Offense Rolls, Defense Stands Tall As Shockers Move to 8-0

May 5, 2007 Silverdale, WA 

The West Sound Saints came out hoping to intimidate the Shockers in Silverdale, but found out it takes much more than talk to shake the MLFN and GNFA #1 team in the region.

After delaying the kickoff to 6:30 pm, the former 2005 NAFL 2 National Champions discovered how quickly offenses become one-dimensional against the South Sound defense as the Shockers eliminated any running threat the Saints could muster.  Winning the toss the Saints deferred to the second half giving the ball to the Shockers to open the game.  John Stewart promptly led his team on a 48 yard drive moving down to the Saints 24 before two big penalties forced the Shockers to punt from the Saints 36.  Randy Alderman's coffin corner attempt came up just inches long of pinning West Sound inside their own 1-yard line.  The Shocker defense forced a 3 and out and the battle of field position was on.

The Shockers came out with a 50-yard 6-play running drive that featured straight ahead power running capped by a 2-yard plunge by Marquis Johnson.  Pat Hutnik, whose status was a game-time decision after pulling a hamstring in practice on Tuesday missed the PAT wide left.  He would later connect on his next two PAT's, tying Nate Turner for the season points total for kickers at 51.  The Saints responded finding holes in a depleted Shocker secondary that was missing four of it's two-deep players, including starters Eric Goodman at strong safety and Ryan Kalalau at corner.  The Saints hit a crossing route for 26 before a leaping battle on the Shocker one-yard line saw a Saints receiver come down with the ball over Micah Tanaka who had returned after missing a week due to a knee sprain.  The Saints pushed the ball over and the PAT gave the Saints a 7-6 lead, the first time the Shockers have trailed since the PNFC title game last season.

South Sound immediately answered with a 65-yard 3 play drive highlighted by a 53-yard rumble by Terrell Smith for a touchdown.  On the Saints ensuing possession, steadily improving rookie Dan Chu, playing in place of Goodman and the injured Marc Larson at strong safety, stripped a West Sound receiver.  The fumble was picked up by linebacker Nate Enciso who rolled to the Saints 10.  One play later Smith again found the endzone and the Shockers were up 20-7.

The Saints were able to mount another drive with the assistance of two pass interference calls, the second setting up West Sound on the Shocker 2 yard line.  Another dive into the endzone and the Saints were within striking distance at 20-14.  Both teams attempted to run 2-minute offenses to close out the half with the Shockers throwing incomplete on fourth down and the Saints being sacked for an 11-yard loss on first down.  They then opted to kneel out the half and take it to the locker room.

The second-half was a penalty filled defensive battle kicked off by the Shockers forcing a 3-and-out to start things off and the Shocker offense taking the ball at their own 31 and starting a 14-play march that began with 8 consecutive runs moving all the way down to the Saints 24.  The Shockers had first-and-goal at the Saints 2 before the yellow hanky came out on a holding call pushing the Shockers back to the 17.  Regaining the lost yards, the Shockers opted to forego the field goal attempt with the injury to Hutnik and go for it on fourth-and-goal from the 2.  The Saints stopped the attempt and took over on downs.  Both teams would have 3-and-outs before the Saints put together their own drive which featured 10 of 13 plays being passes.  After driving down to the Shocker 14 a holding call backed the Saints up and later on fourth and 25 threw a pass that was picked off by Randy Alderman.  A block in the back on the return negated Alderman's 40-yard run back and set up the Shocker offense at the 8-yard line.  A fumble on the Shockers 15 set up the Saints, but the Shocker defense stood tall and picked off another Saints pass inside the South Sound 10.  Back-to-back penalties forced the Shockers into a fourth and 24 from the 12 yard line.  Alderman's punt sailed off the side of his foot and set up the Saints at the Shocker 26.  Once again the Shockers defense bowed up and held the Saints to a fourth down attempt that fell harmlessly to the turf.  Two kneel downs and the Shockers headed back to Lacey with an unblemished 8-0 record on the season.

South Sound finished the day with 315 yards of total offense, while the Shocker defense once again held an opponent without a rushing game as the Saints managed -3 yards on the ground and 198 total.

"We needed a test, we needed a tight game.  Our ball control chewed up the first quarter, but we didn't close out the fourth like we should have.  We lost the battle for field position in the second half, those are some things we will continue to work on .  We have a couple weeks where we will start getting some key guys back from injuries and to stay undefeated is a boost to the younger guys who have stepped it up in place of the injured guys the past couple of weeks.  We have to applaud the efforts of Bobby Poeltl. Bobby's been forced to play corner in place of the injured Kalalau and Hampton and has done a great job while still playing top level at wide receiver and return specialist...he definitely deserves his "ironman" accolades (MLFN Ironman Award two weeks ago).  Dan Chu has really grown since he came out.  For an 18-year old fresh out of high school and having to play all the defensive back spots because of injuries; he was intimidated a little early on, but his play is getting better every week.  He'll be a great addition to his college team in the fall." (Shocker Coaches).

South Sound hits the road again for a meeting with the Skagit Valley Lightning in Mount Vernon.  

GAME TRACKER

Team Stats

Passing

Shockers  14 of 23  191 yards 1 TD 0 INT

Saints  18 of 30 201 yards 0 TD 2 INT

Rushing

Shockers 36 carries 124 yards 2 TDs (-4 on kneel downs)

Saints 17 carries -3 yards 2 TDs (-2 on kneel downs, sacked twice -22 yards)