Shock Drop Division Match-Up to Thunder 43-47

April 10, 2015 - Arena Football League (AFL)
Spokane Shock News Release


SPOKANE, Wash. - The Spokane Shock (0-3, 0-1) were on the road for Week 3 Arena Football League action against Pacific Division rival Portland Thunder (2-1, 1-0) at the Moda Center in Portland, Oregon on Thursday, April 9. In their first of three meetings scheduled for 2015, the Thunder came away with their first division win of the season by a final score of 43-47.

The Week 3 divisional match-up featured the fifth quarterback to play under center for the Shock in the 2015 regular season. This week, former Portland Thunder quarterback Danny Southwick would get the nod for Spokane and would stay perfect through the first 22 minutes of the game on his way to completing 8 of 8 pass attempts for 156 yards and four touchdowns. He would complete the first half completing 9 of 11 passes for 177 yards, four touchdowns and only one interception that came on the final play of the half on a throw toward the end zone as time expired.

The Thunder would open the game with a scoring drive after recovering the opening kickoff bar-ball on their own 21-yard line. Portland quarterback Kyle Rowley would find his favorite target on the season Jamar Howard on a 5-yard touchdown pass, giving the Thunder a 6-0 lead after a failed point after attempt. The Shock would respond with a 34-yard touchdown pass from Southwick to Carter and would be complimented by a defensive stop against the Thunder. Southwick would find Carter for the second time on the night, this time from 8-yards out to give the Shock the 13-6 lead at the end of the first quarter.

Portland would tie the game at 13-13 early in the second quarter after a 3-yard touchdown pass from Rowley to V'keon Lacey. The Shock would then go on to score 13 unanswered points as Southwick would find rookie wide receiver Anthony Amos for his first touchdown of his AFL career before defensive back Sergio Gilliam would intercept Thunder quarterback Kyle Rowley and set up a Mike Washington 39-yard touchdown reception. On Portland's next possession, defensive penalties would help the Thunder work their way down field and set up a short touchdown plunge by Rowley. After a failed onside kick attempt that would give the Shock the ball on the Portland 12-yard line, the Thunder defense would hold the Shock to a 19-yard field goal and a 29-20 lead going into the half.

The Shock would open the second half with three straight incompletions before Southwick would find Mike Washington on fourth down for a 32-yard gain. Two plays later, a tipped ball in the Thunder secondary would result in an interception by jack-linebacker Bryce Peila that he would return for a 45-yard touchdown. On Spokane's ensuing possession, a fumbled snap would result in another score by Peila as he would scoop and score from 3-yards out and give the Thunder their second lead of the game at 34-29. The two teams would go on to trade scores and lead changes in the third quarter. Southwick would find receiver Rashaad Carter for their third touchdown connection of the game, while Rowley would again link up with Jamar Howard to maintain the Thunder lead at 40-36.

In the final quarter of play, the Shock would take the early lead at 43-40 after Rashaad Carter would haul in his fourth touchdown reception of the game on a 15-yard, one-handed snag in the end zone. An interception by Shock defensive back Devon Dace could have set up Spokane to take a two-score lead half-way through the quarter, but the Thunder defense would dig in and hold Spokane to a four-and-out on the Portland 5-yard line with just over four minutes remaining. Veteran quarterback Kyle Rowley and the Thunder offense would proceed to pick their way down the field and score on a 2-yard touchdown run by offensive lineman John Martinez to take the 47-43 lead with 48 seconds left in the game. Shock quarterback Danny Southwick would attempt a game winning drive, only to be intercepted by Portland defensive back Osagie Odiase which would allow the Thunder to run out the clock and seal their first Pacific Division win of the 2015 season at 47-43.

Shock quarterback Danny Southwick would finish the game completing 21 of 32 pass attempts for 291 yards, six touchdowns and three interceptions on the night. Receiver Rashaad Carter hauled in six receptions for 96 yards and four touchdowns while Mike Washington would record seven receptions for 128 yards and one score. Rookie receiver Anthony Amos would also record four receptions for 62 yards and his first touchdown of his AFL career.

The Shock defense would record two interceptions on the night (Dace, Gilliam) and two sacks (Ruffin 1, Summers 0.5, Kelly 0.5). Defensive back J.T. Fitzgerald led all players in tackles with 7.5 while Devon Dace recorded 7.0 on the night.

Thunder quarterback Kyle Rowley completed 24 of 42 pass attempts for 249 yards, three touchdowns, and two interceptions. Receiver Jamar Howard led the Portland receiving effort as he recorded 11 receptions for 112 yards and two touchdowns. V'Keon Lacey would add 10 receptions for 108 yards and one score.

The Portland defense intercepted three Shock passes on the night (Chapman, Odiase, Peila) and add one fumble recovery for a touchdown (Peila). The Thunder would also record two sacks on the night, both coming from defensive end Marquis Jackson.



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