SHOCKERS HEAD TO PNFC CHAMPIONSHIP, FACE SURGING MUSTANGS

June 9, 2007 Lacey, WA 

The Northwest Avalanche were stung a week ago by the Shockers in Bellingham to close out the regular season 47-0.  Facing the Shockers in the first round of the PNFC playoffs, the result was much the same as South Sound rolled out to a 43-0 half time lead and cruised through the running clock of the second half to bring home the first 12-0 record in the history of minor league football in the south sound region, winning 63-0.

The Shockers set a new northwest region season scoring record of 652 points topping the old mark of 640 owned by the 1998 Oregon Thunderbolts.  The Shockers points total has come in just twelve games, while the Thunderbolts season was 17 games (finishing 16-1).  The 63 points scored in the playoff game has tied the Pierce County Bengals 1979 mark for third all-time.  The Snake River Rebels of Idaho scored 82 for tops, while the Eastside Hawks recorded 65 in 2004.  The Shockers missed on two PAT attempts Saturday which would have given them 65 on the day, and a running clock was implemented for the second half of the contest.

The Shockers will now host the PNFC Championship on Saturday June 16 at South Sound Stadium (3:30 pm kickoff) where they will fittingly face the Valley Mustangs, a team they faced to open the PNFC season.  The Mustangs have been surging since the 20-0 loss to South Sound and come into the game with a 9-4 record.

The Shockers defense held 2006 PNFC rushing leader Mike McKinley at bay most of the game and forced QB Todd Shackleford to go to the air where Micah Tanaka and Nate Enciso picked off passes.  DE Marty Darland broke free from the right side of the defense to sack Shackleford for a safety in the first quarter.

Offensively, QB John Stewart scored his first rushing TD in weeks while hitting tight end Brian Mickens and flanker David Minnis for scores.  Stewart also lofted a pass over the middle that was caught by Bobby Poeltl for another TD.  The Avalanche kept the record setting return man from being a factor by punting away from Poeltl, most traveling out of bounds after only 20-25 yards.  On the ground, Corey Laday, Marquis Johnson, Ronald Bailey, and Travis Brock bulled their way into the endzone.  Reserve QB Chris Gore fired his first TD pass of the season to TE Chris Ward in the third quarter as the offense rolled up over 300 yards of offense.

Last week the Minor League Football News tabbed the Shockers the #1 team in the Far West region and #2 in the nation behind the New Mexico Crush, last years  MLFN champions. 

On the injury front, head coach Steve Matychowiak announced the loss of defensive tackles Jeff Markoff and Jerry Salinas for the remainder of the season.  Markoff, the 6'1" 300 pound powerhouse has been out of action since an April 14 bicep tear.  He had hoped to be back last week, however Jeff reinjured the arm in practice and will remain out of action.  Salinas has been out of action since week 6 with injuries suffered during military duty.  Fullback Tim Rasmussen has also been forced out for the season with an ankle injury.  Wide Receiver Ryan Reis is questionable for the PNFC Championship after military doctors advised him to hold out and heal an unspecified foot injury.  Cornerbacks Jamaal Hampton and Ryan Kalalau have made it back from injuries suffered early in the season, and linebacker Kelly Time was back in action after missing four weeks on a job assignment.  Reserve running back Trenton Mason has left the team for personal reasons and running back Jerry McLemore returned to action on Saturday following shoulder and ankle problems.

GAME TRACKER