Olson guides Shock
YAKIMA – You can officially record the Spokane Shock’s 63-32 exhibition win over rival Tri-Cities a coming out party for Andy Olson.
The slender rookie receiver from Western Washington announced his presence with authority in the SunDome, catching 13 passes for 152 yards and three touchdowns.
The game was played in front of an estimated 1,800 fans in a town that hasn’t seen indoor football since the ill-fated National Indoor Football League had a franchise here in 2001. Event organizers had hoped for a bigger walk-up crowd but remain optimistic about adding Yakima as a future arenafootball2 franchise.
That Olson’s performance came on the eve of the team’s final preseason cuts before the 2008 season begins in earnest made it all the more impressive in the eyes of Shock coach Adam Shackleford.
“Andy Olson has made our team,” Shackleford said. “He is a tremendous talent and he’s a great person of the field as well.
“He’s the kind of player any coach would want.”
Shackleford admitted that he has several players like that on his roster which makes his job today – cutting six players – tougher.
The team opens the season at Green Bay – the team they beat in the 2006 Arena Cup – on March 30 in the regular-season opener.
Olson, who admitted that he grew up with dreams of playing professional football but never really considered playing in the Arena environment, was happy with how he played.
“I got in the end zone a couple of times and I caught the balls they threw to me, which is really important,” he said.
Olson – teaming with preseason roommate and starting quarterback Jason Murietta – had touchdown catches of 4 and 8 yards in the first half as the Shock dashed out to a 28-14 lead after the teams were briefly tied at 14.
The momentum seemed to turn in Spokane’s favor when veteran wideout Raul Vijil snared a pass from Murietta in the right flat. Vijil headed upfield near the boards and was briefly detained in a scrum before popping out, reversing his field and dashing 17 yards for a 21-14 Spokane lead.
The Shock attempted an onside kick immediately afterward. While the Shock didn’t recover the kick, the defense came up with the first of two big stops on the night and held the Fever to 6 yards on four plays.