Another Defection As The AFL Shrinks To Nine Teams

The Shock decided at the start of this month to take their cue from the Iowa Barnstormers, who did the same thing a year ago.

In the span of roughly one calendar year, the Arena Football League has lost six teams, either through clubs suspending operations, closing up shop altogether, or defecting to the more cost-effective Indoor Football League.

Spokane had been the only AFL market which did not have any teams in the Big Four American team sports leagues.

Thunder's Playoff Hopes On Life Support After Tough Defeat At Spokane

At Spokane, Washington:

The Spokane Shock (6-10) held off the visiting Portland Thunder (4-12) 42-40 in Saturday Arena Football League action.  The Thunder would have to win their final two regular-season games (against Las Vegas and Arizona) to have a chance to qualify for the ArenaBowl playoffs.

Shock Heap More Misery For Thunder

At Portland, Oregon:

The Spokane Shock (4-8) handed the Portland Thunder (3-9) their fifth straight Arena Football League defeat (and eighth in their last nine starts) 69-54 on the road on Sunday night in a nationally-televised contest.

Portland will try to get back on the winning track next Sunday at Las Vegas for a contest against the expansion Outlaws at 2:00 PM Pacific Time.

Thunder Knock Off Shock At Home For First-Ever Win Against Divisional Opponent

At Portland, Oregon:

The Portland Thunder (2-1) defeated the visiting Spokane Shock (0-3) 47-43 at home on Thursday night in Arena Football League action.  It was Portland's first-ever victory against a Pacific Division rival.

Thunder Drop Regular-Season Finale To Shock At Home

At Portland, Oregon:

In a battle of two teams gearing up for the Arena Football League playoffs, the Spokane Shock (11-7) defeated the home-standing Portland Thunder (5-13) 45-40 on Saturday night in the regular-season finale for both clubs.

Here are the playoff match-ups for the opening round, to take place next weekend:

American Conference playoffs:

Philadelphia @ Cleveland, Saturday @ 4:00 PM (CBS Sports Network)

Pittsburgh @ Orlando, Sunday @ 11:00 AM (ESPN 3)



National Conference playoffs:

Spokane @ San Jose, Saturday @ 7:00 PM (ESPN 3)

Portland @ Arizona, Sunday @ 3:00 PM (ESPN 3)

All times Pacific

Shock Knock Off Thunder In Spokane

At Spokane, Washington:

The Spokane Shock (6-5) snapped a three-game Arena Football League losing streak with a 58-48 home win over the Portland Thunder (3-8) on Friday.

Thunder Snuffed Out In Spokane

At Spokane, Washington:

After trailing 21-20, the Spokane Shock (3-1) went on a 35-0 run en route to a 55-27 beat-down of the winless, visiting Portland Thunder (0-4) in Saturday Arena Football league action.

Shock Extend VooDoo Losing Streak

At Spokane, Washington:

Quarterback Erik Meyer completed 29 of 40 passes for 353 yards and six touchdowns, two of them to Adron Terrell as the Spokane Shock (6-3) extended the visiting New Orleans VooDoo's (1-7) losing streak to seven games 65-54 in the lone Friday night Arena Football League contest.

VooDoo Electrocuted In OT

At Spokane, Washington:


Terrance Sanders intercepted two passes, one in overtime (the OT pick-off set up a touchdown run from one yard out by quarterback Kyle Rowley), and returned two kickoffs for touchdowns as the Spokane Shock (4-4) defeated the visiting New Orleans VooDoo (3-5) 68-62 in Friday night Arena Football League action.

Home Wins Remain Foreign Conception To VooDoo

At New Orleans:


Terrance Sanders returned the opening kickoff 57 yards for a touchdown, quarterback Kyle Rowley threw a ten yard pass to Shaun Kauleinamoku, and linebacker Antwan Marsh ran back a fumble 12 yards for still another score, all in the first 10 minutes as the Spokane Shock (7-7) dominated the New Orleans VooDoo (2-12) 75-54 in Saturday night Arena Football League action for their third straight win.  The VooDoo, already eliminated from the playoffs and plagued with the league's worst overall record, are still winless at home.

SPOKANE SHOCK CLAIM AFL TITLE

At Spokane, Washington:

Quarterback Kyle Rowley threw nine touchdown passes as the Spokane Shock knocked off the five-time title-winning Tampa Bay Storm 69-57 to win Arenabowl XXIII and win the Arena Football League championship on Friday night.