Back with an advance of Saturday's Spokane-Central Valley game at the Arena. The unedited version is below.

Also, the Shock shook up their roster with a couple of trades and three new additions. None of the newcomers are expected to be activated for Saturday's game. More here.

By Jim Meehan

Staff writer

Close only counts in horseshoes, and arenafootball2 games involving Spokane and Central Valley.

Spokane is 7-0 all-time against the Coyotes, who make their annual visit to the Arena tonight, with four of those wins by a field goal or less. Three of those close calls have come on Spokane’s home turf.

“They’re just a good team that is always well coached,” Shock coach Adam Shackleford said. “It’s come down to the end and we’ve earned those wins, but certainly the ball has bounced our way at times. We think it’ll be the same kind of game, but we also think we’re prepared and ready to play.”

No. 1-ranked Spokane (7-0) is one win from reaching the halfway point of regular season undefeated. Central Valley (3-4) lost ex-Shock quarterback Jason Murrietta to a shoulder injury last week, but the Coyotes could climb back into the playoff picture with an upset victory.

Ryan O’Hara replaced Murrietta and finished 8 of 16 for 72 yards and three touchdowns in the Coyotes’ 68-51 loss to Arkansas. O’Hara was sacked four times.

“We recruited him a little bit last year but he ended up signing with another team,” Shackleford said. “He’s been there the whole time and taken plenty of reps in practice. We’ve certainly seen backup quarterbacks have success against us before. We’re not going to take anything for granted.”

The Shock knocked off Florida last week, despite committing four turnovers.

“We feel like every week we improve on something, but then we take a step back in another area,” said defensive back Aaron Williams, who will return after missing one game with a knee injury. “We haven’t really put it all together yet.”

Notes

Spokane is familiar with Central Valley’s primary receivers. Lamonte Jones and Phil Goodman, both former Tri-Cities players, and ex-Austin Wrangler John Roberson, combined for 17 catches a week ago. Goodman and linebacker Wes Borba left last week’s game with injuries, but Shackleford expects both to play tonight. … Central Valley ranks 13^th in scoring offense (52 ppg) and 20^th in scoring defense (57.7). However, the Coyotes are ninth in total offense (284.4 ypg) and fifth in total defense (254.9). Spokane is sixth in scoring offense (59.6), fifth in scoring defense (42.7), eighth in total offense (296) and 20^th in total defense (293.6). … About 900 tickets were available as of Friday morning.

 

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