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Week 12 Game Notes: Command Vs. Shock

May 24, 2011 - Arena Football League (AFL)
Kansas City Command News Release


QUICK FACTS:

Spokane Shock (4-6) Vs. Kansas City Command (3-7) Date: Saturday, May 28, 2011

Kickoff: 7:00pm (Central Time)

Site: Sprint Center

Officials: Larry Smith (Referee), Robert Colosimo (Umpire), Kelly Saalfeld (Head Linesman), Dave Meslow (Line Judge), Jeff Johnson (Back Judge)

Radio: 810 WHB, Announcers Nick McCabe and Stan Weber

All-Time Series Record: The Shock lead the series 1-0 over Kansas City. Last Meeting: Spokane defeated Kansas City earlier this season on April 1st by a score of 61-34.

Coaches: Rob Keefe (4-6; Second Season) Danton Barto (3-7; First Season)

OVERVIEW: The Command are riding an emotional high after a thrilling, last-second victory on the road in Tulsa last weekend. KC will now look to build a two-game winning streak for the first time this season as Spokane visits Sprint Center. The Shock lost starting quarterback Kyle Rowley to injury before last week's loss against Tampa Bay.

THE SERIES: The Command ran into a buzz saw when they traveled to Spokane for an April 1st game. The defending ArenaBowl champs had dropped their first three games to start the 2011 season but played their best game of the season in a must-win situation, defeating Kansas City 61-34. The Command struggled on offense and defense as Spokane surged to a 38-12 halftime lead. JJ Raterink threw for 306 yards in the loss but just two touchdowns, though he ran for three more. Spokane quarterback Kyle Rowley had seven touchdown throws in just 19 completions.

Last Time Out

The Command started off the second half of the season in dramatic fashion, coming from behind to beat Tulsa 40-38 with a touchdown on the last play of the game. The Talons kicked an extra point right at the 1:00 minute warning to take a 38-34 lead in the fourth quarter. After a short kick return, 48 yards stood between Kansas City and a winning score. It took eight plays and a 4th down conversion before quarterback JJ Raterink found Bradley Chavez for a 16-yard touchdown with no time left on the clock.

"Ecstatic," said coach Danton Barto when asked to describe his feelings after the game. "We were due to win one of these."

Raterink threw for 287 yards and five touchdowns in the game. Chavez and new receiver Tod Devoe each had two touchdown receptions while Bubby Gill had a team-best nine catches for 116 yards and one score.

The Command defense undoubtedly played their best game of the year. The 38 points allowed was a season-best total for Kansas City. The defensive line got consistent pressure on Tulsa quarterback Matt Bassuener, sacking him five times. And the Command were opportunistic, forcing three turnovers.

"We're playing good defense," Barto said. "If we keep that up and get the offense clicking again we'll have a good second half of the year."

Up Next

The Command will host their second straight rematch at University of Kansas Hospital Field at Sprint Center when the Chicago Rush visit on Saturday, June 4 at 1pm. However, this time the Command will be looking for the season sweep instead of trying to salvage a split of a two-game series. The Command stunned the Rush in Chicago 58-51 on April 22 in a game televised nationally on NFL Network.

Former Missouri Tiger Joins Command

Late last week, Kansas City signed defensive lineman Jaron Baston, a native of Blue Springs and a four-year letterwinner at the University of Missouri.

Baston started the season with the Cleveland Gladiators where he tallied four tackles and a sack in six games.

Baston was a second-team All-Big 12 performer his senior season at Missouri. He signed with the Denver Broncos last April as an undrafted free agent.

Baston saw action in his first Command game against Tulsa but did not record a tackle.

Devoe Makes an Impact

Former Central Missouri receiver Tod Devoe played in his second game for the Command this week. But unlike the previous game when he played just a handful of offensive snaps in Tampa Bay, Devoe started the game against Tulsa and made several key catches. He finished with five receptions for 62 yards and two touchdowns.

The first score, Devoe caught a short pass, made the first defender miss, and outran the rest of the Talons defense for a 45-yard touchdown to give Kansas City a 20-17 third quarter lead. Devoe's second touchdown came on a high throw in the back of the end zone that he tipped to himself with one hand and caught as he fell to the ground.

"Tod came in and played like the veteran presence we needed," Barto said. "He doesn't care about stats, he just wanted the win."

While at CMSU, Devoe posted 98 receptions for 1,971 yards (20.1 avg.) with 21 touchdowns and finished his career ranked second in receiving yards and eighth in receptions. As a senior, Devoe led CMSU in receptions for the second consecutive year with 58 catches, which tied for the highest single-year reception total in school history and also set a school single-season record with 12 touchdowns.

Devoe's professional career includes playing for the NFL's Denver Broncos, Miami Dolphins, and the Tennessee Titans. As an Arena Football player he has played for the Arizona Rattlers and, most recently, the Chicago Rush.

Hardy Inactive

Former Nebraska Cornhusker Frantz Hardy, who signed with the Command last week, was inactive for the Tulsa game. Hardy is still learning the Command offense but is expected to bolster a wide receiving corps that currently has four players on injured reserve.

Hardy was a three-year letterman at Nebraska, averaging 18.0 yards per catch. For his career, Hardy finished with 54 catches for 971 yards and seven touchdowns in 38 games.

He was an undrafted NFL free agent in 2008, signing with Philadelphia but a leg injury ended his chances of making the squad.

Hardy was a second-team JUCO All-American in 2004, helping Butler County to the NJCAA championship game. He is originally from Miami, FL, where he played for Booker T. Washington High School.

Injury News

The injury bug continues to plague the Command roster. Wide receiver Christian Wise aggravated a nagging hamstring injury last week and was placed on injured reserve. Joining him on IR was fellow receiver Aaron Hosack who suffered a severe ankle sprain. Both players will be eligible to return June 19 against Cleveland. There are now four Command receivers on IR as Wise and Hosack join Tommy Saunders and Steven Savoy on the list.

DL/LB Trey Bryant is doubtful for the Spokane game as he comes back from an injury suffered against Tampa Bay. DL Brandon Jenkins is questionable due to a thumb injury.

Inside the Shock

The defending ArenaBowl champions had a tough start to the season, losing each of their first three games. Their first win came at the expense of the Command in Week Four. Since that victory, Spokane has recorded three wins and three losses.

Last week, the Shock fell at home to Tampa Bay 51-42. That loss came after Spokane placed starting quarterback Kyle Rowley on IR. In fact, the Shock lost their top two quarterbacks to injury before the game against the Storm.

Rookie Casey Hansen, a backup for the 2009 AF2 ArenaCup Champion Shock, got the start in place of Rowley. Hansen finished 25 of 43 for 288 yards, four touchdowns, and one interception. He was sacked four times.

Greg Orton continues to be the Shock's top threat at wide receiver, racking up 938 yards and 24 touchdowns for the season. However, Raul Vijil was Hansen's favorite target last week, catching 14 passes for 146 yards and two touchdowns.

Defensively, lineman Khreem Smith will be a point of focus for the Command. He is tied for third in the AFL with seven sacks on the season.

About the COMMAND

After a two-season hiatus, the team formerly known as the Brigade is bringing the fast-moving, hard-hitting excitement of Arena Football back to Kansas City for the upcoming 2011 season. Originally granted a franchise in Jan. 2006, the Kansas City Brigade quickly established a reputation for the unique blend of football and entertainment - welcoming sellout crowds of more than 12,000 fans. In the 2008 season, the Brigade moved their home games to Sprint Center, Kansas City's award winning downtown arena, bringing action packed indoor football to capacity crowds.



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The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

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