Shock roll, 75-54
June 10, 2011 - Arena Football League (AFL)
Spokane Shock News Release
Spokane, WA: The Spokane Shock defeated the Philadelphia Soul 75-54 in front of a national television audience on the NFL Network Friday night.
QB Erik Meyer made his first AFL-start and helped lead Spokane to its highest point total of the season. Meyer, who was selected as the game's National Guard MVP, jumped started Spokane's offense scoring the first touchdown of the game with a quick strike to WR Markee White.
The Meyer-led offense continued to pour it on the Soul scoring two more unanswered touchdowns, 39-yard pass to WR Greg Orton and a 15-yard TD pass to White, allowing Spokane to jump out to an early 20-0 lead.
Philadelphia, winners of their last two games, would not go away quietly. After posting only seven points in the first quarter, they came roaring back and scored 21 points leaving Spokane with a six-point lead, 34-28, at the end of the first half.
Soul QB Ryan Vena led Philadelphia on a three-play 29-yard drive that was capped off by a 15-yard pass to WR Larry Brackins for the first touchdown of the second half. After the point-after attempt was missed by Philadelphia's K Robbie Smith the game was tied at 34.
Meyer responded with an eight-play, 42-yard drive that ended with a three-yard rushing touchdown by LB Antwan Marsh. Spokane's defense got into the scoring act on the ensuing drive thanks to a Terrance Sanders' interception. Sanders returned the pick 30 yards before he pitched it to teammate LB Beau Bell who returned it the remaining 19 yards for the touchdown.
On the next drive, Vena threw another interception that fell into the hands of Spokane's DB Ruschard Dodd-Masters who returned it 14 yards for the second straight defensive score and broke the game open for the Shock.
Meyer finished the night completing 72 percent of his passes for 332 yards and seven touchdowns. Orton led Spokane in receptions (10) and receiving yards (151), while White lead the team with touchdown receptions (3). Rookie WR Adron Tennell played in his first game of the season and recorded five receptions for 69 yards with one touchdown. WR Emery Sammons chipped in with four receptions for 45 yards while OL Ben Ossai scored his first touchdown of the season on a five-yard reception.
Spokane's victory narrowed the race for the wild-card playoff spot for Spokane, whose record now stands at 5-7, half a game behind the Utah Blaze.
The Shock host the Central Division-leading Chicago Rush next Saturday night in Spokane. Tickets are still available and can be purchased by contacting TicketsWest.
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Arena Football League Stories from June 10, 2011
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