After road wins, Shock want to put on show for own fans
The Spokane Shock are 6-1, lead their division by a game and have played in front of packed houses at the Arena.
They still feel like they owe one to the home folks.
The Shock are riding a two-game arenafootball2 winning streak entering tonight’s contest with Quad City, but those two victories came on the road. Spokane was pummeled in its last home game, a 52-20 loss to Bakersfield on May 6.
“It’s always nice to play in front of our home crowd and we have a lot to prove as far as the last time the home crowd saw us,” Spokane coach Chris Siegfried said. “Our crowd hasn’t really seen us perform at home the way we have in away games.”
Spokane is 2-1 at home and 4-0 on the road, including consecutive wins over Everett (58-29) and Central Valley (68-54).
“We’re constantly trying to improve and as guys become more and more familiar with each other and learn the game more, they kind of jell as a team and play better,” Siegfried said.
Quad City (2-5) is last in the American Conference East Division, but the Steamwheelers have one of the top offenses in af2 and their record might be flip-flopped with a few breaks. Last week, for example, Quad City was stopped on fourth-and-goal at the 1 in the closing seconds and lost to Green Bay 40-35. Prior to that game, the Steamwheelers defeated Louisville 68-62 and Central Valley 59-52.
“They’re definitely better than their record,” Siegfried said “I know guys say that all the time, but this is one of those cases where it’s actually the truth. I’m putting most of my emphasis on their last three games and they should be 3-0 in that time.”
Quad City ranks No. 1 in total offense (333.3 yards per game) and veteran quarterback Tim Hicks is on pace to easily break Matt Sauk’s single-season league record for passing yardage. Spokane is No. 3 in total defense (218.7).
The game within the game features Quad City offensive coordinator Sean Ponder matching wits against Shock defensive coordinator Troy Biladeau. Biladeau was the head coach of an indoor team in Wichita in 2000 when Ponder was the quarterback. In 2004, Ponder was the head coach and Biladeau the defensive coordinator for the af2 Wichita Stealth.
“We’re friends before the game, enemies during the game and friends afterward,” Biladeau said. “He knows what I like to do and obviously I know what he likes to do, but I’m sure we’re both going to throw in a little wrinkle.”
Notes
Spokane thought it would be without receiver Charles Frederick, who flew to Miami earlier this week for a tryout with the Dolphins. But Frederick’s agent told Siegfried that the tryout was rescheduled and Frederick was expected to be on hand tonight. … Lineman Brian Devine has recovered from a knee injury and should be available. … Ex-Washington State Cougar Billy Newman has been put on the long-term injury list. Newman has a knee injury that is more serious than originally believed, Siegfried said. … About 8,000 tickets had been sold as of Friday morning. … Lineman Ed Ta’amu, who signed with the Shock earlier this week, has been impressive in workouts and should make his debut tonight. … Former Idaho Vandals lineman Mataease “Michael” Togafau is on Quad City’s roster.