Spokane set to host Las Vegas for first time in franchise history
June 9, 2015 - Arena Football League (AFL)
Spokane Shock News Release
SPOKANE, Washington (June 9, 2015) - The Shock (3-7, 0-3) will host the Las Vegas Outlaws (3-7, 3-1) in Week 12 AFL action for the first-ever meeting between the two teams at Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena this Friday, June 12 with a 7:00 p.m. PT kickoff. This week's match-up will be a national broadcast game on CBS Sports Network and will be available for your listening pleasure on the Shock-VPI Radio Network on AM 700 ESPN Spokane or 700espn.com.
GAME NIGHT INFORMATION
This Friday's game will be a "School's out for summer" celebration presented by KFC Restaurants and Rock 95.5 FM radio. The all-new Tailgate Zone will begin at 5:00 p.m. in the north arena parking lot featuring a Coors Light beer garden and free YMCA Kid's Zone. The first 3,500 fans through the doors (open at 6:00 p.m.) will receive a limited edition 10th Anniversary 16 oz. Shock Collectors Cup courtesy of KFC. Tickets are available via TicketsWest.com, by calling 1-800-325-SEAT, or by visiting any TicketsWest box office location.
MATCHUP HISTORY
The Shock won the first-ever meeting between the two teams in Week 9 (Saturday, May 23) of the 2015 AFL regular season by a final of 63-56 in Las Vegas, Nevada at the Thomas and Mack Center.
Spokane jumped out to a 49-21 lead at the half as rookie quarterback Warren Smith passed for five scores and added another on the ground while veteran linebacker Kevin McCullough recorded a fumble recovery for a touchdown.
Outlaws quarterback JJ Raterink was injured in the first half after taking a big hit from defensive lineman Micah King, forcing Las Vegas to look to rookie quarterback Sean Brackett.
Despite the early Shock lead and injury at quarterback for the Outlaws, Las Vegas would post 35-points in the final quarter of play to bring the game back within one score thanks to an interception return for a touchdown (Ray Little), kick return for a touchdown (Tanner Varner), and bar-ball recovery that would set up another Outlaw score during the contest.
The Shock would hold on in the final minutes of the game, recovering two onside kick attempts. Warren Smith would finish the night with eight total touchdowns (seven passing, one rushing) while the defense would create two turnovers (interception by Dodd-Masters and fumble recovery by McCullough) and limit rookie Outlaw quarterback Brackett to 13-of-23 passing for 154 yards and four passing scores.
Spokane receiver Anthony Amos recorded eight receptions for 106 yards and three touchdowns, while Nick Truesdell added seven receptions for 111 yards and one score.
GAME PREVIEW
The Week 12 match-up between Spokane and Las Vegas features two-of-three National Conference teams with a 3-7 overall record (Portland). With San Jose clinching the Pacific Division title last weekend with an 11-0 overall record, this week's game is as important as any for the Shock and Outlaws as the two squads look ahead to a potential 2015 playoff berth with eight regular season games remaining.
Spokane's remaining 2015 schedule will feature the third and final regular season match-up against San Jose on June 26, as well as, games against Arizona (July 17) and Cleveland (August 1). Having struggled against two conference opponents this season in the Sabercats and Rattlers, the Shock will need to come out ahead in key match-ups against Las Vegas, Portland, and Los Angeles to keep their playoff hopes alive.
Las Vegas, who recorded an upset win over the Arizona Rattlers to begin the season have also only recorded two additional victories on the season with both coming against Los Angeles. Of the Outlaws final eight regular season games Las Vegas will see Spokane and Portland each twice, as well as, games against San Jose (June 21), Arizona (July 11), Los Angeles (July 18), and New Orleans (July 25).
Shock rookie quarterback Warren Smith continues to elevate his play after going through a steep learning curve in his five games as the starter, facing the first-place Sabercats twice and Arizona once. So far this season he has completed 125-of-190 pass attempts (65.8 percent) for 1,411 yards, 26 touchdowns, and seven interceptions (four of those coming against San Jose). He has also added 21 rush attempts for 62 yards and four scores.
The loss of receiver Mike Washington (achilles) and Rashaad Carter (thumb) the past four weeks has turned the spotlight on to rookie receiver Anthony Amos (51 receptions for 626 yards and 11 touchdowns) and Nick Truesdell (30 receptions for 413 yards and nine touchdowns). Over the past four games, Amos has hauled in 38 receptions for 406 yards and six touchdowns while also playing key roles on special teams.
Spokane also added rookie receiver Jabin Sambrano to the mix last week in San Jose who recorded three receptions for 36 yards and one score. Braylon Bell also made his Shock debut last week after rejoining the Spokane roster following his time with the NFL's Washington Redskins. Last weekend, Bell recorded four receptions for 42 yards.
Las Vegas has also looked to rookie quarterback talent in Sean Brackett at the mid-way point of regular season play after JJ Raterink went down in the team's match-up against Spokane just three weeks ago.
The Outlaws hosted the Cleveland Gladiators last week and suffered a 44-63 defeat. After being held scoreless in the first quarter, Las Vegas posted 31-points before the end of the first-half to take the 31-29 lead thanks to a kick return for a touchdown by rookie receiver Gerald Young. Quarterback Sean Bracket completed 18-of-34 pass attempts for five touchdowns as he connected with four different receivers on the night.
Jomo Wilson continues to lead the receiving effort for Las Vegas as he has hauled in 58 receptions for 710 yards and 17 touchdowns this season. Rookie receiver Clinton Solomon has added 43 receptions for 485 yards and seven scores while Tysson Poots has rejoined the team at the mid-way point and has started to work his way back into the lineup.
Rookie receiver and kick return specialist Gerald Young has added a spark to the Outlaws in multiple games this season. He has returned two missed field goals for touchdowns and added 28 kick returns for 668 yards and three scores.
The two squads will enter Week 12 with scoring offenses posting within 1.8 points of one another. The Shock are ranked seventh (48.0 points per game) while the Outlaws are ranked eighth (46.2).
One of the biggest disappointments for the Shock this season has been their defensive play. Spokane is currently ranked last in the AFL in scoring defense as they have given up 58.1 points per game to their opponents. Las Vegas is currently ranked seventh as they have allowed 53.4.
Growing pains at the quarterback position paired with difficulties in slowing down their opponents have placed each team in the red for turnover margin. The Shock currently sit at a minus-six on the season while the Outlaws are minus-seven.
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