Shock-Burn Game Log

End 4th: Unfortunately for Boise, you don't get bonus points for throwing it off the screen for a touchdown. They do and they get the extra point as time expires, but it isn't enough as the Shock escape with a 64-62 victory to improve to 6-0. Unforgivable coaching on the Burn's part, as they chose to lessen the gap rather than play for the unlikely victory, but in any event, Spokane gets the win tonight. They were tested several times, but responded like a top-ranked team should to keep their undefeated season intact.

4th, 0:27 to go: The Burn may finally be iced, as Davila hooks up with Vijil in the end zone for the score. Needing an extra point to make it a two-possession game, Jackson delivered, putting the Shock up nine with 26.9 remaining. Spokane- 64, Boise- 55.

4th, 0:41 to go: Well, instead of the biggest 55 seconds, it was the biggest 14. Tharp's second pass of the drive was snatched by none other than The Joker. Now with 41 ticks on the clock, the Shock have a second chance to finish off the Burn. Boise does have all three timeouts remaining though, so it's not quite over just yet...

4th, 0:55 to go: Davila JUST underthrows Patrick Bugg who had paydirt in sight. Now, Boise takes over and the crowd goes crazy. This is the biggest 55 seconds of the game (I had to go John Madden on you at some point).

4th, 1:00 to go: Spokane has killed all but 1:00 of the game clock on this drive alone, but are faced with a critical 4th and goal from Boise's 5-yard line. A touchdown virtually seals the game and qualifies as one of the most backbreaking drives of the season. A turnover would give the Burn new life and a chance to win the game with a field goal. The Arena crowd is wicked nervous, as their team's perfect season could very well depend on this play...

4th, 8:40 to go: After the worst of Tharp's drives during the last possession, he rebounded, moving the Burn downfield in a hurry before finding Jomo Wilson for six. The two-point conversion failed miserably when Tharp was intercepted by McCullough, though the return was stopped. With under nine minutes left, there is very little room for error on either end. Davila needs to have a strong drive here to keep the pressure on Tharp and the Burn. Spokane- 57, Boise- 55.

4th, 12:15 to go: The Shock couldn't move the ball after Gilliam's pick, but Jackson drilled a 32-yard field goal to put the Shock up by eight. The margin has overtime looming as a distinct possibility, but because I made that claim, it will probably end in regulation. Now you don't know what to think. Spokane- 57, Boise- 49.

End 3rd: I need to learn to keep my mouth shut. Tharp's end zone look ends up in the hands of, who else, The Joker, Sergio Gilliam, who returns the interception to Boise's 23 as the third quarter ends. Apparently, I know Sergio Gilliam as well as I do women. Oh well ... it works for the Shock.

3rd, 1:00 to go: Remember when I said Sergio Gilliam was probably lost for the game? Shows how much I know, as he's back on the field before the end of the third. Not that it matters a whole lot, as Tharp continues to carve up the Shock defense like a jack-o-lantern, marching downfield with ease.

3rd, 2:59 to go: Davila just got a mulligan: His second INT of the game was called back because of an illegal defense whistle. Three plays later, he sneaks in for his second rushing touchdown of the game to put Spokane on top for the third time in the quarter. Defensive coordinators need not apply in the af2. Spokane- 54, Boise- 49.

3rd, 5:44 to go: We've got a pissing match going on in the second half between the opposing quarterbacks. Tharp answers the call quickly, finding Flowers deep in the right corner for his sixth TD pass of the game. As Slim said, whoever has the ball last in this one will come out on top. Right now, the Burn have the slight edge. Boise- 49, Spokane- 47.

3rd, 9:53 to go: It has quickly turned into a shootout in the Arena. Davila went 40 yards in two passes, the second of which was made possible thanks to an ankle-breaking move in the end zone by The Thrill, Raul Vijil. After a Michael Phelps-esque backstroke celebration and an extra point, the Shock are on top 47-42.

3rd, 12:09 to go: Taylor Tharp is not missing, finding Casey Allen deep to regain the lead less than a minute after Spokane went ahead. Sergio Gilliam got lit up like Las Vegas (I didn't want to use the Christmas Tree analogy, give me a break) during the play and was helped off after a delay of a few minutes. I'd be surprised to see him back in the game after the collision he was involved in. Boise- 42, Spokane- 40.

3rd, 13:10 to go: For the first time in the game, the Shock lead, thanks to Davila's best pass of the night. Olson beat his man down the right side and Davila laid the ball over the defender like he was dropping it in from the rafters. Perfect pass, perfect catch, perfect play. Jackson improved his extra-point conversion rate to 60% and Spokane now leads Boise 40-35.

Half: We've got a little kid Arena game as halftime entertainment tonight. The Mead team went with the jailbreak play from NFL Blitz to sack the U-Hi quarterback to open things. The QB had enough of that after one play, though, taking the snap and dashing 45 yards for the score on the ensuing play. Now, they just switched sides and the U-Hi team has a pair of offensive lineman that may or may not play for Washington State. They're bigger than I am. I'm betting they've got Oden-itis.

End 2nd: Reason #3,532 why I love the Arena game: With four seconds left in the half, Boise attempted a field goal from their own 12-yard line. After missing wide left, Raul Vijil took the carom and returned it the distance, escaping just one tackle on the run back. The two-point conversion failed, but after being down by at least 14 on two separate occasions, the Shock enter the half down by only two, 35-33.

2nd, 0:11 to go: A very deliberate drive pays off just before the half for the Shock, as Davila sneaks in from 1 yard out to cut the deficit to eight, after Brian Jackson misses his second of four extra point attempts. But might they have left too much time on the clock for the Burn to answer? I love arena football. Eleven seconds left in the half and if each team scored once more, I would only be a little surprised. Boise- 35, Spokane- 27.

2nd, 3:57 to go: A rough night just got worse for Davila as he threw a pick, then was bulldozed like a 4th grader standing in the way of a 12th grader at a pickup game. That analogy wouldn't work if the 12th grader was built like I was six years ago, but just go with it. Boise- 35, Spokane- 21.

2nd, 6:24 to go: Time for the painful "Tharp is sharp" quip. Another possession, another touchdown, but no trick plays yet. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't pretty disappointed about this. Boise- 28, Spokane- 21.

2nd, 9:41 to go: So much for the crowd being out of it. A bizarre bounce off the kicking frame bounces right back to the Chain Saw, Kevin McCullough, who rumbles in from six yards out for a touchdown. Harrison Nikolao then takes a pitch from Davila and scores for the two-point conversion. In a matter of seconds, the Shock go from 15 down to being tied up. Boise- 21, Spokane- 21.

2nd, 10:53 to go: It might be time to warm up Hansen (Casey or Brandon), as Davila is struggling mightily. After a pretty first drive, he's completed only one of his last six passes, and that was to a fan in the second row. Fortunately, Andy Olson got wide open like the Shock had a man advantage and two plays later, Davila found him again for a touchdown. Boise- 21, Spokane- 13.

End 1st: The Burn came to play tonight and have really taking the crowd out of this one early. Four incompletions in a row for Davila set Boise up in prime territory and they converted on the first play. If you're a St. Louis Rams fan, the score after one quarter looks familiar. Boise- 21, Spokane- 6.

1st, 2:59 to go: With trash talk not really frowned upon in the af2, I wonder if opponents give Boise WR Flowers a hard time about his name. Times like this, John David Booty is glad he's playing in the NFL. Meanwhile, the Burn continue moving the ball on offense like Tom Brady is taking the snaps. Boise- 14, Spokane- 6.

1st, 8:58 to go: What took Tharp about five passes to do was done in three by Shock QB Nick Davila. The extra point was missed, so Boise leads 7-6, but during the timeout, the...uh...duck races took place. It went on with no problems until the people handed off to the mascots. The chicken and Shox the Fox had no problems. But someone decided it would be a good idea (or entertaining as hell) to enter the Arby's Oven Mitt as the third participant. The Mitt couldn't even get on the duck, so it kicked it like a 3-year-old kicks a soccer ball until he crossed the goal line 15 yards later. Hey, that's got my nomination for play of the game.

1st, 11:15 to go: You learn something new every day. Boise's kickoff hit the wall before being recovered and by rule, was placed at the 5-yard line. Yeah, I didn't know that either: there are rules in the af2. Who knew?

1st, 11:23 to go: After Boise scored on their first possession, Nichiren Flowers called over two teammates for what appeared to be dance lessons in the end zone. I've heard of botched extra points, but can you botch a TD celebration? If so, it just happened. Boise- 7, Spokane- 0.

1st, 13:06 to go: Boise State University graduate Taylor Tharp is running the offense for the Burn. I'm not sure if trickery translates as well in Arena ball, but I wouldn't rule out seeing six Statue of Liberty plays and two flea-flickers by the end of tonight's game.

The pregame introductions just ended, which got me thinking: If all the players are going to do their razzle-dazzle bit when their names are called, shouldn't Coach Shackleford as well? Show me one fan in attendance who wouldn't love to see Shack brush his warmup jacket off while doing a little dance down to his team. Somebody make this happen!
--------------------------------------------------
Ho-hum. Another Saturday night in the af2 and another opportunity for a visiting team to dethrone the top-ranked Spokane Shock. Tonight, the Boise Burn will get their second opportunity of the season to defeat the Shock. Three weeks ago, Spokane (5-0) went to Boise (4-1) and cooled the Burn 63-45. But Boise is coming off last week's 68-18 annihilation of the lowly Stockton Lightning, so they definitely have some momentum entering the sixth game of the season for both teams. Stay tuned to Just South of North for game commentary when the Burn and Shock take the field tonight at 7 p.m.
Oh, and for the record, Brandon was right. This uniform combo is awful and that's coming from someone who's mom still dresses him for nice occasions. It's like an uglier version of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers helmets, but with orange names, numbers, socks and face guards. They could have gone with a sweet shade of red as the Burn, but instead butchered their choice. It's gross, I promise.