SHOCKERS EXPLODE IN 84-7 VICTORY

May 12, 2007 Mt Vernon, WA 

Bobby Poeltl broke down the west sideline with the opening kickoff and 90 yards later found pay dirt.  Poeltl nearly broke the next special teams opportunity with a 26-yard punt return down to the Skagit 8-yard line.  Bryan Hooper took an option pitch from John Stewart around the right end, and a devastating crack-back by Poeltl freed Hooper to stroll in to the endzone for a quick 14-0 lead. 

Skagit Valley was able to put points on the board on the ensuing kickoff with their own 91 yard return and just like that with 12 minutes to go in the 1st quarter it was 14-7.  

Then came the explosion.  The Shockers took the short field after a personal foul on the PAT and a pooch kick was caught at the Skagit 33 by David Gutierrez.  Two plays later, Poeltl was again in the endzone on a pass from Stewart.  An interception lead to a Terrell Smith 9 yard run for a TD, and on the ensuing possession, another interception set up Theo Holman for an 8-yard swing pass from Stewart for a score.  A fumble was recovered by the Shockers and again Smith found the endzone from 26 yards out. 

The first quarter came to an end with the Shockers leading 42-7.  The second quarter was more of the same as Theo Holman scored from 35-yards out, before the Shockers finally turned the ball over on downs after scoring on their first 6 possessions.  After the turnover on downs, the Lightning were stuffed for no gain on first down and Micah Tanaka picked off the second down pass for a 26-yard INT return for score.  A fumble on the kickoff and the Shockers drained all but 40 seconds of the first half with reserve QB Chris Gore leading the drive down for a Chris Ward rumble up the middle for a 13-yard TD.

The half ended with the Shockers up 63-7, their most prolific offensive output in team history for a half.  12 Shocker runners would tote the pigskin 36 times for 174 yards and 6 TD's on the night, while a half dozen receivers would account for the 205 yards through the air.

The second half opened with the Shockers missing a field goal opportunity wide right after Pat Hutnik hit on 9-9 PAT's in the first two quarters.  Bryan Hooper would make a leaping grab in the endzone to put the Shockers up 70-7 early in the 3rd.  The rest of the night would belong to the Shockers reserves with FB Chris Ward rumbling in from 16-yards out for his second TD on the night following a Lightning fumble.  Reserve QB Chris Gore would capitalize leading the Shockers to their final score after a 10-play 46-yard drive.

The Shocker defense was stellar again even without starting linebackers Nate Enciso and Kelly Time who had personal and business commitments to attend to.  Micah Tanaka recorded 2 interceptions, Eric Goodman and Bobby Poeltl each recorded one as the defense and special teams picked up 9 turnovers on the night while holding the Lightning to 90 yards of total offense.

The Shockers return home to take on the Lane County Dragons in their final South Division match up of the season.  

GAME TRACKER