The following is a quick game preview that features a profile of the head coaches as well as a breakdown of important position players that will be making an impact in Monday night's showdown.
HEAD COACHES
Dean Cokinos (Tennessee Valley) - Cokinos, in his first season with the Vipers (2nd af2 season overall), guided the team to a 10-6 regular season record, three playoff wins and the team's first ArenaCup berth since the league's inaugural 2000 season. This will be Cokinos' first appearance in an af2 title game. His career record currently stands at 18-16 overall.
Adam Shackleford (Spokane) - Shackleford has had an impressive two-year start to his af2 head coaching career in Spokane, accumulating a current overall record of 30-6. The Shock have also won two consecutive West Division titles. This will be Shackleford's second appearance in an ArenaCup final but first as a head coach. He was an assistant coach/offensive coordinator with Louisville in 2005 when the Fire lost to Memphis, 63-41, in Bossier-Shreveport, La.
Quarterbacks
Kevin Eakin (Tennessee Valley) - Eakin, who earned his first start for Tennessee Valley in Week 7, has been a solid performer under center in his first season for the Vipers. In 10 regular season starts, the rookie from Fordham guided the team to an 8-2 record. Eakin finished as the team leader in passing (239-of-380 passing, 2,515 yard, 51 TDs, 7 INTs) and also led the squad in rushing yards (185; 3 rush TDs). He has continued his steady play in the postseason, guiding Tennessee Valley into the title game by completing 61.4 percent of his passes for 683 yards with 10 touchdowns and five interceptions.
Nick Davila (Spokane) - Davila also got his first start for Spokane in Week 7 of the 2008 season. In 11 starts, the rookie from Cincinnati led the Shock to a 10-1 record, throwing 64 TDs against just nine interceptions. He ended the regular season ranked third in passer rating (119.2), fourth in completion percentage (67.0) and tenth in touchdown passes (66). As good as he was in the regular season, Davila has been even more impressive in the playoffs. In the team's three victories, he's thrown for 742 yards with 16 TD passes and just one interception. He has also rushed for two scores.
WIDE RECEIVERS
Alonzo Nix, Maurice Brown, Gary Elliott (Tennessee Valley) - Nix has emerged in the postseason as Eakin's favorite target. He had one of the best individual receiving efforts in af2 playoff history last Saturday as the Vipers defeated Manchester, 45-35, in the American Conference Championship. The rookie receiver from Tennessee-Chattanooga had 10 catches for 197 yards and three TDs. His 197 yards receiving ranks as the second-highest single game total in postseason history. Through three playoff games, Nix is the Vipers' leading receiver with 33 catches for 411 yards and five TDs. He ranked second on the team during the regular season in receptions (96), receiving yards (1,105) and receiving TDs (23). Nix picked up the pace in the absence of Maurice Brown, who missed last week's game due to injury. Brown led the team in receiving during the regular season with 109 catches for 1,305 yards with 27 TDs. Elliott (51-535-12 TDs) is another dangerous pass catcher who should factor in the Vipers passing attack.
Raul Vijil, Andy Olson, Patrick Bugg (Spokane) - Vijil, who has been in the af2 for three years (all with Spokane), has been one of the league's top playmakers in 2008. The Eastern Washington alum finished fourth in the league in scoring (252 points), tied for third in total touchdowns (42) and tied for fourth in receiving touchdowns (35). He also led the Shock in receiving yards (1,212). He is the unquestioned leader of the receiving group. Olson, a rookie from Western Washington, led Spokane in receptions in his first campaign with 112 during the regular season and finished with 1,077 receiving yards and 20 TDs. Bugg, another rookie, has also been impressive of late with 10 catches for 150 yards and four scores. During the regular season, the rookie from Eastern Kentucky finished third on the Shock in TD receptions (15) and fourth in receptions (34) and receiving yards (475).
DEFENSIVE BACKS
Demetrius Derico, Desmond Foster, Travis Blanchard, Darren Garrigan (Tennessee Valley) - Derico has been the team's top defensive back in the regular season and playoffs. The rookie from Alabama State recorded team-bests in total tackles (79), interceptions (9) and pass breakups (17). Foster, who finished second in tackles (66.5) and tied for second in interceptions (3) during the regular season, has stepped up his game in the playoffs with a team-high four INTs. He was a big part of the team's American Conference Championship win a week ago by intercepting three passes from Manchester QB Brian Jones. Garrigan and Blanchard are also capable defenders who will provide support along the back line for the Vipers. Garrigan has 15.5 total tackles in the postseason with five pass breakups while Blanchard has recorded seven total stops with one interception, five pass breakups and two fumble recoveries.
Sergio Gilliam, Nygel Rogers, Roshawn Marshall (Spokane) - Gilliam had a tremendous first campaign for the Shock. The rookie from Clemson set the league record for interceptions in a season with 16, three of which he returned for touchdowns. Gilliam got off to a fast start in 2008 by recording three interceptions in each of his first two games (WK1 - May 30 at Green Bay, WK2 - April 5 vs. Stockton). He earned league recognition as the ADT Defensive Player of the Week after both outings for his stellar individual performances. Gilliam also led the af2 with 41 total passes defended (16 INTs, 25 pass breakups) this season. Gilliam, who ranked fourth on the team with 50.5 total tackles (45 solo, 11 asst), was recently named to the National Conference All-af2 First Team. Gilliam has continued to play well in the playoffs with four more interceptions, 6.5 tackles and four pass breakups. Rogers led the Shock in tackles in the regular season (83.5) and also leads the club in total stops in the playoffs (18). Marshall was also a factor with six interceptions in 12 regular season games played. He has picked off two more in the postseason as well.
RUNNING THREATS
Travis Blanchard, Kevin Eakin (Tennessee Valley) - Blanchard and Eakin are the two top running options for the Vipers. Blanchard, despite playing on defense primarily, is a sneaky strong runner who has been utilized near the goal line in 2008. The veteran has come through all season with a team-best 17 rushing scores overall, 13 in the regular season and four in the postseason. Eakin led the squad in rushing yards (185) during the regular season.
Katon Bethay, Nick Davila (Spokane) - Bethay led the Shock in rushing yards in 2008 with 119 while Davila was the team leader in rushing scores with eight. Both players have continued their success on the ground in the postseason as well. Bethay has recorded team playoff highs in rushing yards (90) and rushing touchdowns (4) while Davila ranks second in rushing yards (43) and rushing TDs (2).
STRONG LINEMEN
Eric Scott, Terrance Ford, Rico Reese (Tennessee Valley) - Tennessee Valley has one of the strongest groups of defensive lineman in the af2. Third in the league in sacks with a total of 45, the Vipers group of big men up front is led by DL Eric Scott who recorded 17.5 sacks in the regular season (2nd in af2). Scott earned All-af2 First Team honors. Teammate Terrance Ford, another feared pass rusher for the Vipers, earned a spot on the All-af2 Second Team after recording 12 tackles for loss and 10 sacks. Reese (4.0 sacks) is another lineman to watch for Tennessee Valley. The group has continued to dominate the opposition in the postseason, recording 14 sacks in three games (4.67 per game).
Devon Parks, Harrison Nikolao, Rico Ochoa, Kyle Young, Ryan Belcher (Spokane) - The group of Spokane Shock offensive and defensive linemen boast two All-af2 First Teamers (Parks - DL, Belcher - OL) and two Second Team stars (Young - OL, Ochoa - C). Parks is the team's top pass rusher with 15.5 sacks during the regular season with two more in the playoffs. Belcher (6-4, 328 pounds) is the second largest player on the team behind Ochoa. The veteran center, in his sixth af2 season (third with Spokane) owns the top honor at 6-3, 340 pounds. The Shock offensive line only allowed 16 sacks on the season, good for seventh best in the league.
LINEBACKERS
Rajohn Myles, Travis Blanchard (Tennessee Valley) - All-Ironman Team member Travis Blanchard (3 INTs) and Rajohn Myles (8.5 sacks) anchor a defense that is one of the best in af2. Blanchard has one more interception in the playoffs while Myles has added two sacks. Both third-year players, Blanchard and Myles have contributed in a big way for the vicious Vipers defense.
Lee Foliaki, Kevin McCullough (Spokane) - International player Lee Foliaki has been a star on the Spokane Shock defense as the Mack Linebacker, recording 2.5 sacks and 59 tackles in the regular season. LB Kevin McCullough has been a great resource at the Jack Linebacker position for the Shock recording five picks and 62.5 tackles on the season. Together the Shock linebackers have recorded 32.5 tackles, one sack and three interceptions, contributing a large portion to the Shock's defensive success in the playoffs.
KICK RETURN SPECIALISTS
Gary Elliott, Travis Blanchard (Tennessee Valley) - WR/DBs Gary Elliott and Travis Blanchard have both handled the kick return duties for Tennessee Valley in 2008. They have averaged a combined 19.1 yards per kickoff return. In the playoffs, Blanchard has been the main return man, returning nine kickoffs for 163 yards (18.1 yards per return). Always dangerous with the ball, Blanchard has made a habit of setting up the offense with good field position after a run back.
Raul Vijil (Spokane) - Vijil's two kickoff return touchdowns in the regular season for the Shock helped solidify Vijil as a top return man in the league. The All-af2 First Team receiver averaged 21.2 yards per return and totaled 1,248 yards. In his third season with the Shock, Vijil's experience and playmaking abilities will be critical to Spokane's charge in the championship game.
KICKERS
Nick Hayes (Tennessee Valley) - Hayes, a veteran in his third season, had his best campaign in 2008 for the Vipers. The All-af2 Second Team performer led the league in points scored by kickers with 141 overall. He also ranked in the Top-5 in field goals made (4th - 13) and extra points made (3rd - 102). He also ranked seventh in extra point accuracy, converting on nearly 88 percent of his attempts (87.9; 102-of-116). His longest field goal of the season was a 51-yarder in the regular season. He has also kicked well in the postseason, connecting on 16-of-18 extra points and 1-of-3 field goals.
Brian Jackson (Spokane) - Jackson, a rookie from Ball State, had a strong first season with the Shock. He ranked second in the league in extra points made (106) and finished with 124 points. He also ranked among the league leaders in extra point accuracy (7th - 89.1 percent) and made six of his 13 field goal attempts during the regular season. Jackson has continued to kick well in the postseason with 32 points scored on 3-of-5 field goals and 23-of-26 extra points.
2008 ARENACUP TO BE TELEVISED NATIONALLY ON COMCAST SPORTSNET FAMILY OF NETWORKS
The 2008 ArenaCup championship game will be televised nationally on the Comcast SportsNet family of networks for the third year in a row and will be shown on the following Comcast Sportsnet channels, including live broadcasts that include coverage areas in Huntsville, Ala. (Channel 66 in Huntsville, Ala. - home of the Tennessee Valley Vipers) and Spokane, Wash. (Channel 78 in Spokane, Wash. - home of the Spokane Shock). Viewers should check local listings for broadcast times in their area.
CSS: Live - includes Huntsville, Ala. (Monday 8/25 - 10p-1a ET - Channel 66)
Delay - All Others (Tuesday 8/26 - 1-4p ET)
Delay - Reair (Saturday 8/30 - 1-4p ET)
CSN West: Live - includes Spokane, Wash. (Monday 8/25 - 7-9:30p PT - Channel 78)
CSN Philadelphia: Delay (Wednesday 8/27 - 1:30-4a ET)
CSN New England: Delay (Tuesday 8/26 - 12-3p ET)
The league is also working on securing additional broadcast outlets throughout the country.
Fans can also view the game at home or in their favorite local sports bar or restaurant that has access to a satellite dish receiver that receives KU band transmissions. Media outlets interested in acquiring game highlights are also encouraged to utilize the following satellite coordinates:
ArenaCup9 satellite coordinates:
AMC 5 - K08H Channel A (9Mhz)
Uplink: 14212.5 MHz (V)
Downlink: 11912.5 MHz (H)
2008 ArenaCup also available online via af2TV & NiFTyTV
Thanks to the power of NFT's patented online broadcasting technology, fans across the globe will be able to bring all the action of Monday night's ArenaCup between Spokane and Tennessee Valley right to their home computer or laptop AT NO CHARGE. The af2 title game, which will be played on Monday, August 25 at 7:00 p.m. PT (10:00 p.m. ET) in Spokane, Wash., will be available on af2.com. Interested viewers should follow the advertisement to af2TV, download the FREE player and register your information.
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