Shock Hand Rattlers 47-59 Win in Final Minute
May 31, 2015 - Arena Football League (AFL)
Spokane Shock News Release
SPOKANE, Washington - The Shock (3-6, 0-2) hosted the defending ArenaBowl Champion Arizona Rattlers (7-2, 2-1) in Week 10 of the 2015 AFL regular season in front of 7,884 fans at Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena resulting in a 47-59 Shock loss.
Arizona took control of the contest early, led by back-up quarterback Shane Boyd in the absence of Nick Davila, posting two first quarter scores on passes to receiver Markee White (13-yards, 30-yards) while holding Spokane to a four-and-out on their opening possession. Spokane would find the end zone once in the opening quarter of play as quarterback Warren Smith connected with receiver Nick Truesdell on a 16-yard touchdown pass to bring the game within one score at 6-14.
White's second score of the game (first quarter) would earn him Cutters Catch of the Game honors as the 6-foot-7 receiver made a fingertip catch on a 30-yard touchdown reception.
The two squads would trade possessions in the second quarter by holding each other to turnovers on downs. The Shock held Arizona on the Rattlers own five-yard line, but would fail to convert on the short field as the Rattlers dug in and took over possession on their own one-yard line. Arizona quarterback Boyd would lead the Rattlers the length of the field and find White again on a 13-yard touchdown pass before Arizona defensive back Marquis Floyd would intercept Shock quarterback Warren Smith's pass and set up a seven-yard rushing score by fullback Mykel Benson to give the Rattlers the 27-6 advantage. On Spokane's ensuing possession, Smith would lead the offense down the field and connect with receiver Samuel Charles for an eight-yard touchdown pass with 29 seconds remaining in the half. The Shock would kick deep with time winding down in the half but Rattlers quarterback Boyd would put together a three-play drive, taking only 19 seconds off the clock before finding receiver Rod Windsor for a 19-yard score. The Shock would get the ball back once more before the half and be aided by a roughing the passer penalty against Arizona to allow Spokane to find the end zone on a 13-yard touchdown pass from Smith to Truesdell and go into the half trailing the Rattlers 20-34.
Spokane would hold Arizona scoreless in the third quarter while posting two scores of their own. Quarterback Warren Smith would find the end zone on a 25-yard run before jack-linebacker Kevin McCullough would step into the passing lane and intercept Rattlers quarterback Shane Boyd. One play later, Smith would find Truesdell for a 31-yard score and tie the game at 34-34 to end the quarter.
Arizona would post 25-points in the final quarter of play. Continuing their third quarter drive, Arizona would find the end zone on a three-yard rush by fullback Mykel Benson to retake the lead. Spokane would respond with a 12-yard touchdown pass from Smith to Truesdell to again tie the game at 41-41. On Arizona's ensuing possession, backed up on their own five-yard line with a fourth-and-long situation, Rattlers quarterback Boyd would connect with receiver Darrin Moore over the middle who would go to the ground to make the reception. Untouched by a Shock defender, Moore retook his feet and would take the catch 45-yards for the Rattlers touchdown. Spokane's final score of the game would come on a 21-yard pass from Smith to Charles and take the game to the one-minute warning. After failing to recover the onside kick, Arizona would score on a seven-yard pass from Boyd to receiver Rod Windsor and then follow up with an interception by defensive back Jeremy Kellem that would allow the Rattlers to again find the end zone on a seven-yard rush by Windsor to close out the 47-59 win over Spokane.
Shock quarterback Warren Smith would end the night compelting 31-of-47 pass attempts for 319 yards and six touchdowns with two interceptions. Samuel Charles led the Spokane receiving effort, earning him J. Lewis Small Playmaker of the Game honors, as he recorded 14 receptions for 144 yards and two scores. Anthony Amos added ten receptions for 92 yards while Nick Truesdell hauled in six catches for 78 yards and four touchdowns. Jack-linebacker Kevin McCullough, in his second game, recorded his first interception of the season.
Arizona quarterback Shane Boyd earned Russell Athletic Offensive Player of the Game honors as he completed 23-of-39 pass attempts for 269 yards and seven touchdowns with only one interception. Rod Windsor led the Rattlers receiving core with seven catches for 72 yards and two scores while Darrin Moore added six reception for 84 yards and one touchdown. Receiver Markee White, who left the game due to injury in the late third quarter, had four receptions for 64 yards and three touchdowns. Defensive back Marquis Floyd had one interception in the contest, while Jeremy Kellem earned Riddell Defensive Player of the game honors as he led the Rattlers with 11 solo tackles and sealed the Arizona win with a fourth quarter interception in the final minute of the game.
The Rattlers created four total turnovers in the game as the held Spokane to two turnover on downs and had two interceptions against rookie Shock quarterback Warren Smith. The Shock intercepted Arizona quarterback Shane Boyd once in the game and held the Rattlers to one turnover on downs on the night.
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Arena Football League Stories from May 31, 2015
- Sharks Outlast KISS for Fourth Straight Win, 41-35 - Jacksonville Sharks
- Rattlers (7-2) Get Big Win in Spokane (3-6), 59-47 - Arizona Rattlers
- Shock Hand Rattlers 47-59 Win in Final Minute - Spokane Shock
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