the Rattlers take on the Colorado Crush. “It’s exciting to watch and follow what he’s doing down there,” said Shackleford. “He doesn’t know week to week if he will be starting so he just goes out there and does his job and whenever they are done he will come back and finish up the season with us.
“I was joking with him, though, that we don’t want him back anytime soon,” Shackleford added. “We want him to get himself a (championship) ring and earn an AFL contract. I would think he’s proven himself enough to earn an opportunity to play for Arizona for the next two or three seasons.”
Before his coaching stint in Spokane, Sauk had a standout career in the af2 and played two seasons in the AFL.
Sauk – who played two seasons with the af2’s Louisville Fire while Shackleford was the offensive coordinator and four seasons total in the af2 – ranks first all-time in passes completed in a single-season (408) in the league. He also ranks third in career passes attempted (2,406) and second in career passes completed (1,494).
He was the af2’s Offensive Player of the Year in 2005, Rookie of the Year in 2001, an all-af2 performer three times and went on to play for the Philadelphia Soul and Grand Rapids Rampage before he began his coaching career this season in Spokane.
Line change
Fullback Katon Bethay, who missed last week’s game in Boise because of a sprained right foot, could be ready to go in time for the Shock’s game against Tri-Cities on Saturday.
“Katon will practice and be evaluated (today),” Shackleford said. “I would say he’s between questionable and probable for the game.”
If Bethay isn’t ready to go, Shackleford will dress either an extra defensive lineman or defensive back. If he goes with an extra lineman, it will be newcomer Jeff Van Orsow, who the Shock signed last week. To make room for Van Orsow, DL Jason Jack was placed on recallable re-assignment earlier this week.
Also, if Bethay doesn’t play, Harrison Nikolao and Palauni Ma Sun will split time at fullback.
Shock top poll again
The Shock earned 27 of 29 first-place votes and 447 points to earn the top position in the coaches poll for the second straight week.
The defending ArenaCup champion Tulsa Talons (9-1) are ranked second again this week after surrendering the top position last week to the Shock. The Talons’ victory last Saturday over Lubbock increased their lead in the Central Division to two games over the Renegades.
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (8-2), Florida (8-2) and Tennessee Valley (7-3) are ranked third, fourth and fifth, respectively.
Extra points
Shock defensive back Sergio Gilliam, who had two interceptions last week in Boise, is two picks away from tying the af2 single-season record, set by Tennessee Valley’s Kelly Snell in 2002. .. If the af2 playoffs started today, the Shock would host the Boise Burn (5-5) in the opening round.