Davila throws for 7 TDs in Shock victory

AUSTIN, Texas – Nick Davila threw seven touchdown passes for the third consecutive game and Spokane’s defense forced four turnovers to spark the Shock’s 62-42 arenafootball2 win over Austin on Saturday at the Frank Erwin Center.

The convincing victory gives second-ranked Spokane an 8-0 record halfway through the season. Austin dropped to 3-5.

Davila connected with Raul Vijil on three touchdown passes as the Shock opened up a 28-17 halftime lead. Spokane trailed 7-0 and was stopped on its initial possession, but the defense turned the momentum. Linebacker Kevin McCullough’s interception and 26-yard touchdown return tied the score.

Defensive back Roshawn Marshall stripped the ball from a Wranglers receiver and Harrison Nikoloa recovered, setting up the first Davila-to-Vijil scoring play. Austin evened the score at 14, but another Vijil TD reception put Spokane on top to stay.

Sergio Gilliam intercepted an Andy Hall pass off the netting in the end zone, but Davila was then intercepted for the first time this season.

Spokane’s defense registered its fourth stop of the half and Vijil’s 19-yard touchdown catch hiked the Shock lead to 28-14. Austin closed within 11 on Keita Iizuka’s 43-yard field goal on the last play of the half.

Both teams have struggled in third quarters this season – Spokane has been outscored 86-62, Austin 99-52 – but the Shock put the ball in the end zone three times by the midpoint of the period. Patrick Bugg had two of his three second-half touchdown catches, the first two covering 29 and 40 yards.

On the kickoff following Bugg’s second touchdown, the ball bounded back into the field of play where Spokane’s Jason Jack scooped it up in stride at the 5 for another score and a 48-24 Shock lead.

Austin pulled within 55-42 in the fourth quarter and then recovered an onside kick, but Gilliam stymied the comeback with his second interception and 10th of the season, equaling Rob Keefe’s team record.

Davila found Bugg for a 9-yard touchdown pass to seal up Spokane’s fifth road win. It was another balanced effort by Shock receivers (Vijil seven catches for 83 yards, Bugg 6-93 and Andy Olson 6-59). Devon Parks had 2.5 sacks.

Spokane returns home to face Stockton at 8 p.m. Saturday. The Shock drubbed the Lightning 70-12 in early April.