Game Preview: Boise vs Spokane

Matchup: Spokane Shock (2-0) at Boise Burn (2-0), 7:10 PM Saturday night, Qwest Arena Head to Head: The teams have met five times over two seasons with Spokane winning each matchup. The Burn were within a touchdown in the fourth quarter against the Shock twice last year, but were unable to get the wins. Get to know? Spokane defensive back Stanley Franks, following a productive career at the University of Idaho, is off to a strong start for the Shock. He?s sixth in af2 in tackles per game (7.8) and is also top ten in passes defended per game (2.0). His play has helped make up for the absence of Roshawn Marshall, who left Spokane to play in Boise this season. Local Connections: There?s no shortage of Gem State connections on the 2009 edition of the Boise Burn, headlined by Weiser?s Levi Madarieta. Madarieta is one of just two players to appear in every game in Burn history (WR Casey Allen is the other) and currently leads af2 in interceptions (3) and passes defended per game (2.0). Other local ties include Caldwell High graduate Mark Weivoda as well as former Boise State standouts Taylor Tharp, Alex Guerrero, and Jerard Rabb. The Burn also have their first former Idaho Vandal this season, lineman Marcis Fennell. Weivoda and Ernie James represent Idaho State University. Strong-Starting Newcomer: Of the new crop of players that first-year head coach Brent Winter brought in, none has made a stronger early impact than WR/KR Jomo Wilson. Wilson is sixth in af2 in all-purpose yards per game (159.5) and is coming off a huge game last weekend at Bossier-Shreveport which saw him total 118 receiving yards, 203 all-purpose yards, two receiving touchdowns, and a kickoff return for a score. He leads the Burn in receptions (10), receiving yards (194), and yards per reception (19.4) through two games.