Shock steal a win from Bakersfield

Published on April 9, 2006 under arenafootball2 (af2)
Spokane Shock News Release


Bakersfield, CA: Trailing 45-36 with just over 3 minutes remaining, Spokane's head coach Chris Siegfried gathered his players and gave them the pep talk he's given so many times before: an Arena Football game is never over until it's over. Charles Frederick, Nian Taylor and the rest of the Shock believed Siegfried as Spokane (2-0) rallied for an improbable 49-45 victory over the Bakersfield Blitz (1-1).

After Bakersfield took what seemed like a commanding lead on a Michael Wall touchdown pass to WR/LB Eric Mahanke with 4:23 remaining, Frederick returned the ensuing kickoff 45 yards to the Bakersfield 5-yard line. Two plays later, Anthony Griffin found the end zone after taking a handoff from Shock QB Alex Neist. A blocked PAT left the Blitz with a 45-42 lead with just over one minute left in the game.

John Koker's subsequent on-side kick took an enormous bounce and appeared to settle in the hands of a Bakersfield player, but Griffin shook the ball loose with a well-timed hit. The ball took a fortunate bounce towards the middle of the field where Taylor gathered it in stride and weaved through several defenders for the go-ahead touchdown. The two touchdowns by the Shock in the final minute plus left the crowd of 2,400 in disbelief.

For the second straight week, the Shock defense preserved a late lead with a fourth down stop in the closing seconds. This time it was Griffin who sealed the win when he laid a big hit on a Bakersfield receiver on fourth and ten with 30 seconds left. The blow knocked the receiver-who gathered in the pass-over the boards and out of bounds, unable to get a foot down inbounds as required in Arena Football.

"Sometimes you get outplayed and still win," said Siegfried. "That's when you know you have a special team. We weren't able to do a lot of what we planned, but our guys wanted this win more than them."

Siegfried credited this win to the defense. "They were incredible. To hold a team like Bakersfield to 45 points is unbelievable, and one of their touchdowns was on special teams," said Siegfried, referring to a 56 yard kickoff return for a touchdown by Derron Finley at the end of the 3rd quarter. "That's a good offense right there, and we shut them down for most of the game."

The Shock's offense was less impressive. QB Alex Neist, under constant pressure from the Bakersfield pass rush, completed 16 of 32 passes for just 189 yards and 2 interceptions. Turnovers hurt the Shock again as they also surrendered a fumble by Raul Vijil on the second play of the game.

Rob Keefe and the defense mitigated the damage by holding the Blitz without a first down as the Blitz settled for a field goal. The offense sputtered again on its second drive, failing to get a first down and surrendering prime field position after a failed fourth down attempt in its own territory. Wall made the Shock pay this time as he floated a 13 yard touchdown pass to Finley.

After the Shock mustered a field goal on their next drive, Billy Newman changed the momentum of the game when he laid a brutal hit on a Thomas McKenzie, knocking loose the ball into the hands of Charles Frederick who returned it from near midfield to the one yard line. "The guys up front did a good job of holding [McKenzie] up and I had a free shot on him. Fortunately, the ball came out," Newman said.

Siegfried rewarded Newman by calling a handoff to the former Cougar which Newman punched in for his first af2 touchdown. "It felt great to score, but I wish it was at home. I got up expecting to hear people cheering for me, but it was awfully quiet," Newman said.

The score, which tied the game at 10 going into the second quarter, lit a fire under the Shock.

"That was a big swing for us," admitted Siegfried. "Without that turnover, we could've been down 14 early, and the way the offense was moving the ball, it would've been tough to get back."

Notes: Blitz QB Michael Wall finished the game 20-38 for 3 touchdowns, but was held to just 199 yards passing by the Shock defense . . . . For the second straight game, the Shock won despite being outgained by its opponent. This week the Shock totaled 199 yards, compared to Bakersfield's 228 . . . . The Shock cut down on its penalties this week, committing just 6 fouls . . . . The win keeps Spokane in a two-way tie for first place in the Western Division with Central Valley (Fresno) . . . . The Shock's next opponent, Everett, lost Saturday to Oklahoma City, falling to 0-2 on the season . . . . FB/LB Levi Madarieta reinjured a previously repaired ankle injury. According to Head Trainer Keith Eggleston of the Rockwood Clinic, Madarieta may be out for a few weeks, but further tests are needed before more details are known . . . . OS Antwone Savage caught 3 passes for 73 yards including a 29 yard touchdown pass before leaving the game in the fourth quarter with a mild concussion. Eggleston said Savage could have returned to the game, but by the time he was cleared; only a few seconds remained in the game.



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