Major computer issues here at the Arena, so hopefully this post makes it. Spokane defeated Central Valley 43-22 on Saturday. Unedited game story below.

 

By Jim Meehan

Staff writer

This wasn’t a typical arenafootball2 game.

Points were scarce. Defensive stops and turnovers were abundant. There was a safety, a couple of field goals and spot-on post-game analysis from Spokane Shock head coach Adam Shackleford.

“Who pitched?” cracked Shackleford, after watching the defense carry the top-ranked Shock to a 43-22 victory over Central Valley in front of 10,223 Saturday at the Arena.

How strange was it? At half, Spokane led 13-9, one of the lowest scoring halves in franchise history. The Shock led Arkansas 14-7 at half before going on to a 42-14 win in the opening round of the 2008 playoffs.

“That’s an outdoor game,” Shock quarterback Nick Davila said of the halftime score.

Davila, though, missed most of the half after absorbing a huge hit on Spokane’s first play from scrimmage. He was drilled by linebacker Jajuan Huddleston as he released the ball and it floated into the arms of defensive back Ruschard Dodd-Masters at the goal line.

Davila left the field holding his left (throwing) arm and didn’t return until late in the second quarter.

“I got hit right on the nerve, and it just made the tendon swell up and I have a big, deep contusion in my forearm,” Davila said. “It kind of went numb. Just to move it hurts.”

Shackleford said the Coyotes (3-5) should have been flagged for an illegal blitz.

“The ‘Jack’ (linebacker) blitzed,” he said. “Only the ‘Mac’ linebacker can blitz. I reminded the umpire of that a couple of times.”

Davila’s departure meant both teams were piloted by backup quarterbacks. Ryan O’Hara filled in for Jason Murrietta, who was sidelined last week with a shoulder injury. O’Hara had a long night, finishing 24 of 39 for 225 yards. He was sacked five times, fumbled twice and was intercepted once.

“Twenty-two points, that’s a big game on our part,” said Shock defensive end Ben McCombs, who had 2.5 sacks and forced an O’Hara fumble that led to a third-quarter safety. “That’s like giving up three points in a regular game.”

Casey Hansen replaced Davila. By the time Hansen took the field, Central Valley led 9-0, cashing in on a successful on-side kick with an O’Hara touchdown pass to Lamonte Jones, who finished with 15 catches.

Hansen tossed a touchdown pass to Raul Vijil and Spokane took a 13-9 lead on two Brian Jackson field goals.

Both offenses sputtered and the Coyotes went five consecutive drives without scoring.

“At half, there was nothing more to get mad about,” Shackleford said. “We decided to treat it like a new game in the second half. Then we drive it down to the 1 and get stopped. It was one of those crazy games. Luckily, our defense played outstanding.”

After trading touchdowns, Spokane moved on top 36-22 midway through the fourth when Davila snuck into the right corner of the end zone from 1-yard out. Stanley Franks picked off an O’Hara pass two plays later and a face-masking penalty gave Spokane the ball at the Coyotes’ 9. Davila scored on another keeper with 1 minute left to seal Spokane’s eighth win and preserve a two-game edge over Boise in the West Divsiion.

Davila finished 13 of 19 for 127 yards and one touchdown. Vijil came up with 101 kick-return yards, one touchdown catch and a 42-yard reception that set up Harrison Nikolao’s 3-yard TD plunge late in the third quarter. Andy Olson caught 9 passes for 59 yards and one touchdown.

Franks had eight tackles, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery and one interception. Spokane (8-0 played without defensive back Sergio Gilliam (back).

“I think we got a little frustrated (in the first half),” Vijil said. “Casey came in and he probably had a little bit of the nerves. I have all the trust in the world in him but it was his first game. Our defense stepped up.”

 

---

---