Shock win third-straight road game, improve to 3-0

DES MOINES, IA (April 5, 2013) – The Shock (3-0) were on the road for the third straight week, taking on the Iowa Barnstormers (2-1) in a National Conference match up. With a 66-43 win, Shock quarterback Erik Meyer completed 70% of his passes on the day for 330 yards and 9 touchdowns. The Shock defense produced five total stops (2 INTs, 2 fourth down stops, 1 fumble recovery).

The Shock opened the game with a touchdown drive led by quarterback Erik Meyer and wide receiver Steven Black who brought in a 12-yd touchdown pass to give the Shock the early 7-0 lead. The Shock defense made their presence known early, forcing Iowa to a four-and-out on their opening drive. After taking over on downs on the short field, Meyer would find Black again for the score, this time from 3-yds out to put Spokane up by two scores at 14-0. Iowa would answer with a 31-yd touchdown pass from quarterback J.J. Raterink to wide receiver Darius Reynolds but the PAT would be blocked by Shock defensive lineman Marc Schiechl to close out the 1st quarter with the Shock leading 14-6.

In the second quarter of play, the Shock defense would continue to frustrate the Iowa offense. As Iowa continued their drive that started at the end of the 1st quarter, Shock defensive lineman Marc Schiechl would get the interception after an attempted reverse pass by Iowa wide receiver Darius Reynolds. Erik Meyer would then drive the Shock offense down the field and find Kamar Jorden from 3-yds out for the touchdown giving Spokane a 21-6 lead, the Shock defense would hold Iowa on their next drive to a 26-yd field goal to bring the game to 21-9. Spokane would then drive the field and score on a short touchdown run as linebacker Terence Moore would come in to play fullback and take the toss sweep left from 3-yds out. Getting the ball back with just under a minute to play, Iowa would make their attempt to score before the end of the half but be stopped on the goal line and a four-and-out by the Shock defense. Running out the final seconds, Spokane would go into the half leading 28-9.

The third quarter would produce six total touchdowns between the two teams, more than the first two quarters combined. After receiving the kick, Iowa would drive down the field and score on a 1-yd run by fullback Kai Brown bringing the game within two scores at 28-16. Spokane would answer in only three plays, scoring on a 9-yd touchdown pass between Meyer and Tennell. Iowa would respond quickly on a 47-yd TD pass from Raterink to wide receiver Marco Harris to bring the score to 35-23. Spokane would then widen the gap scoring on a 33-yd pass to Tennell followed by a Terrance Sanders interception on Iowa’s following possession, leading to a 43-yd touchdown pass from Erik Meyer to wide receiver Kamar Jorden giving Spokane the 47-23 lead. Iowa would score once more before the end of the quarter on a 37-yd connection between Raterink and wide receiver Marcus Harris to put the game at 47-30.

In the final quarter of play, Spokane would continue to succeed on offense and maintain at least a two score lead as Erik Meyer completed 13 straight passes before his first incompletion which came midway through the 4th quarter. Spokane would score early in the quarter on a 39-yd pass from Meyer to wide receiver Kamar Jorden. After Iowa would respond on a 3-yd touchdown pass from Raterink to wide receiver Collin Taylor, Shock quarterback Erik Meyer and wide receiver Tennell would connect for the third time in the second half on a 12-yd touchdown pass, putting Spokane up 60-36. Iowa quarterback J.J. Raterink would answer with a long drive to be capped off by a 4-yd scramble for the touchdown. Due to injuries to wide receiver Steven Black and Jefferey Solomon, Shock quarterback Arvell Nelson entered the game to play wide receiver. Shock quarterback Erik Meyer would scramble left out of the pocket and find his backup quarterback in the end zone on a diving catch as the ball would bounce off the wall before Nelson snagged it out of the air for the touchdown to put Spokane up 66-43. Iowa would get the ball back with less than one minute to play, but while reaching for the end zone would be stripped and turn the ball over for the fifth time on the day (2 INTs, 2 fourth down stops, 1 fumble). Spokane would eat the clock and win by a final score of 66-43.

The Shock will travel back to Spokane in preparation for their 2013 home opener against their West Division rival and 2012 ArenaBowl Champions the Arizona Rattlers on Friday, April 12th at Spokane Arena with a 7:00 PM PST kickoff.