05/02/2009 9:48 PM -
May 2, 2009: Spokane, WA: The Shock returned to Spokane tonight, after spending the previous two weeks on the road, and defeated the Iowa Barnstormers 49-30.
The Shock didn’t miss a beat in front of their home crowd (10,286) as the offense and the defense picked up right where they left off in their last home game two weeks ago.
WR Andy Olson, who missed the last two weeks due to injury, led the receivers in receptions with 13 (two short of the single game franchise record) receptions – including two for touchdowns - for 138 yards. WR Charles Dillon, who missed last week’s game due to injury, led the team in touchdown receptions with three.
Iowa’s offense seemed to be out of sync all night with constant pressure on QB Brian Villanueva from the Shock’s defensive line that accounted for three sacks, including two from DL Ben McCombs. The Shock’s defensive backs also seemed to disrupt Villanueva’s rhythm as they accounted for eight pass break-ups and one interception courtesy of DB Sergio Gilliam.
Villanueva did, however, connect with WR Tim Dodge and Errick McCown who combined for 13 receptions – including one TD for each of them.
“My hat’s off to the defense tonight. They really set us up and put us in a good position,” WR Raul Vijil said.”They came through with a couple of big stops when we needed them; so, my hat’s off to them.”
For Head Coach Adam Shackleford tonight’s victory was an important one, not only to keep their four game winning streak alive, to earn the respect of the af2.
“We talked a lot this week about respect for us and also respect for our division,” Shackleford said. “The Mid-West is a very tough, rugged division. To have a team from that division come out here and for us to beat them, is a big deal.”
Dillon echoed those same sentiments. “Shack’s been telling us all week that the other divisions don’t respect us – they feel that we don’t have good teams in our division,” Dillon explained. “So we took it very personally. We’re not given respect –we have to earn it.”
The top-ranked Shock are the only undefeated team in the af2 after the Oklahoma City Yard Dawgz lost a heartbreaker to Rio Grande Dorados,73-74 Friday night. (Oklahoma visits Spokane on Friday June 26th.)
The Shock host the Boise Burn next Saturday at the Spokane Arena on Spokane Tribe Field. Tickets are still available and can be purchased by contacting TicketsWest.
JLS Ironman of the Game: SPOKANE – WR/Special Teams: Charles Dillon
Aaron’s Defensive Player of the Game: SPOKANE – DL Ben McCombs
Russell Athletic Offensive Player of the Game: SPOKANE – QB Nick Davila
The big Game Catch of the Game: SPOKANE – DB Sergio Gilliam
Attendance: 10,286
MULTIMEDIA: Click here to see the game through the lens of Brandon Hansen and Hanne Zak.
