Shock clinch playoff spot

KENNEWICK – Top ranked, undefeated, and now – playoff bound.

Nick Davila connected 14 of 25 passes for 193 yards, threw four touchdowns and one interception as the Spokane Shock remained the lone undefeated team in the arenafootball2 league with a 54-33 victory over the Tri-Cities Fever on Saturday night at the Toyota Center.

The victory clinched, at minimum, a third consecutive playoff berth for Spokane (11-0). The Shock are also close to locking up the Western Division title, but Central Valley (6-4) defeated Stockton (2-9) on Saturday to remain within range.

“The main thing (on Saturday) was that we wanted to win the football game,” said Shock coach Adam Shackleford. “We discussed (clinching the playoff berth), but for us winning our division is really the next step and we hope to get that accomplished soon.”

In the wake of his young niece’s death on Monday, Raul Vijil – a Pasco native – led the Shock receivers with eight catches, 95 yards and two touchdowns.

Vijil and the team attended the funeral of 10-month-old Francis Rose Vijil Murguia on Friday in Pasco. Murguia, who was diagnosed with a serious heart condition before her birth, died unexpectedly.

“His whole family was (at the game,)” said Shackleford. “(The team) talked before this game about the important things in life, and this football game wasn’t the important thing to happen this week.

“Being there for Raul and family, with a chance to honor the family and that little girl – that was the focus.”

Tri-Cities quarterback Tali Ena, who completed 13 for 31 passes, was replaced in the third period by John Pierce after Shock defensive back Nygel Rogers recovered a fumble at Spokane’s 23-yard line and ran for a 27-yard touchdown for a 40-7 lead.

After that, the Shock were outscored 26-14.

Andy Olson, Patrick Bugg and Kelvin Dickens each caught one touchdown pass, and Harrison Nikolao and Kevin McCullough each ran in 1-yard touchdowns for Spokane.

Shock defensive back Sergio Gilliam picked off Pierce on the Fever’s opening drive of the fourth quarter, adding to his franchise record and bringing his league-leading interception total to 14.

Gilliam is one interception shy of tying the single-season af2 record of 15, set by Tennessee Valley’s Kelly Snell during the 2002 season.