Shock beat Rush 76-61 to move to 2-0

CHICAGO (March 31, 2013) – The Shock went on the road again in week two of the 2013 Net 10 Wireless Arena Football League season against the Chicago Rush in a National Conference match up.

Chicago opened the game relying on veteran wide receiver Reggie Gray to create big plays, which he showed early with a kick return to the 25-yard line followed by a 23-yard reception to to open the door for a 2-yard rushing touchdown by Payne giving Chicago the early 7-0 lead. Shock quarterback Meyer connected on 7 of 10 passes for 105 yards and 3 touchdowns to three different receivers (Tennell, Black, Solomon) in the first quarter of play. With Solomon’s touchdown catch, he would increase his streak to seven straight games with a receiving touchdown. Rush fullback Payne would reach the end zone on two rushing scores while quarterback Coffman and wide receiver Wright would connect on a 27-yd touchdown pass, closing the quarter out with the Rush on top 21-20.

Lightning struck in the opening of the second quarter as Spokane received the kick after the final Chicago score in the first quarter. Shock kick return specialist Terrance Sanders would take the kick 55-yards to the end zone to put Spokane back on top 27-21. After Chicago answered on another touchdown reception by wide receiver Reggie Gray, Shock quarterback Erik Meyer would orchestrate a masterful drive. After scrambling for 7-yards to set up a fourth and short conversion to Solomon for 16-yards, Meyer would follow with a touch pass over the jack linebacker to Tennell to move the ball to the 2-yard line, setting up a short touchdown run by wide receiver Solomon coming out of high motion. On the ensuing kickoff, Shock kicker Kenny Spencer would connect on a bar ball kickoff that would be recovered on the 3-yard line by defensive back Paul Stephens who walked into the end zone for another Shock score, extending the lead to 41-28. Chicago would respond once more with a touchdown pass from Coffman to Gray to bring the game within one score, but a failed onside kick attempt would set Spokane up on the 19-yard line and enough field to burn the clock to 15.1 seconds and score on a short run by Erik Meyer to close out the half with Spokane on top 48-34.

Second half action would continue with the Shock’s on-point offense and play calling by Head Coach Andy Olson. Meyer would find Tennell on a 6-yard touchdown pass to extend the lead to three scores before Rush quarterback Coffman would answer on his own short touchdown pass on a 6-yard screen play to offensive lineman Colin Madison, his first reception of the season. Wasting little time, Shock quarterback Erik Meyer would find rookie wide receiver Kamar Jorden on a deep post route from 30-yards out for the touchdown to close the third quarter out at 62-41.

Chicago would open the final quarter with a short touchdown catch by wide receiver Forse from Coffman from two-yards out to bring the game back within two scores. On Spokane’s next position and in what would be a back-breaking play on a fourth and sixteen, Shock quarterback Erik Meyer would find wide receiver Solomon from 30-yards out for the touchdown to put Spokane up 69-48. Despite an injury earlier in the game Rush wide receiver Reggie Gray continued to play a key role in the Rush offense, even while limping between plays in obvious pain. Working their way down field Rush quarterback Coffman would find Gray on a slant route from 12-yards out, only to be answered by yet another touchdown connection between Shock quarterback Erik Meyer to wide receiver Adron Tennell on a 6-yard crossing route to extend their lead to 76-55. After an off the wall touchdown catch by wide receiver Reggie Gray from Coffman from 16-yards out to pull the game again within two scores, Spokane would cruise to the finish behind quarterback Erik Meyer to close the game by a final score of 76-61.

The Shock will continue on their three game road trip next weekend as they prepare to take on the Iowa Barnstormers who are also off to a 2-0 start on the season. The game is set for Friday, April 5th in Des Moines, IA with a 5:05 PM PST kickoff.