SHOCKER UPDATE - GERMANY

27- Marco Donald Punt Return/Safety

Former Shocker safety and punt returner Marco Donald shown here on an 80-yard punt return, has landed on a German team in Rothberg, Germany. The Franken Knights play in the Second Division of American football in Germany and are coached by Patrick Gottschall.

MEMBER OF SHOCKER FAMILY LAID TO REST

Jody Cyrene Ferra-Benjamin
1972-2006

Jody Benjamin who assisted with the Shockers as a marketing consultant was remembered at a memorial service Sept 8 in Olympia. A friend of many Shocker players since inception, Jody leaves 3 children behind in Eric, Angel, and Alysha. A trust fund has been set up at the OBee Credit Union under the name of Kimberly Ferra for her children. You will be missed by many.

Sep 11, 2006
The Shockers continue to get stronger in the offseason as Head Coach Steve Matychowiak welcomed new members to the 2007 edition Sunday and Monday in wide receiver Bryan Hooper and defensive end Brian Mickens. Hooper, a former River Ridge athlete played one season with national small college power Linfield before taking up the minor league game in 2001. Since then, Hooper has been selected by his summer league peers as an All-League performer 3 times. Barring the signing of standout receiver Vince Burruss to a pro contract, Hooper could become the compliment opposite the speedy Burruss the Shockers had hoped would emerge in 2006. Burruss is healing from a broken hand suffered in mini-camp with the Tampa Bay Buccanners. It is too early to tell where Hooper will emerge in the Shockers 4-receiver sets, but he has the hands to be a possession receiver and is experienced in the return game. Both areas that were in need during the PNFC title game with the absence of the 1st Team All-American Burruss.

Mickens is an east coast native who spent time on the Maryland Terapins roster before playing junior college ball at Montgomery County JC (Montgomery discontinued football following the 2002 season for financial reasons). The 6'3" 240 pound Mickens, a personal security specialist and personal trainer understudy brings a physical presence to an already hard hitting defense. "Brian is in great shape already and just meeting him for the first time you know he has a tremendous personal work ethic that will fit in perfectly with the Shockers".

Aug 27, 2006
Head Coach Steve Matychowiak welcomed his newest addition to the Shocker family Sunday in the 6'3" 280-pound Travis Brock. Brock, selected as the Pierce County High School Athlete of Year by the Tacoma Athletic Commission following a stellar career at Bethel, went on to play collegiately at Central Washington University. Travis earned 4 letters while at CWU playing both offensive and defensive line during his collegiate career. Welcome to the Shockers!

Aug 4
Shocker Officials met with Dave Conn, owner of XTRM Promotions based in Olympia and entered into preliminary arrangements for promoting South Sound Shockers events for 2007. Already one of the premier booking agents in the region, XTRM is known for its booking and advertising of local and national bands and putting on fund raising events and free concerts. "We were able to come up with some great ideas for events within the community in just the 2 hours we met; so working together over the next 6 months will lead to even bigger and better ideas to involve the Shockers with the South Sound community." -Mark Meadows, Spokesman for the Shockers. More information and links to XTRM events, concert and show dates will be posted in the coming weeks.
(Visit XTRM at: www.myspace.com/xtrmpromotions)

MLB Nate Enciso and QB John Stewart took home Player of the Year awards for the PNFC while Steve Matychowiak was named Head Coach of the Year.
Shockers 1st Team selections: QB John Stewart, WR Vince Burruss, TE David Combs, OL Brandon Claxton, PK Nate Turner, DT David Dorsey, DE Ken Ponder, MLB Nate Enciso, CB Micah Tanaka, FS Randy Alderman, PR Micah Tanaka, Punter Randy Alderman.
2nd Team selections: RB Marquis Johnson, WR Jameson Gstohl, OL Jonathan McNally, OL Justin Shumate, LB Kelly Time, SS Eric Goodman, CB Ryan Kalalau, PR Vince Burruss.
LB/DE Tony Puz missed the minimum number of games due to an ankle injury. Puz would have been a consensus 1st Team selection recording 9 sacks in only 4 complete games.

The 2006 Season is in the books, the awards have been passed out and the offseason has begun for everyone...except Coach Matychowiak. "We lacked strength and depth on the offensive line. That was exposed in the loss in the title game when we failed to convert for a first down". Maty is refering to the 2nd & 1 yard opportunity at the Stallions 11 yard line. The Shockers were missing 4 linemen including 3 who started the season on the top unit. "We failed to get a line surge on 2nd and 3rd down to pick up the first down", forcing a John Stewart pass on 4th that fell incomplete. The Stallions ran out the clock to preserve the 12-7 victory in the PNFC Championship. So, Maty has hit the trail seeking out the best offensive linemen available in the South Sound region. "We've made contacts with 3 very good linemen who were impact players in college. Those three could be a force together and make the Shockers offense just as daunting as the defense. South Sounds' defense shut out 5 opponents while giving up more than 12 points on only 1 occassion (a 21-20 come from behind win with backup QB Ken Ponder leading the way in the 2nd half). Once we solidify our line replacing a game breaking receiver like Vince Burruss while be our next priority. We have the makings of a team that can dominate the northwest for years to come, we just need those 3-4 key players to make things happen and bring that leadership to the table."

Kennewick, WA:
Former Shockers tight end and current owner of the Seattle Stallions Alex Lewis needed a QB for their Northwest Regional Championship versus the TriCity Knights in Kennewick; which led to a phone call to John Stewart. The PNFC offensive player of the year and 3rd team All-American took the reigns of the same team he was an opponent against just three weeks prior in the 12-7 battle for the PNFC Championship, and turned in a huge performance earning Cascade Cup Offensive Player of the Game. Stewart threw for 2 big touchdowns and used his elusiveness when in trouble to keep plays and drives alive for the Stallions who trailed the Knights at one point 14-12. "Without Stewart, the Stallions have a difficult time against the Knights defense" (Cascade Cup Organizers) which only gave up 3 of the Stallions 7 touchdowns on the night. 2 were scored on special teams while another 2 were INT returns for touchdowns in the 47-27 Stallion win. Knights All-American QB Scott Biglin left the game early in the third quarter with an elbow injury.
Congratulations to the Shockers John Stewart on a great game and former Shocker Alex Lewis on a great season.

7 SHOCKERS NAMED TO ALL-AMERICAN LIST

The Minor League Football News announced it's Spring All-America teams for the Far West region and 7 Shockers made the top 3 teams:
First Team WR Vince Burruss, LB Nate Enciso, PK Nathan Turner
Second Team DB Ryan Kalalau
Third Team DB Randy Alderman, OL Justin Shumate, Punter Randy Alderman, QB John Stewart


The MLFN All-America teams verified what the PNFC already knew; that Shocker coach Steve Matychowiak and his team with only 7 All-American selections were 11 yards from defeating the Stallions and their 20 All-Americans. "Maty" had his collection of players and assistant coaches highly prepared and highly motivated to battle a seemingly unstoppable team in the Stallions with all of their natural talent. Congratulations to all of the Shocker award winners this season and the PNFC's Coach of the Year Steve Matychowiak...the long hours and hard work paid off taking the team from 3-3 and three consecutive losses to end the 2005 season, to 10-1 and 4 consecutive shutouts to open the 2006 season! 2007 looks to be bigger and brighter for the South Sounders!

The Seattle Stallions built a 10-0 halftime lead then survived a Shockers comeback in the final minutes to take home the PNFC Championship. With big-play receiver and return man Vince Burruss in Tampa working out for the Buccaneers, the Shockers had a game plan for his absence but things started off bad for the Shockers on the opening kickoff when a questionable call by the officials led to the ejection of a Shocker player before the first snap. The first half would be marred by penalties as the Shockers were hit for 65 yards worth of infractions and continued to be their own biggest obstacle. The Stallions scored on a FG on their opening drive to go up 3-0 in the first quarter before EJ Ash slipped a Shocker tackle and won the race to the endzone for a 10-0 lead. The Shockers came out at halftime taking control and marching down for a John Stewart to Jameson Gstohl score to make the game 10-7. Momentum was completely on the Shockers side until more penalties slowed play down and the Shockers special teams came up short giving up two blocked punts, a bad punt snap, and 2 Stallion punts being allowed to roll dead at the Shocker 1-yard line. Nate Turner came up shy on a 59-yard FG attempt in the 4th quarter that would have tied the game. The Stallions Jackie Triplett then blocked a Shocker punt out of the endzone for a safety. With the clock winding down the Shocker defense forced its 44th turnover of the season giving the offense the ball on the Stallions 19. On 4th down with less than a minute remaining a John Stewart pass slipped through the waiting arms of Rico Rough in the endzone. The Stallions took over and ran out the clock to end the game. Once again the Shocker defense shined holding the Stallions high scoring offense in check the entire day until the missed tackle that let EJ Ash loose for a TD. Backed up in their own endzone, the defense forced a turnover and fake field goal that fell incomplete.

June 12, 2006

Eric Goodman will tell you he isn't the fastest defender on the team, or the one that hits the hardest, but he is the only Shocker defender to have started every game in the Shockers short history. Goodman started making his presence felt in the first game in South Sound history when he picked off an Umpqua Knight pass and returned it for the first touchdown in Shocker history. Since then he has proven himself a durable leader on the field. The former UPS Logger is the focal point of the Shockers dominating defense in 2006. Coming out in 2005 and earning Honorable Mention All-American, Goodman led current defensive stars Ryan Kalalau, Micah Tanaka, Nate Enciso and Tony Puz out of retirement from the Loggers and the Shockers have been the beneficiaries. Puz leads the team in sacks despite being out for nearly 2 months with an ankle injury, Kalalau is the leader in pass breakups from his corner spot, while Enciso leads the team and the PNFC in tackles and Tanaka tied with Randy Alderman with 6 interceptions and led the PNFC in punt returns. With those additions to the defense, Goodman hasn't had to be the 2nd leading defender as a year ago, but he has been free to blitz more and is ahead of his interception count from a year ago. Surrounded by a dominating defense, Goodman should be able to keep his consecutive start streak alive for a long time.

June 6, 2006

Vince Burruss, the Shockers big play wide receiver and return man left for Tampa, Florida today to workout at the Buccaneers facility in preparation for their upcoming 3-day mini camp. Burruss caught 13 passes in the regular season averaging 32.5 yards per catch turning 7 into touchdowns. One of those catches covered 95 yards, while others were 70 and 80 yards. Burruss also scored on the ground with two reverses on the season , while adding a 70-yard kickoff return for score and an 80-yard punt return for a score. Vince added a 30-yard TD reception to his 11 regular season scores, in the Shockers 41-7 playoff victory over the Avalanche last week.

June, 4:
The PNFC's top Quarterback John Stewart led off the scoring with a 5-yard scamper in the 1st quarter, which was answered later in that quarter by a 50-yard drive and a 3-yard plunge by the Avs fullback. Micah Tanaka took the ensuing kickoff 90-yards for a touchdown and the Shockers never looked back as they reeled off 34 unanswered points. Nate Turner hit field goals of 25 and 50 yards, while Marquis Johnson scored from 15 yards out. Stewart hit PNFC leading wide receiver Vince Burruss for a 30-yard TD, and rookie cornerback Ben Halgren, in his first season of football picked off a pass with 1:03 left in the game and scored from 30-yards out to cap the scoring. South Sound had two consecutive touchdown passes called back on penalties in the 3rd quarter, while another touchdown was called back on a block in the back. Nate Turner's FG attempt would hit off the upright following a high snap. The Shockers won the battle between the top defense and the PNFC top running game holding the Avalanche to under 140 yards of total offense in the game. South Sound (10-0) will now face undefeated and unchallenged Seattle Stallions (9-0) for the PNFC Championship on June 17th at Peninsula High in Gig Harbor.

May 19th
The South Division crown is up for grabs in Sumner on Saturday as the undefeated and #2 ranked South Sound Shockers travel for the regular season finale against the Pierce County Knights. South Sound took the first meeting 14-0 on a rainy day in Lacey. The Knights will look to play spoiler and halt the Shockers attempt to secure the first undefeated regular season in the history of the Capital City at the minor league level.

With his 4.5 sacks and 5.5 tackles for loss, Tony Puz took home his second MLFN Player of the Week award in only his second full game with the Shockers. Puz won linebacker of the week for his play in the season opener before injuring an ankle on April 1st in Eugene. Ken Ponder came off of the D-Line to win his second Ironman award of the season. This time, instead of taking the reigns from John Stewart with a 54-0 lead (@ Eugene on April 1st), Ponder was taking control of the offense behind 20-13 with Stewart injured and backup QB Chris Gore out with a knee injury. Ponder came through with two big bombs to Vince Burruss that were called back but loosened up the Raiders defense enough to allow Ronnie Knighton to bull his way into the endzone for 21-20 victory.

May 14th
For the second time in 3 weeks, the Shockers were forced to delay kickoff waiting for their opponent to arrive. The Shockers jumped out to a 13-0 lead in the first quarter and looked set to roll until a late hit penalty on the QB gave new life to the Raiders and negated a third down incompletion that would have forced a punt. The Raiders scored later in that drive and reeled off 20 points (14 following Shocker turnovers) in the second quarter to take a 20-13 halftime lead. With backup QB Chris Gore down early in the second quarter with a knee injury and starter John Stewart out at halftime with a rib injury, Shockers third QB and starting defensive lineman Ken Ponder led a second half comeback to lift the Shockers to 8-0 on the season and a 21-20 win over the Willamette Valley Raiders. Already having two starting offensive linemen out with injuries and the #2 running back in the PNFC hampered by an ankle injury, the Shockers relied on a rejuvenated defense after halftime to shutout the Raiders in the second half and set the table for South Sound to take the lead.

Eric Webster and Tony Puz combined for a QB sack in the endzone for a safety to bring the game to 21-15 before Vince Burruss returned the ensuing punt all the way down to the Raider 20. A Nate Turner FG was taken off the board by a penalty and the next attempt was wide left. After the Raiders muffed a punt that was recovered by Ryan Kalalau, RB Ronnie Knighton returned to action after a knee injury in 2005 and found the endzone for a 21-20 lead. The 2-point try was no good, and the defense held tight to win the game with Willamette on the Shockers 26 yard line. The game marked a HUGE return by DE/LB Tony Puz who had been sidelined since April 1 with an ankle injury. Puz recorded 8 tackles, 4.5 sacks, 5.5 stops behind the line of scrimmage and 4 quarterback pressures. Nate Turner was 2-3 on field goals on the day while Ken Ponder had 2 apparent touchdown passes called back, one by penalty and one ruled an incompletion after Burruss came down hard on the artificial turf for what looked like a catch, but the official ruled that Vince did not have control. The Shockers take on the Pierce County Knights in Sumner for the South Division title and right to host the first round of the PNFC playoffs.

Burruss scores 4 times as Shockers roll Dragons 74-0.

May 6, 2006

The Shocker defense forced a three-and-out to start the game and Vince Burruss returned the ensuing punt for a TD and never looked back. Burruss would find the endzone 4 times for the Shockers as the offense rolled for 8 scores. Nate Turner set a new PNFC and team record with 10 PAT's, and Justin Shumate became the first defensive tackle in team history to record an INT return for a 25-yard touchdown. South Sound broke out to a 58-0 halftime lead and utilized a running clock the 2nd half to secure a playoff spot. The Shocker defense added two safeties in the game as the team moved to 7-0 on the season.

Shockers Ranked #2 in Northwest; Wenatchee slips to #4.

May 4, 2006

The Minor League Football News saw a shuffle at the top of the Northwest region rankings following the Tri-City Knights upset of #1 Wenatchee on the 29th. The PNFC has now captured the top two spots with the only remaining undefeated teams in the region. The Seattle Stallions moved up to #1 followed closely by 5-0 South Sound. Tri City took the #3 spot while Wenatchee slipped to #4. The Shockers and Stallions do not meet in the PNFC regular season, as many see that meeting taking place in the 1st PNFC Championship matchup. Winner of the PNFC Championship will travel to face the winner of the EFL as part of the Far West Football Association Champions Tournament. Tri-City is now holding the top spot in the EFL. The Shockers are at home Saturday hosting south division rival Eugene, a team that has been steadily improving this season following its PNFC debut loss to the Shockers 70-0 on April 1st.

Lightning Game Declared Forfeit by PNFC

May 1, 2006

After a PNFC review of the Shockers/Lightning game on Saturday, the PNFC declared the game a forfeit by the Lightning for not being on time for the game and not having appropriate uniforms. The PNFC also suspended operation of the Lightning for the remainder of the 2006 season and declared all Lightning players ineligible to compete with PNFC teams for 2006.

Skagit Brings "Bush" to South Sound; Wenatchee Upset

Shockers win 7-6; Game Delayed over 1 hour as Lightning Arrive Late and without Uniforms

April 29, 2006

With the 1:00 PM kickoff looming and the South Sound Shockers prepared and ready to put their undefeated season on the line, only 9 players from Skagit Valley were at South Sound Stadium. Shocker officials pondered what to do with a stadium and officials paid for and fans in the stands, so a decision was made to give the remainder of the Lightning squad a few extra minutes to arrive. The players would arrive, some 75 minutes later forcing a "bush league" decision to shorten the quarters to 12 minutes and halftime to 5 minutes in the cold rain. Not to be outdone, the Shocker fans were then treated to more bush league behavior as Lightning players arrived with mismatched game pants, some players wearing shorts and sweat pants, and Shocker players donating their white game jerseys to help fill out a rag-tag team that included t-shirts with black marker numbers pulled over shoulder pads, and helmets that were white, black, blue, and navy. Quite possibly the worst of all worlds in minor league football arrived to play an "organized" football game. Oh yea, the "game" was played to a 7-6 victory for the Shockers. But a pending review by the PNFC may rule the game a forfeit victory for South Sound as numerous conference guidelines were broken by the north division Lightning. The Shockers lone TD was a pass from QB John Stewart to reserve QB Chris Gore from 4 yards out. The Shocker defense was it's usual stiff self with the exception of a fluke TD grab that was batted by two Shocker defenders and fell into the arms of a Lightning receiver already on the ground in the endzone.

The #1 (MLFN Northwest Region) Wenatchee Valley Rams were upset on Saturday by league rival Tri-City Knights. Both teams are now 4-1 in EFL play. The Shockers ranked #3 going into Saturdays game may move into the Top 2 with PNFC north division rival Seattle Stallions (5-0) when Thursdays rankings come out. The Shockers have already reached a higher regional/national ranking than any Olympia-area team in the history of minor league football.

Lightning vs Shockers: 1pm South Sound Stadium

April 28, 2005

The MLFN #3 ranked Shockers put their 4 game unbeaten and unscored upon streak on the line Saturday against the Skagit Valley Lightning. The Lightning are in the middle of a North Division playoff chase, while the Shockers are on top of the South. WR Vince Burruss was named MLFN Wide Receiver of the week for his 2 TD performance against the Olympic Peninsula Eagles.

Shockers Ground Eagles 35-0

April 22, 2006

19 consecutive quarters dating back to the season finale of 2005, and the Shocker defense has not surrendered a point. The Shockers travled to Sequim for a 6:00 PM clash with the Olympic Peninsula Eagles and fitting the way the season has been going thus far, the Shocker defense struck first. Pressured and hit on the second play from scrimmage, the Eagles QB floated a pass that was swiped by DE Ken Ponder who raced in for the first TD on the evening. The rest of the game was all Shockers as QB John Stewart found Vince Burruss for two touchdown strikes, while Stewart rushed in for two more scores. Leading 35-0 at halftime, the Shockers substituted freely handing the offensive reigns to QB Chris Gore who improvised a couple of nice runs out of broken plays. Defensively, Nate Enciso, Eric Webster, David Combs, David Dorsey and Tyson Throw bottled up the running game while Kelly Time, Joe Lee, and Eric Goodman joined Ponder in the INT column. The Shockers are at home Saturday April 29th for a 1:00 PM clash with the Skagit Valley Lightning.

Shockers Sit #4 in Regionals; 2 Shockers Honored for Efforts

April 21, 2005

After opening the season with 3 consecutive shutouts, the Minor League Football News initial rankings of 2006 have the Shockers at #4 in the Northwest Region (WA, OR, ID). North Division rival Seattle is #2 behind #1 Wenatchee Valley. Along with the first ranking of the 2006 season, two Shockers earned Players of the Week honors for the game against Pierce County. Defensive Back and Punter Randy Alderman was awarded Ironman of the Week for his efforts. Alderman punted 5 times for a 45.8 yard average while recording 4 tackles, a forced fumble, pass break up and an INT in the 14-0 victory. Defensively Nate "Big Nasty" Enciso continued to tear up the middle of the field with 12 tackles, 1.5 for loss, and 2 QB hurries which were inches away from becoming sacks. The Shockers head to Sequim for a 6 PM kickoff on Saturday against the North Divisions' Olympic Peninsula Eagles.

Shockers Stay Perfect, Defense Unscored Upon

After accounting for 5 touchdowns in the first half of the Shockers last game, QB John Stewart came out gunning for more against division rival Pierce County as the Shockers looked to take control of the South Division. Stewart connected with Vince Burruss on the second play from scrimmage to tie a Shocker team record 95-yard TD. Burruss caught Stewart's pass at the Shocker 30 and scorched the remaining 70-yards for his 3rd TD on the season and second covering over 70-yards. Stew would hit on his first 7 of 7 pass attempts on his way to a 220-yard day on 11 of 17 passing. Late in the second quarter Stewart scampered in from 6-yards out to put up his 5th rushing TD in 2 games. Defensively the Shockers pitched a third straight shutout while not allowing an opposing offense over 100 total yards. Defensive end David Combs had a career day with 7 tackles, 2 sacks, and 4.5 tackles for loss. Linebacker Nate "Big Nasty" Enciso recorded 12 tackles and 2 QB pressures while disrupting numerous plays in the Knights backfield. Cornerbacks Micah Tanaka and Ryan Kalalau were golden all day against the pass as Tanaka 7 tackles, one for loss, and an INT in the endzone. Ryan was tested early and often coming up big with 3 pass breakups and an INT return of 29 yards. His 4th quarter breakup on 4th down in the Shockers endzone preserved the shutout after the Knights had 1st and Goal from the 10 yard line. Tackle David Dorsey recorded 2 QB pressures and 6 tackles including an assist in the Knights backfield. Randy Alderman kept the Knights at bay punting the ball averaging 45.8 yards on 5 punts. Combs, already having a career day on defense added to his day pulling duty at tight end where he recorded a team high 4 catches on the day covering 90-yards helping the offense roll to 280 total yards. The Shockers now 3-0 on the season head for Sequim on Saturday night to face an Eagle team struggling in the North Division. The Eagles have been shutout the past two games. The Shockers will be gunning for that 4th consecutive shutout streak.

Saturday Showdown for South Supremecy

Saturdays matchup between the undefeated Shockers and the Pierce County Knights at South Sound Stadium will determine the early leader for the south division crown. The Shockers were off last week following a 70-0 dismantling of the Eugene Dragons. The Knights took on those same Dragons last Saturday taking away a 41-12 victory. These two area rivals should be set for a classic showdown when the game kicks off at 1:00 PM.

April 6, 2006

The Minor League Football News announced its Players of the Week for games played April 1st, and 3 more Shockers earned the honors. Ken Ponder was named Far West Ironman for his dominate performance at defensive end recording 7 tackles in the first half before taking the reigns at QB the remainder of the night from John Stewart. Stewart lost out to a NorCal (San Francisco) QB for the honor, even though Stew led the Shockers on 6 first half scoring drives accounting for 5 (4 rush 1 pass) himself before taking a seat at halftime with a 54-0 lead. Linebacker Kelly Time was linebacker of the week with his 4 tackles and INT return for a touchdown against the Dragons. DB Joe Lee, starting in place of an absent Ryan Kalalau at corner earned player of the week with his two interceptions including a 57 yard return for a TD in the third quarter. In two games, 6 Shockers have earned player of the week honors, Lee, Ponder, and Time join Marquis Johnson, Tony Puz, and Jeff Cole as previous winners. Kelly Time was named to the list following the 2005 opener.

April 3, 2006

Following Saturday nights outstanding performance, nine Shocker players set or tied individual records while 9 team records were shattered. Most noteable was the 10 touchdowns scored on the night. Micah Tanaka set highs in punt returns, Vince Burruss set a new high with a 70-yard TD dash on a kick return, while John Stewart rushed for 4 TD's and accounted for 5 total. Justin Yeager hit 8 of 9 PAT's to set a new high. Defensively, Kelly Time, Ken Ponder, David Combs, Eric Webster, and Joe Lee all wrote themselves into the books with outstanding performances. Stats and an updated record book will be posted following the Pierce County Knights visit to South Sound Stadium.

SHOCKERS SLAY DRAGONS 70-0 IN PNFC OPENER

April 1, 2006

The South Sound Shockers opened the inaugural PNFC season with a convincing 70-0 victory in Eugene, Oregon over the south division rival Dragons. The Shockers exploded for 33 first quarter points and hit on all cylinders throughout the contest as QB John Stewart rushed for 4 TD's and passed for one. RB Marquis Johnson added a score and 87-yards rushing on 13 first half carries, while the special teams kicked in 2 TD's from Vince Burruss on a kick return (Burruss also caught Stewart's TD toss) and punt returner Micah Tanaka returned one for a score and stepped out at the Dragons 3 after a 40-yard return in the 2nd quarter.
Defensively, the Shockers continued their domination holding Eugene to 1 yard of total offense while recording 5 pass interceptions, two from reserve corner Joe Lee starting in place of Ryan Kalalau who was attending the birth of his son. LB Kelly Time who scored on an INT joined Joe Lee as defenders who scored TD's. David Combs covered the QB in the endzone following a bobbled snap adding a safety in the second half which was played under a running clock (clock only stops on change of possession or penalty). Reserve kicker Justin Yeager was elevated to starter after Nathan Turner was shelved following surgery last week, and filled in with a record-setting night. Yeager set a team record for PAT's going 8 of 9 on the night. QB John Stewart eclipsed his season rushing total from last year by ripping off 70-yards enroute to 4 touchdowns (new Shocker single-game record). Vince Burruss became the first Shocker to return a kickoff for a score, and Micah Tanaka scored the first punt return TD in Shocker history. The Shockers are off next week due to the suspension of the Bothell Bulldogs, and will return to action on the 15th at South Sound Stadium to face the Pierce County Knights.

March 26, 2006

The Shockers next home game scheduled for April 8th against the Bothell Bulldogs has been cancelled by the PNFC and the Bulldogs suspended from the conference for 2006. According to PNFC officials the Bulldogs ownership ran into trouble when it bounced a payment for insurance coverage for the season and was unsuccessful in securing credit to order game uniforms. This has forced teams to scramble to find replacements on their schedules for the Bulldogs. The Shockers have decided to cancel the April 8th game and in turn schedule the Willamette Valley Raiders for the May 13th date. That game, originally slated for Bothell, will now be a home game for the Shockers and all season passes will be honored for that game. A location and kickoff time are yet to be determined. Conference officials are still working on a formula for determining the 2 wild card seeds for the playoffs and how this change will affect those selections.

March 22, 2006

The Minor League Football News released it's weekly "Players of the Week" awards and three Shockers made the Far West Region listing. Defensively, Linebacker Tony Puz won the award with 11 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, 2 pass breakups, 2 QB pressures and a half sack while leading a defense that pitched a 21-0 shutout to open the season. Runningback Marquis Johnson earned the honor with his 29 carry 124 yard performace on Saturday. he scored a TD and caught a pass for 11 yards. Guard Jeff Cole recorded a team high 10 pancakes in the game for his second player of the week honor in 2 seasons.

SHOCKERS WIN OPENER 21-0; DEFENSE SHINES

March 18, 2006

Normally if a football coach tells you his team put the ball on the ground 6 times and threw 3 INT's you immediately think of a devastating loss. But the Shockers offense was backed up in a major way by a relentless defense that held the Umpqua Valley Knights to 33 total offensive yards in the game and only 4 first downs (2 by penalty). The Shocker "D" held the Knights to 9 consecutive 3 & Outs to start the game and a total of minus-31 yards in total offense for the first half. Many of the Shockers turnovers occurred in the "redzone" where the offense spent a majority of the day amassing 424 total yards. Vince Burruss caught a 70-yard scoring strike on the Shockers second play from scrimmage enroute to a 101-yard day while Jameson Gstohl added 109 yards and a score. The hardest working back in the South Sound (Johnson) carried 29 times for 124 yards including an 8-yard scamper for a score while adding another 11 on a reception. Defensively, Tony Puz led all tacklers with 11, while Nate Enciso and David Dorsey recovered Knight fumbles. Micah Tanaka returned an INT 30 yards and added an 11.5 yard punt return average. The Shockers have a week off before opening the PNFC regular season in Eugene, Oregon against their southern division rival Eugene Dragons. The Dragons were 9-1 two seasons ago while maintaining a national Top 10 ranking in the AFA and a #17 ranking a year ago.

Final Tune-up

March 15, 2006

The Shockers ran through a crisp one-hour workout under the lights at Tumwater stadium in preparation for Saturday's season opener against the Umpqua Valley Knights of the Oregon Football League in non-conference action. No new wrinkles were added as many of the Shockers future division rivals will be in attendance Saturday hoping to get a glimpse of what the 2006 edition of South Sound football holds. RB Dan Rough is doubtful for Saturday with a knee sprain as is reserve QB Chris Gore with a hip injury. The bulk of the running will fall on the capable shoulders of Marquis Johnson and Tarajai McMillen while defensive starter Ken Ponder will serve as the emergency QB to 2nd-year starter John Stewart. CB Ryan Kalalau will be a game time decision as his wife is expecting their first child on Saturday. Kickoff for the game is 2:00 PM and the cost is $5.00 at the gate, 12-under free.

IT'S GAME WEEK!

March 11, 2006

It has all come down to this. Game week is here and the 2006 season is days away. The starters have been named, depth chart is in place, and one practice awaits the Shockers to polish up for the Umpqua Valley Knights. The Knights will be coming to town looking to rid themselves of the demons of last seasons' opener where neither the Shockers nor the Knights offense could get on track in the cold rain of southern Oregon. The Shockers relied on a stingy defense that held the Knights power running game in check and scoreless in a 16-0 defensive battle that saw SS Eric Goodman and LB Chris Ward return INT's for scores. Nathan Turner added a field goal in the game as South Sound won their franchise opener. Reserve running back Willie Castro is out for this game (broken fingers), while projected starter Danny Rough is day-to-day nursing a knee injury. Kickoff for the opener is 2:00 PM at North Thuston High School; South Sound Stadium.

Practice Report: Fine Tuning at Tumwater

March 8, 2006

A last gasp winter snow loomed over practice Wednesday night as the Shockers fine tuned for next Saturday's home opener at South Sound Stadium. A swirling wind tested All-American Nate Turner's leg as swift winds and direction changes played with his FG attempts. The offense worked it's base package while awaiting word on the knee of co-#1 running back Dan Rough. Rough was rolled up on from behind during a return at last Saturday's workout and had to leave early. Both offense and defense are looking forward to lining up in front of someone different on the 18th, having begun to identifiy each others tendencies and nuances. 17 Shockers appeared on the 8-team PNFC "Players to Watch" list released on Monday. Players named included: RB Dan Rough, RB Marquis Johnson, QB John Stewart, WR Vince Burruss, OT Justin Shumate, OG Jeff Cole, C Jonathan McNally, TE Chris Ward, PK Nathan Turner, KR/CB/WR Micah Tanaka, CB Ryan Kalalau, FS Randy Alderman, LB Tony Puz, LB Nate Enciso, DE David Combs, DE Eric Webster, and DT David Dorsey.

March 4, 2006

Coach Matychowiak named the 2006 captains on Saturday, tabbing QB John Stewart and Center Jonathan McNally offensively, MLB Nate "Big Nasty" Enciso, and DE Eric "Lucky" Webster on the defensive side, as well as All-American kicker Nate Turner as special teams captain. The announcement was made following a 3-hour session at Nisqually field which focused on special teams and second-team work. Reserve QB Chris Gore led the second team offense through a good portion of the workout which included hard running by backup tailbacks Ronald Bailey and Jayson Souter. Defensively, free safety Randy Alderman was held out to rest a mild ankle sprain, opening up good time for reserve DB's Arthur Sanchez (Glendale CC, Arizona) and Ben Halgren, while 2005 All-American offensive tackle Justin Shumate played primarily on the defensive line replacing Darrell Jacobs who is nursing an ankle sprain.

March 1, 2006

The Shockers went through a routine workout on the turf at Tumwater Stadium Wednesday night primarily working second-team players. A crash on I-5 caused a portion of players to be late for the 1-hour session, however vital back-up players were able to get good repetitions with the top units. The Shockers plan to utilize Saturday's practice to work special teams and begin resting starters for the March 18th opener.

Shockers Help Support "Team Motivation" in MS Walk
Barb Klein works for Minuteman Press in Lacey and is also captian of "Team Motivation". Team Motivation will be participating in the MS (multiple sclerosis) Walk on April 1 & 2 at Horizons Elementary School in Lacey. Barb has been diagnosed with MS. The South Sound Shockers, continuing with their tradition of community involvement have designated Team Motivation as their stand-in for the event and asks that you help support Team Motivation in the search for a cure (The Shockers will be in Eugene, Oregon for a football game that weekend). "These are the events we (Shockers) will be a part of every chance we get. We were a part of the Relay for Life last year, and each year we would like to add more events as part of our community service charter, and with the work Barb has done for us, we in turn want to do our part. The Shocker organization submitted our donations and we hope many more in the community will help too" -Mark Meadows, Shockers Spokesperson. If you would like to donate $1, $2, $5, or more, please click on the link "Sponsor a Participant Online" and designate team member: "Barb Klein", team name: "Team Motivation", and Washington as the state. The Shockers and Team Motivation thank you for your support!

Feb 25, 2006

Hitting the Nisqually field again on Saturday, the Shockers went through a 3-hour workout which was punctuated by an eagerly awaited mini-scrimmage between the top units of the offense and defense. As expected the defense led by former UPS All-American Tony Puz and All-NWC middle backer Nate Enciso brought the fire from the start but today the offense, previously handcuffed by the Shockers speedy-D brought heat of their own to the party. Potential gamebreakers in WR Vincent Burruss and RB Marquis Johnson were impressive during the scrimmage. QB John Stewart hit Burruss in stride on a 70-yard scoring strike during the session, and Johnson showed why he was a Pre-Season All-America candidate while at West Hills College. The 200-pound tailback from Spanaway hit holes hard and often inciting a couple of violent collisions with Shockers defenders. Former Dixie State QB Chris Gore continued to improve, as did an offensive line which got help from 6' 6" 350lb Geoff Miodowski. "Ski" played collegiately at Wisconsin's Concordia University. Free Safety Randy Alderman was limited after rolling an ankle, as was guard Jeff Cole (wrist) and OLB Mark Meadows (groin/hamstring).

Practice Report

Feb 22, 2006

With less that a month before the Shockers hit the field for the first time in 2006, the team went through a one-hour workout on the field turf at Tumwater Stadium. The offense is starting to hit on all cylinders, and will get a "large" addition to it on Saturday. Former Fayetteville (NC) Cardinal and Florida State recruit Vincent Burruss is emerging as an offensive weapon at wide receiver, and QB Christopher Gore who last played at Dixie State College has returned to practice giving John Stewart and Ken Ponder a third competitor for playing time. Defensively the Shockers continue to get stronger with the addition of former Spanaway powerlifter David Dorsey at defensive tackle and DB/LB Joe Lee returning from a broken hand. Still looking for spots in the line rotations will be 6'5" 320lb Darrell Jacobs at either OT or DT and 6'6" 350lb Jeff Miodowski at OT. Still on work assignment in Texas is 6'5" 325lb DT John Alberth who anticipates being back in Washington late in March. Their probable spots on the depth chart should become clearer on Saturday when the Shockers hit the field again.

Feb 20, 2006

When Tony Puz hits the gridiron, there's an "old school" kind of athlete for offenses to worry about. Puz did it all at the University of Puget Sound winning all-conference and all-america honors during his career. But what he brings to the Shockers is one of those intangibles as well...he elevates the play of his teammates. A lead-by-example kind of guy, it becomes very apparent why in 1999 he was voted the "Most Inspirational Athlete" out of all UPS athletic programs. Deceivingly quick off the ball, opposing offenses will have to make a choice...double team one of the Shockers outstanding linemen, or take a chance at trying to get a guard or tackle on this former All-American who recorded 18 sacks as a senior. D-Coordinator Thomas Love likes these odds. "If they double-team, someone is coming free and if they try to play match-up with us, someone on the offense will lose that battle during the game". March 18th will be the first opportunity to see what opponents attempt to do with this Shocker defense as the Umpqua Valley Knights arrive in the Capital City.

Shockers Dole Out First Hits; "Chef Maty" Makes Surprise Appearance

Practice Report: Feb 18

Saturday was the first day the Shockers rolled out in pads and let the plastic fly. And briefly, it did! With the players becoming more and more antsy to unload on someone, the coaches threw the team a bone with a brief session of hitting following special teams work. The good work and upbeat tempo was rewarded with a special appearance by "Chef Maty". Head Coach Steve Matychowiak treated the players and staff to a surprise BBQ and loose workout, in the place of the previous high intensity practice sessions. This marked the halfway point in Shocker preparations for the season opener on March 18th and it couldn't have been better timing with a nice sunny day and the team coming together as a cohesive unit. Wednesday Practice Leaves Coaches Excited for Season Opener

Practice Report: Feb 15

The Shockers running game was clicking, the passing game was effective. The defense forced turnovers and pressured the offense into mistakes. Nate Turner was drilling 40-yard field goals. Everything the Shockers coaches; offense, defense, AND special teams, could want, happened under the lights in Tumwater Wednesday night. A brisk cold hovered over the turf, but the South Sounders were heating up in the final practice before going into pads in preparation for the March 18th season opener versus the Umpqua Valley Knights. The visitors from Sutherlin, Oregon will be coming to the Capital City in hopes of exacting some revenge against a Shocker team that pitched a 16-0 shutout in its first game ever on the Knights home turf. That game was marked by defensive stalemates until Turner booted his first FG of the season, followed by two INT's returned for scores. The 2006 edition of the Shockers features a speedier and much improved defense and the offense has found a speed package in backfield runners that wasn't available in 2005. With Turner healing from off-season hernia surgery and the experience of former UPS standout Micah Tanaka being utilized in the return game, South Sound is a threat to score in all three facets of the game.

Practice Report: Feb 11

Saturday came and the Shockers were once again honing their skills on the roughed-up gridiron at Nisqually. The final Saturday practice before going into pads, the team was lightened slightly with some cuts by Head Coach Steve Matychowiak. "Some players showed they just want to be Saturday Superstars and not put in the time and effort their teammates deserve, so they were informed they were not going to remain members of the Shocker program". With those changes came immediate opportunities for other players to emerge on Saturday. Former Eastern Washington defensive lineman David Combs made his presence felt speed rushing off the end, while defensive back Arthur Sanchez made the most of his chances, picking off a long pass and providing great coverage during 7-on-7 drills. Saturday also marked the return of record-setting WR Jameson Gstohl. The 6' 4" Gstohl teamed with QB Ken Ponder in 2005 on a 95-yard scoring strike against the Okanogan Commandos. The UPS contingent of defenders Tony Puz, Nate Enciso, Micah Tanaka, and Ryan Kalalau continued their lead roles in the Shocker defensive plans. Joe Lee continues to improve while healing from a broken hand, and coming off knee and hamstring injuries, veteran Mark Meadows saw significant time at tight end. Hall of Fame offensive lineman Greg Kinnunen stopped by practice and Head Coach Matychowiak had to leave practice early to be at the birth of a grandchild. Congratulations GP! The Shockers hit the field again on Wednesday night, a 7:45 pm practice at Tumwater Stadium.

Practice Report: Feb 8

Wednesday night saw the Shockers take the field at Tumwater Stadium for its second workout of the preseason under the lights with a spirited hour long practice session. The offense worked its short yardage package and scored early on a running play and nearly hit on two red zone passes for scores. The defense again flashed its muscle with an INT and line stunts that got defenders into the backfield. QB John Stewart hit WR Anthony Vinson on a couple of deep routes over the middle, and RB's Dan & Rico Rough found daylight behind improved line play. Returning to his kicking duties following off-season surgery was All-American kicker Nate Turner. Turner worked the kickoff coverage and return teams with his typical booming kicks and looks to once again be a big weapon in the South Sound arsenal. The Shockers hit the soggy surface at Nisqually once again on Saturday at 11:00 am.

Alex Linnenkohl signs with Oregon State Beavers

Former Capital High standout lineman Alex Linnenkohl signed a letter of intent on Tuesday to play his college football at Oregon State. Alex spent the past three summers working with Shocker Head Coach Steve Matychowiak perfecting his line techniques, increasing strength, and improving his speed and quickness. The 6' 1" 300-pounder is the first to sign of a group of three Capital High linemen who have spent the past summers working with Matychowiak. Congratulations Alex and good luck in your career as a Beaver!

Practice Report: Feb 4, 2006

Saturday's 3-hour workout cleared up some position battles for Matychowiak on both sides of the ball. "Some guys showed they want to be the man this year, and others showed their teammates that they aren't ready to lead". Continuing it's dominate reign over early practices, the Shocker defense disrupted offensive continuity, a theme coaches see carrying over to the regular season. The offense did find it's spark in the passing game, but is still awaiting the "burning" series that will bury an opposing defense. There will be another practice this week, Wednesday at 7:45pm @ Tumwater High School under the lights.

Practice Report: Jan 28, 2006

South Sound took the field at Nisqually for a 3-hour workout in a constant rain, but spirits were high and coaches are pleased with the progress. The sun did break through just as the offense came together to run the first unit through a series of ball control schemes. QB John Stewart appears to be maintaining his hold on the signal-caller spot offensively, while MLB Nate "Big Nasty" Enciso is being recognized as the leader of a defense that will present major problems for offenses in 2006. OLB Tony Puz has had tremendous workouts and is elevating the linebacking corps to new heights. The former All-American had 18 sacks as a senior at UPS and could challenge for that type of season again. TE Chris Ward shook off an early elbow tweak to put forth another practice that is solidifying his claim to the position vacated by Alex Lewis. Diminutive guard Chris Ridley (250 lbs) excelled during line sessions with much improved footwork. The Shockers will return to Nisqually next Saturday at 11:00 am for week five of preseason preparations.

The PNFC will be the first football conference in the nation (possibly in the history of football) to implement a 1-Point Kickoff when the season opens in 2006. Leading the way in innovation, the owners and organizers voted to approve the new rule which states that any kickoff that makes it through the uprights on the fly will earn the kicking team 1 point. The offense will take over at the 20-yard line the same as a normal touchback rule. This rule will make personal foul penalties following touchdowns, PAT's and extra point attempts that much more damaging as the defense will kickoff from the 50 yard line. It also opens the door for a 9-point play for the first time in football history. A team can potentially score a TD, make the 2-point conversion, and if the kicker has a strong enough leg, boot the 9th point through the uprights on the kickoff. Conference officials don't forsee more than one or two of these "bonus" points being earned in 2006, however it will make for some exciting kickoffs when the top kickers in the conference get their shots.

The Capital City Challenge originally slated to pit the two Olympia-area minor league football teams (Washington Cavaliers vs. South Sound Shockers) on May 20th has been cancelled due to scheduling conflicts. The Shockers; members of the Pacific Northwest Football Conference South Division had a late entry in the Eugene (OR) Dragons for the 2006 season, which created a change in the PNFC schedule. The teams also play in separate seasons, which created a potential problem, as the Cavaliers; members of the Northwest Football League, play a summer schedule which doesn’t officially begin until the first week of June. The Shockers on the other hand, play a spring season in the PNFC and would be finishing up their regular season in May. The two teams will discuss at a later date, playing the game in 2007.

In it's place, the game at Pierce County will be moved up to the May 20th slot, and allow both the Shockers and the Knights a week off going into the PNFC Playoffs. The game with the Knights will be a road game for South Sound to wind up the PNFC regular season.

Practice Report: Jan 23, 2006

The Shockers first practice under the lights saw an up-tempo and intense 45-minute session with both offense and defense making significant plays against first team groups. The Shockers defense added another impact player in former All-American Tony Puz, an outside linebacker/rush end from the University of Puget Sound. Also adding strength to the defense was 6'3" 270lb Bob Lemusifele who will play both defensive end and tight end in 2006. QB John Stewart ran much of the offense through situational drives which included, 2-minute, 4-minute and 3-play max drives, hitting WR Rico Rough and Anthony Vinson for good gains. The offensive line, though still developing depth, came together to provide better protection and open holes, despite relentless blitzes from Ronnie Knighton, Puz, and Nate Enciso. Next up will be a 3-hour workout on Saturday Jan 28 at Nisqually.

Practice Report: Jan 21, 2006

Practice number three of 2006 saw the offense make up ground against the defense from a week ago. Running backs Rico Rough, Ronald Bailey, and Tarajai McMillian made strides on timing, while the QB's were able to find open receivers quicker than a week ago. Shocker defensive players Lucky Webster and Nate Enciso led a front seven that should prove difficult to run against, while the speed of defenders Micha Tanaka, Ryan Kalalau, Eric Goodman, and Randy Alderman showed a knack for jumping into passing lanes and disrupting routes. 2005 Ironman Ronnie Knighton returned to work both sides of the ball and will factor into both offensive and defensive gameplans for 2006.

Practice Report: Jan 14, 2006

The first sunny day in Western Washington in nearly a month saw the 2nd spirited workout for the 2006 edition of Shocker football, with the defense taking the expected early jump. In typical preseason fashion, when the offense and defense squared off for a 25 play situational session, the defense took advantage with it's base blitz package. Led by former University of Puget Sound star Nate "Big Nasty" Enciso and his UPS teammates Ryan Kalalau and Micha Tanaka, the defense forced turnovers and stopped short yardage attempts. The offense did have it's moments as RB Tarajai McMillen squeezed through cracks opened by the offensive line, and QB Darrell Street found receivers Anthony Vinson and Chris Ward open in the defenses' zones. All-American kicker Nathan Turner was in attendance following hernia surgery, and will spend the next 3-4 weeks healing before resuming his kicking duties. Also healing an injury, LB Kelly Time who had reconstructive surgery on his right shoulder to repair damage following a viscious hit in the 2nd game of 2005, will be further limited after fracturing a bone in his right hand. The Shockers meet for practice again on June 21st with an 11:00 am start time at Nisqually.

Practice Report: Jan 7, 2006

It rained. Imagine that, January in Washington and it rained. Perfect time to see just who really wants to play this game called football, and the turnout was great! The Shockers opened their run for the 2006 PNFC title on Saturday with the first official practice of the season and Coach Matychowiak was pleased with the players, their efforts, and their hunger. Missing a few players due to a wedding in Hawai'i and other previous commitments, the team dove headfirst into "situational plays" while the coaching staff looked for the best position for each new player, and tried out new wrinkles with the veterans. Noteable "tweaks" included taking 2005 defensive leader Chris Ward and working him at tight end. His 235 frame and pass catching abilities were an interesting prospect with the loss of last seasons TE Alex Lewis who has started up the Seattle Stallions of the PNFC. Always agressive and ready to go were 2005 All-American linemen Jeff Cole and Justin Shumate, center and MLFN lineman of the week Jonathan McNally and a surprise asset in Tyson Throw. Throw toiled on the defensive line in 2005 playing sparingly, but in voluntary workouts, was moved to offensive guard and has been performing well. "Once he gets a handle on the nuiances of the position, he has great athletic ability and good size". (Shocker Coaches). A quarterback battle is on the horizon as incumbent John Stewart returns to take on strong-armed newcomer Darrell Street. A two-QB situation is not out of the realm of possibilites, and both are athletic enough to be on the field at the same time routinely which could cause problems for opposing defenses. Defensively, longtime Pierce County Bengal Eric "Lucky" Webster has the early lead to lock down a defensive end position, while newcomer Ryan Kalalau, a former 2 year starter for the University of Puget Sound Loggers is keeping a stranglehold on a corner position. 3rd Team All-American Rico Rough returns to the defensive backfield, as does Randy Alderman who may make a switch from corner to safety which Marco Donald vacated to play in Germany. The Shockers return to practice Jan 14th at Nisqually Middle School, start time 11:00 am.