Shock know score

Spokane won the arenafootball2 championship in its inaugural season in 2006 and followed it up with a division title last year.

The fifth-ranked Shock, who open the season at Green Bay on Sunday, hope that success leads to more of the same.

“People want to play in Spokane, with the support of the fans and the ownership,” said receiver Raul Vijil, the only player on the roster who has been with the Shock since the first game. “We have a lot of talent in here and we had to let some good guys go, too, but it’s a business and we’re trying to win a championship.”

The third edition of the Shock seems to have the ingredients to challenge for af2 supremacy. They’re a little light on experience, but second-year head coach Adam Shackleford likes the team’s potential.

“The first thing I stress to them is the importance of Shock football to this community,” said Shackleford, who guided the team to a 12-5 record last season. “This town expects a winner and that’s a good thing.”

The players expect it, too.

“You don’t want to put too much pressure on yourself or you might fall back a little, but everybody here knows what they’re getting into when they come to Spokane,” said starting quarterback Jason Murietta. “It’s a great organization and a team effort from top to bottom. We’re just trying to continue to win.”

The Shock have eight returning players: Vijil, Rico Ochoa, Katon Bethay, Ryan Belcher, Devon Parks, Nygel Rogers, Kelvin Dickens and Anthony Brown. Parks and Ochoa were American Conference second-team All-af2 in 2007.

Vijil, who has scored 38 touchdowns the last two years, leads a receiving unit that includes Dickens, Andy Olson and Patrick Bugg. Shackleford called the group “more talented than any group I’ve had.”

Bethay returns at fullback. Ochoa and Belcher are joined up front by Palauni Ma Sun, who played at Oregon in 2005-06. Ochoa has dropped 40 pounds since last season, Shackleford said.

“The coaches have been saying since Day 1 that we have the best big guys in the league,” Murietta said. “I didn’t know what to think until (an exhibition game) and I didn’t even get touched.”

The defensive front is a little unsettled with Harrison Nikolao missing the opener to attend his wedding ceremony. Parks had six sacks in eight games last year. Jason Jack will be in the mix.

Lee Foliaki, an ex-Texas A&M teammate of Jack’s, and Kevin McCullough, who spent time in the New York Jets’ training camp, are expected to start at “Mac” and “Jack” linebackers, respectively.

Rogers, who intercepted eight passes in 2007, Sergio Gilliam and Roshawn Marshall form a physical, talented secondary.

Brian Jackson takes over kicking duties. He was 9 of 9 on PATs in the exhibition game. Two-year starter Jon Koker made just 3 of 10 field goals and 73.3 percent of his PATs last season.

“I really think we’re more accurate at that position,” Shackleford said.

Shackleford expects big things from newcomers Murietta, Olson and Ma Sun.

“Jason is very accurate, very confident,” Shackleford said. “Olson does all the right things and Palauni is very good in protection. He’s a guy I think will be in the AFL next year.”

Shackleford’s coaching staff returns intact. Alex Sirianni will coordinate the defense and ex-NFL players Steve Emtman and Tom Ackerman are back to assist with the lines. Matt Sauk, a prolific AFL and af2 quarterback who played for Shackleford, has been added to coach quarterbacks and receivers.

Sunday’s opener pits the teams that battled for the 2006 ArenaCup. Spokane thumped the Blizzard 57-34 in Puerto Rico and the championship trophy sits near the entryway of the team headquarters in Spokane Valley.

“What you always get with Green Bay is a big, tough, physical team that is well-coached,” Shackleford said. “We know we have a tough opponent. We just have to play well.”