Gilliam is a man with a plan
Sergio Gilliam has the perfect Saturday night all planned out.
First, help the Spokane Shock earn an arenafootball2 victory against visiting Stockton. Second, break Spokane’s single-season interception record he currently shares with ex-Shock defensive back Rob Keefe. Third, hand the football to his mother, who will be part of the Spokane Arena crowd for the first time.
“My mom, stepdad and aunt are coming from South Carolina, plus some other friends from around here that haven’t been to a game before,” said Gilliam, who had two picks in Saturday’s win over Austin to give him 10 on the season. “Hopefully I can make it a great visit for them.”
Keefe also is expected to attend the game. He has seen extensive playing time over the last month with AFL Philadelphia, which has a bye this week. Keefe had 10 interceptions in the Shock’s inaugural season in 2006.
“I met him (Sunday) for the first time after hearing about him,” Gilliam said. “Real nice guy, great personality, very down to earth and a guy it seems like you’d like to be on a team with.”
Gilliam leads af2 in interceptions. Louisville’s Matt Forbes and Wilkes-Barre/Scranton’s Micheaux Robinson each have eight.
“Sergio and Keefe both know how to read the game and the quarterback,” Shock receiver Raul Vijil said. “When you have the defensive line putting pressure on like we have, it’s definitely going to help the defensive backs. Whether we’re in man or zone, Sergio is making plays.”
None of Gilliam’s goals for Saturday will be easy, but keeping a grip on the football might be the toughest of all. He hasn’t kept any footballs from his 10 interceptions.
“Once I get an interception or a touchdown (return), I’m usually dropping the ball or we’re always throwing it into the stands,” Gilliam said. “If I do get this 11th pick and if I don’t forget, I’m going to give it to my mother.”
Numbers game
Spokane’s depth was evident again as Patrick Bugg, Roshawn Marshall and Kyle Young played key roles in the victory over Austin. Bugg, filling in at receiver for the injured Kelvin Dickens, had three touchdown catches. Young played on the offensive front for Palauni Ma Sun, who was out with an ankle injury. Marshall replaced defensive back Tremaine Tyler, who is sidelined with a hamstring injury.
“With the amount of talent we have on this team, the sky is the limit,” said defensive end Devon Parks, who had 21/2 sacks. “When guys sit on the sideline and watch other guys play, that sticks in their minds. They’re anticipating their chance to get in and when they do, they take full advantage.”
Head coach Adam Shackleford said recently that one of the team’s best qualities is the players welcome competition instead of feeling threatened by it.
“I think that’s true,” Vijil said. “It’s my third year and I find myself competing every day.”
Shackleford said depth has been crucial to enduring the last few weeks with a banged-up roster. The coach is considering whether to give Vijil (shoulder, hamstring, toe) a break Saturday, but won’t decide until later this week. Dickens and Ma Sun are expected to return.
“It’s been great to get our rookies going and understanding the game while we’re getting healthy at the same time,” Shackleford said. “We’ve rested a lot of guys the last couple weeks and still continued to win.”
Stockton coach fired
The Stockton Lightning will have a new head coach when they take on Spokane. Doug Murray, who has been with the Lightning since the team’s inception, was fired Tuesday. Chad Carlson, who has previous af2 head coaching experience with Hawaii (2002) and Bossier City (2003), has been named interim head coach.
Murray was 8-17 in 11/2 seasons. Stockton replaced its offensive coordinator in late April, promoting Tony Wells, former head coach at Everett and Tri-Cities, to the position.