 |
Fireworks will fly on Friday night as two of the top offenses in the AFL hit the field. TICKETS ARE STILL AVAILABLE AND CAN BE PURCHASED BY CONTACTING TICKETSWEST |
It seems only fitting that the Spokane Shock are hosting the Arizona Rattlers on the Fourth of July weekend.
After Spokane narrowly defeated the Rattlers 63-56 in the teams’ first meeting, sparks flew between Head Coach Rob Keefe and Head Coach Kevin Guy. In a back-and-forth contest that included six tie scores, the game came down to the final play. The Rattlers’ offense, led by former Shock QB Nick Davila, orchestrated a nine-play drive that put Arizona in place to win the game. Davila’s final attempt to win the game failed as Shock DB William Mulder intercepted his pass and sealed the seven-point victory for Spokane. The win put Spokane one game ahead of Arizona in the competitive race for the Western Division Crown. Six games later, Spokane still holds a one-game lead over Arizona.
“We are looking at Friday’s game as the Division Championship,” Keefe explained. “I just think this is an enormous game that has a lot of implications for this team - either positive or negative – depending on the outcome.”
Since their last meeting, the Rattlers and the Shock have become two of the hottest teams in the AFL. Spokane, winners of seven straight, are the top-ranked team in the league; while Arizona, winners of six straight, are ranked fourth in the AFL.
Much of the credit for both teams’ success is due to their powerful offenses that are first (Spokane – averaging 66.3/game) and second (Arizona – 65 points/game) in the league in scoring.
Spokane’s offense is led by the dangerous combination of QB Kyle Rowley and his leading receiver, Huey Whittaker. Rowley and Whittaker have teamed up for 23 touchdowns and 99 receptions for 1,079 yards.
Arizona counters with its dynamic duo, Davila and WR Rod Windsor. During Arizona’s current winning streak, Davila has formed an unbreakable bond with the league’s leading receiver, Windsor. During that span, Windsor has collected 76 receptions for 981 yards with 21 touchdowns. Joining Windsor in the Rattlers receiving corps is JJ McKelvey and recently activated Trandon Harvey.
Defensively, Spokane has allowed only 54.2 points per game thanks in large part to a sack-happy defensive line and a greedy secondary. Spokane’s defensive line has accounted for 18 sacks, including a team-high from DL Jerry Turner (5). The Shock secondary has accounted for 10 interceptions amongst its starters, including two against Davila in their last meeting.
Spokane’s offense will be challenged by Arizona’s defense that is giving up an average of 59.5 points per game. The Rattlers’ defensive front has recorded 11 sacks – including three each from Anttaj Hawthorne Ron Jones, who are tied for the team lead. Additionally, the Rattlers’ defense has recorded 13 interceptions – including a team-leading four each from LB Kelvin Morris and DB Riley Swanson.
On the weekend that the nation celebrates its independence, Arizona and Spokane are sure to put on an impressive fireworks display with playoff implications and a possible post-season preview on the line.
“We’re thinking of this as a playoff game,” Keefe said. “They are the team to beat. This is probably the team we will have to beat to get to the Championship.”
