Shock set to take on rival Fever

It’s not time for the Spokane Shock to order a new Western Division banner – yet.

They can probably go ahead and start thinking about the postseason, though.

The top-ranked Shock (10-0), the last undefeated team in the arenafootball2 league, travel to Kennewick’s Toyota Center today to take on the Tri-Cities Fever (4-6). A Spokane victory will lock up a third consecutive playoff berth for the Shock.

The Fever, who lost on a touchdown in the final seconds last week to Central Valley, need to win to keep their postseason hopes alive. They are tied for ninth in the National Conference standings with three other teams – Amarillo, Rio Grande Valley and Bossier-Shreveport – and the top eight teams in each conference make the playoffs.

“A lot of times in a game like this the defense that maybe gets three stops first is going to win the football game,” said Shock coach Adam Shackleford. “The first time we played them down there we struggled, both teams had some guys ejected, but the bottom line is our guys have found a way to win each week even when things don’t go well.”

The Shock and Fever have played against each other four times this season – including an exhibition game before the season started – with all contests ending in favor of Spokane. But as Shackleford mentioned, some of those victories haven’t come easy for the Shock, who won by a four-point margin on April 13 in Kennewick and edged the Fever 59-56 on May 17 at the Arena.

“We’re preparing just like we do every week,” Shackleford said. “They are going to be ready to go. We’re playing down there in their place, where it’s a rough environment for a visiting team.

“We know that we have a tough task ahead of us.”

Extra points

The Shock attended the funeral of Francis Rose Vijil Murguia, Shock wide receiver Raul Vijil’s niece, on Friday in Pasco. The 10-month-old Murguia was diagnosed with a serious heart condition before birth and died unexpectedly on Monday. Vijil will play in today’s game. … The Shock are 3-1 all time in regular-season contests against the Fever.