07/04/2009 8:41 PM -
July 4, 2009: The Spokane Shock’s 12-game winning streak, their longest in franchise history, has finally come to an end after losing tonight in Iowa, 48-54.
The Shock made mistakes that they have not made all season, including three costly turnovers (one interception, and two fumbles) with 10 penalties.
Spokane’s first drive of the game ended on a Raul Vijil fumble that the Barnstormers’ offense capitalized on with a ten-yard TD pass to WR Dusty Kain and gave the Barnstormers an early 7-0 lead. Iowa’s defense continued to stifle Spokane in the first half, creating two stops in the red zone that proved to be the difference in the ball game.
For only the second time this season, Spokane was down at halftime 14-23. Spokane came out strong after the intermission and stopped Iowa on its first drive of the half. The Shock offense took advantage of this defensive stop and pulled themselves back into the game. QB Nick Davila came out and fired four straight completions including a 30-yard pass to WR Andy Olson, his longest of the game. Davila finished the drive off two plays later with a nine-yard TD pass to Vijil.
Spokane continued to battle back and tied the game 28-28 early in the fourth quarter with just over 13 minutes left in the game. Iowa quickly regained the lead on their next drive, thanks to a 20-yard TD reception by Kain from QB Brian Villanueva.
Davila fired back with a four-yard touchdown pass of his own to Olson and knotted the game at 35 apiece. On the ensuing kick-off, Shackleford elected to go for an on-side kick attempt that was recovered by Kain and returned for a touchdown. Iowa never relinquished their lead again for the remainder of the game.
“We beat ourselves tonight,” Shackleford said. “In the first half, we beat ourselves and we just couldn’t catch-up in the end.”
Next week, the Spokane Shock host the 11-2 Wilkes-Barre Scranton Pioneers for one of the most anticipated of the season.
“If this is a wake-up call, maybe this is what we needed tonight,” Shackleford explained. “We’re going to find out what kind of football team we are next week.”
Tickets are still available for Saturday night’s showdown against the Pioneers and can be purchased by contacting TicketsWest.
NOTES: UNFRIENDLY CONFINES: Tonight’s announced attendance of 8,042 was the second-largest road crowd that Spokane has played in front of in its franchise history. In 2006, in Louisville the Fire announced the attendance at 8,058. STREAKING: In addition to snapping Spokane’s 12-game winning streak, tonight’s loss also ended the Shock’s road winning streak, the longest in af2 history, at 16-games. RIPE FOR THE PICKING: DB Sergio Gilliam’s first half interception was his ninth of the season. Gilliam now leads the team in that category with one more then LB Kevin McCullough. 5: QB Nick Davila’s first half interception was only his fifth of the season. Davila threw his last interception five weeks ago against the Central Valley Coyotes.
