Shock win opener
SPOKANE — Kyle Rowley threw for 160 yards and seven touchdowns as the Spokane Shock defeated the Arizona Rattlers 57-49 on Friday night in the opening round of the Arena Football League playoffs to advance to next week’s National Conference championship game at the Spokane Arena.
After falling behind 14-13 midway through the second quarter, Rowley led the Shock offense back as he found Greg Orton on a 13-yard score.
Arizona quarterback Nick Davila drove the Rattlers down the field late in the second quarter, but had the drive end on a Travis Williams interception in the Shock endzone.
With a chance to put the game away, Spokane turned the ball over as Rowley completed a pass to Markee White, who fumbled an attempted lateral with under four minutes remaining.
Arizona had a fourth down pass from Devila to Rod Winsor fall incomplete to turn the ball over on downs. Rod Winsor had a game high 15 catches for 210 yards and five touchdowns for the Rattlers, who finish the season 10-7.
Spokane (14-3) will face the winner of today’s Milwaukee/Chicago game in the National Conference championship game next week at the Spokane Arena.
Arizona 7 13 7 22 — 49
Spokane 7 23 14 13 — 57
Spo — Markee White 6 pass from Kyle Rowley (Taylor Rowan kick)
Ari — Rod Winsor 27 pass from Nick Davila (Fabrizio Scaccia kick)
Spo — Ed Ta’amu 6 pass from Rowley (kick failed)
Ari — Davila 1 run (Scaccia kick)
Spo — Greg Orton 4 pass from Rowley (Rowan kick)
Spo — Huey Whittaker 3 pass from Rowley (Rowan kick)
Spo — Rowan 40 field goal
Ari — Windsor 26 pass from Davila (Scaccia kick)
Spo — Whittaker 1 pass from Rowley (Rowan kick)
Spo — Whittaker 21 pass from Rowley (Rowan kick)
Ari — Windsor 6 pass from Davila (Johnie Kirton run)
Spo — White 3 pass from Rowley (run failed)
Ari — Windsor 5 pass from Davila (Scaccia kick)
Spo — Orton 8 pass from Rowley (Rowan kick)
Ari — Windsor 19 pass from Davila (Scaccia kick)
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING — Ari, McKelvey 1-2, Davila 1-1, Kirton 1-0. Spo, Rowley 4-21, Whittaker 3-3.
PASSING — Ari, Davila, 25-43-315-1. Spo, Rowley, 25-37-160.
RECEIVING — Ari, Windsor 15-210, McKelvey 5-56, Harvey 2-18, Todd 1-14, Sanders 1-12, Booker 1-5. Spo, Orton 11-54, White 10-66, Whittaker 3-34, Ta’amu 1-6.