07/25/2008 10:41 PM - With the sun setting on another successful regular season for the Spokane Shock, it would be easy for Head Coach Adam Shackleford to focus on the dawn of the post-season that begins next weekend. But that won’t happen.

“When you work as hard as we do, you’d like to think that your guys take every game seriously,” Head Coach Adam Shackleford said. “The reality of it is that these guys make more money when they win.”

The reality for the Boise Burn is that a win will secure them a playoff spot for the first time in their franchise’s short two-year history. As it stands now, the Burn are the ninth seed in the conference but a win would propel them into the playoffs.

“They are a team that is on the edge, fighting for a playoff spot,” Shackleford explained. “Coach Lee Leslie (Boise’s Head Coach) is the kind of coach that will have his team playing hard for four quarters.”

Last week, the Burn traveled to Fresno, CA and returned to Boise with heart breaking five point loss, 50-55. After battling back and fourth through the first three quarters of play, the turning point came early in the 4th quarter. With the Burn down by three points, KR Demon Williams returned a kick 42-yards before coughing up the ball on the 8-yard line. The Coyotes recovered and six plays later scored the go-ahead touchdown.

Despite the loss, Burn QB Royal Gill still accounted for five touchdowns (four passing, one rushing) with 241 yards and one interception.

“Royal Gill is a good QB,” Shackleford said. “When he has time to throw, he is very good.”

One of Gill’s most reliable receivers is 2nd-year veteran Casey Allen, who leads the team in receptions (82), receiving yards (1034) and touchdowns (14). Gill has also found an additional weapon in newly acquired receiver Brian Hernandez. Hernandez has 21 receptions, averaging two touchdowns per game in the three that he has played.

The Shock receivers are led by 3rd-year veteran Raul Vijil, who is currently second in the league in scoring, averaging over 19 points per game. Newly acquired veteran Etu Molden has already paid dividends for the Shock scoring a touchdown in both games in which he has played.

Tonight’s sunset is scheduled for 8:31 PM. Will Boise wake up to the dawn of the post-season? Only time will tell.