NFL, MLB, NHL, NBA, CFL stats



Game Preview (week 5): Stockton Lightning Vs. Spokane Shock

April 25, 2009 - arenafootball2 (af2)
Stockton Lightning News Release


QUICK FACTS:

Stockton Lightning (1-2)

vs. Spokane Shock (3-0)

Date: April 25, 2009

Kickoff: 7:00 p.m. PT

Site: Stockton Arena (9,919)

Internet: www.NiFTyTV.com/af2 (Steve McElroy, J.J. Stokes)

Officials: Referee - Steve Strimling; Umpire - Michael Ross; Head Linesman - John Jenkins; Line Judge - Jim Wharrie; Back Judge - Ken Sarna

National Anthem: Vicki Ericson

Color Guard: Honor Guard, Travis Air Force Base

Coin Toss: Matt Thomas (Head Coach, Stockton Thunder)

Series Record: Spokane leads, 8-0

Coaches: Chad Carlson (Stockton - 10-18 overall, 2nd season)

Adam Shackleford (33-7 overall, 3rd season)

THE STAKES: Following a stunning loss last week to the Central Valley Coyotes, a win for the Lightning would do more than level the season record to a 2-2 start. At stake is a chance to upend the Spokane Shock for the first time in franchise history, breaking an eight-game winning for the Shock in the head-to-head series. The Lightning are 0-1 this season against Spokane and dropped a 59-42 decision in Week 2 at Spokane Tribe Field in the last meeting between both teams. The Lightning will have to cool off the red-hot Shock, who are streaking out of the gate at a 3-0 record and defeated Boise 63-45 last week.

If Stockton defeats Spokane it would ...

- Give the Lightning a 2-2 season record

- Extend Chad Carlson's record to 5-3 in his last eight lifetime games as Lightning head coach

- Give the Lightning their first win over Spokane in team history

- Give the Lightning their first victory at home this season

HEAD COACH PROFILES:

Chad Carlson - Stockton: Chad Carlson is the third Head Coach in Lightning history, named to the team's top post on an interim basis on May 27, 2008, succeeding Doug Murray. Carlson was appointed to the position on a full-time basis on August 13, 2008.

The 36-yead old enters his third af2 head coaching venture after serving as General Manager/Head Coach for the Hawaiian Islanders (2002) and Head Coach of the Bossier City Battle Wings (2003), compiling an overall record of 6-12 before moving on to serve as a Volunteer Coach for the Arena Football League's Colorado Crush for the remainder of the 2003 season.

Carlson, who guided Hawaii to a 4-1 finish in the 2002 season after inheriting the team in the middle of the season, helped the Islanders finish second in the league for red zone offense (83.1 percent), tied for 10th in total offense (4,126 yards) and rank as the af2's leader in rushing offense (852 yards).

After Carlson inherited the Islanders offense that averaged 38 points per game through five contests, his offense went on to score an average of 50.4 points per game and finish 13th in af2 scoring offense.

Following two separate stints in the Canadian Football League with the Edmonton Eskimos (1994) and Ottawa Rough Riders (1996), the Portland, Oregon native spent the 1997 season with the AFL's Portland Forest Dragons as a wide receiver/defensive back and quarterback and was slated to sign with the Los Angeles Avengers of the AFL in 2000, but had his career cut short with a career-ending knee injury that he sustained during an indoor football campaign in 1999.

Converted from the quarterback position, Carlson finished his college career as a standout receiver at Lewis & Clark College (NCAA) and was named an NAIA All-American as a 1993 senior, leading the nation in yards per catch while creating accolades that still shine in Pioneer lore. Carlson's 209 receiving yards amassed in a game against Central Washington was the second-best single game output in program history at the time of his exit and he ranked 13th on Lewis and Clark's all-time list for receptions at the time of his exit.

A key member of an athletic family, Chad's wife, Monica, was a contestant winner in 2008 on the television show "American Gladiators" and plays the role of "Jet" on the current season. Chad and Monica reside in Portland during the offseason with two twin daughters, Ellee Jo (8) and Emma Ray (8).

Adam Shackleford - Spokane: This is Head Coach Adam Shackleford's third year as Head Coach in the af2, but his 6th year in the league. Last season, Shackleford led the Shock to the ArenaCup Championship game and in 2007, led the team to their second-consecutive Western Division title, a playoff berth and a 12-5 overall record. He has coached in the arenafootball2 league since ---2003 and worked with the - two seasons as Louisville Fire as Offensive Coordinator. The Fire offense was third in the league last season, averaging 58 points per game. Under Shackleford, the Louisville Fire produced the 2005 and 2006 Offensive Player of the Year (Matt Sauk and Rob Mager) and the Rookie of the Year in 2006 (Brett Dietz). Shackleford began his 2007 season with a win against the Stockton Lightning, defeating them 51-35.

MAKING A PASS: Andy Collins returns for his second season in a Lightning uniform and takes the reigns for his first full season in Stockton.

An integral part of the offense last season, Collins is listed below in games that Lightning quarterbacks have thrown for 230 yards or more last season:

1. Andy Collins - 342 yards (at Tenn. Valley - 6/27/08)

2. Andy Collins - 290 yards (at Central Valley - 7/5/08)

3. Andy Collins - 271 yards (at Spokane - 5/31/08)

4. Chad Elliott - 266 yards (at Central Valley - 5/10/08)

5. Andy Collins - 265 yards (vs. Boise - 6/21/08)

Collins was also a frequent factor, below in games that Lightning quarterbacks threw for 5 touchdowns or more last season:

1. Andy Collins - 7 touchdowns (vs. Tri-Cities - 7/19/08)

2. Andy Collins - 7 touchdowns (at Tenn. Valley - 6/27/08)

3. Chad Elliott - 6 touchdowns (at Tri-Cities - 3/28/08)

4. Chad Elliott - 5 touchdowns (at Central Valley - 5/10/08)

5. Andy Collins - 5 touchdowns (vs. Boise - 6/21/08)

6. Andy Collins - 5 touchdowns (vs. Spokane - 7/12/08)

COLLINS HAULS IN THE WEEK 1 HONORS:

Lightning QB Andy Collins was named Russell Athletic af2 Offensive Player of the Week for Week 1. Collins (6-2, 215, Occidental College) led the Lightning to a 68-54 Week 1 road victory at West Division rival Central Valley. The 25-year old signal caller completed 24-of-28 passes (85.7 percent) in the contest for 287 yards and six touchdowns with just one interception. He also scored a career-high three rushing touchdowns to lead the Lightning to their biggest offensive output to open a season in team history. This is the first af2 weekly award of Collins' career.

COLLINS' BROKEN RECORD:

Collins set a Lightning record in a Week 4 loss to Central Valley, rushing for four touchdowns against the Coyotes. Through 3 games, Collins leads the af2 in rushing touchdowns (9) and actually broke his own franchise record he originally set, with 3 rushing touchdowns in a Week 1 victory at Central Valley.

DROPBACK: A 22-point rally by the Central Valley Coyotes, finished by a three-yard touchdown pass by Jason Murietta to LaMonte Jones with 26.5 seconds left helped send the Stockton Lightning (1-2) to a 65-58 loss in the Lightning home opener, before 4,134 fans at Stockton Arena on Saturday, in Week 4 of arenafootball2 play.

Lightning QB Andy Collins rushed for four touchdowns, a single-game franchise record and threw for five more touchdown passes while completing 17 of 30 passes for 187 passing yards.

LOOKING AHEAD: The Lightning head back to the road for the next two contests, after playing back-to-back home games against Central Valley (Apr. 18) and Spokane (Apr. 25). On May 5, the Lightning visit the Boise Burn, renewing acquaintances after the Lightning dropped a 55-51 loss last season on June 21. It will be the first meeting in Boise between both teams since May 3, 2008. On May 9, the Lightning visit the Tri-Cities Fever for the first time this season - the first time they face former Head Coach Richard Davis, who coached the Lightning in 2006.

LIGHTNING VS. SHOCK - SERIES NOTES: This week's matchup between the Lightning and Shock is the 9th in the all-time matchup and the Lightning are looking for their first victory in the lifetime head-to-head series. Spokane is 8-0 in the all-time series and has a 3-0 lifetime record in Stockton.

In the last matchup at Spokane Tribe Field on April 3, the Spokane Shock, playing on its home field for the first time since a heartbreaking one-point overtime defeat in last year's Arena Cup Championship, upended the Stockton Lightning (1-1) 59-42 before a sold-out crowd of 10,548 at Spokane Arena. With the Lightning trailing 28-21 and driving for the tying touchdown just seconds before half-time, Spokane linebacker Kevin McCullough intercepted QB Andy Collins' errant pass and returned the pick forty yards for a touchdown, to seize the momentum and give the Shock a 14-point half-time lead.

Spokane never looked back, adding a pair of third quarter Raul Vijil scores - two of a total four touchdown receptions on the night for the Shock wideout - to widen the gap to 49-21 and send the Lightning packing.

Things got off to a good start for the Lightning, who took the opening kickoff and drove 48 yards in 6 plays, capped by a 28 yard touchdown reception by WR Troy McBroom to give the Lightning an early 7-0 lead.

Of note, in a May 31 matchup last season - Chad Carlson's debut as Lightning interim head coach - the team amassed a 35-7 rally in the second and third quarters to climb out of a 24-0 hole. QB Andy Collins threw for 271 yards and four touchdowns on a 21-for-28 passing effort, adding two rushing touchdowns, in his Lightning debut and Justin Taplin led all Lightning receivers with 102 yards (7 catches) and 2 touchdown receptions.

ALL-TIME SERIES: Spokane leads, 8-0

All-time Stockton vs. Spokane series

Score Date Site

Shock 41, Lightning 40 3/30/06 Spokane Tribe Field

Shock 63, Lightning 44 7/15/06 Stockton Arena

Shock 51, Lightning 35 3/31/07 Spokane Tribe Field

Shock 58, Lightning 55 4/28/07 Stockton Arena

Shock 70, Lightning 12 4/5/08 Spokane Tribe Field

Shock 52, Lightning 42 5/31/08 Spokane Tribe Field

Shock 65, Lightning 47 7/12/08 Stockton Arena

Shock 59, Lightning 42 4/3/09 Spokane Tribe Field

PLAYERS TO WATCH:

ANDY COLLINS (QB) - Back for his second season in a Lightning uniform, Collins threw for 6 touchdowns and ran for three more to garner Russell Athletic af2 Offensive Player of the Week honors on Mar. 28 against Central Valley. A threat on the ground as well as in the air, Collins' 143 rushing yards leads in the af2 this season. He has also averaged for 263 yards per game in the air, ranking 10th in the af2.

Records continued to fall last week for Collins, who broke the single-game Lightning record with four rushing touchdowns against Central Valley in Week 4. Collins also threw for five touchdown passes, highlighting a 17-for-30, 187-yard passing effort.

JUSTIN TAPLIN (WR) - A former four-year veteran of the Arena Football League with Arizona, Utah and Georgia, Justin Taplin made a big splash after a mid-season arrival to Stockton last year. Taplin caught 61 passes for 795 yards and 15 touchdowns in just 9 games, leading the Lightning in all receiving categories.

Currently ranking sixth in af2 scoring (19.3 points per game), Taplin leads all Lightning receivers with nine touchdown catches this year. In Week 1, his monster game of 5 touchdown receptions, 13 catches and 168 yards broke career-high marks.

Taplin played for four years (2004-07) of his Arena Football League career with the Arizona Rattlers, Utah Blaze and Georgia Force, registering 31 receptions, 377 career receiving yards and eight touchdown receptions. In 2006, Taplin recorded a career-high 29 tackles and three pass breakups with Utah and helped guide the team to an Arena Bowl playoff berth. Additionally, Taplin was part of a 2004 Rattlers team that advanced to Arena Bowl XVIII.

• Discuss this story on the arenafootball2 message board...

arenafootball2 Stories from April 25, 2009


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central