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Spokane Shock

Defense holds up in Spokane Empire’s victory over Colorado Crush

Spokane Empire
Spokane Empire's tries to hold back the Crush defenders as Trevor Kennedy (18) is tackled on a run by Colorado Crush's Phillip Lewis (99) during an IFL football game , Fri., April 14, 2017, in the Spokane Arena. (Colin Mulvany / The Spokesman-Review)Buy a print of this photo
By Josh Horton joshho@spokesman.com

In a matchup last season, the Spokane Empire almost hit the century mark on the scoreboard in a 97-72 win over the Colorado Crush.

What a difference a year can make.

Defense reigned supreme in the Empire’s 36-24 win over the Crush on Friday at the Arena in a Week 9 Indoor Football League matchup.

“I think that when we’re on the same page, we’re the best defense in the league” Spokane linebacker Pasquale Vacchio said.

The Empire (5-2, 4-1 Intense Conference) were clearly on the same page, especially when it counted. The Crush (1-6, 1-6) failed to score in the fourth quarter and the Empire’s defense forced the game-changing turnover.

When Spokane was nursing a 29-24 lead with 7:26 left to play, the Empire’s pass rush forced Colorado quarterback Liam Nadler to fumble and Andrew Jackson recovered at the 17-yard line. It set up Bryan Pray’s 3-yard touchdown catch, his second of the night, which extended Spokane’s lead to 36-24.

“That was a big play in the game, for sure,” Spokane head coach Adam Shackleford said of Jackson’s recovery.

Jackson, a linebacker who was a sixth-round pick by the Indianapolis Colts in the 2014 draft out of Western Kentucky, is playing defensive end for the Empire because experienced players Nick Haag and Pasquale Vacchio occupy the two linebacker spots. But Shackleford doesn’t want his talent to go to waste.

“I think he’s got a career in (defensive end and linebacker) coming up,” Shackleford said.

Putting his hand down and rushing the passer were adjustments at first for Jackson, but there are no complaints these days.

“It was frustrating at first. It’s all new to me,” Jackson said. “But it’s a blessing. To be out there and learn a new position, all I can do is perfect my craft and get better every week.”

Spokane’s defense also had five sacks and hurried Nadler repeatedly.

Last season, Spokane’s defense was solid, giving up 44.3 points per game. That number has dipped down to 35.4 this season, including five instances in which the team has relinquished 40 points or less.

“I think that the difference on defense is that all eight of us, we’re dogs,” Vacchio said. “We all want to make the tackle. We all want to make the play.

“When you have eight people trying to make the play, that’s pretty scary for an offense.”

While the defense has been rock solid, the Empire are waiting for their offense to break out. Spokane is scoring 46.5 points per game this season, fifth in the IFL.

“We’re just still making mistakes on offense,” Shackleford said. “We’ve got a lot of new guys on the offensive line and we didn’t really get a lot of push there. And I think that affected us mentally.”

Shackleford also noted the loss of starting center Kyle Fischer has disrupted the offense’s rhythm.

There were flashes of brilliance on the offensive end. Running back Trevor Kennedy scored the Empire’s first touchdown on a 24-yard scamper on a sweep play to the left side at the 10:25 mark.

Empire quarterback Charles Dowdell completed 18 of 26 passes for 136 yards and two touchdowns. He also had 58 yards rushing.

Pray caught six passes for 50 yards and two touchdowns. Kennedy finished with 80 all-purpose yards (52 rushing, 28 receiving).