Spokane Shocked by 0-3 Cleveland

SPOKANE - Cleveland wideout Brent Holmes returned a kickoff 56 yards for a touchdown with 2 seconds remaining to lift the previously winless Gladiators past the Spokane Shock 72-68 in an Arena Football League Western Conference showdown on Spokane Tribe Field in front of 9,974 on Saturday night.

After going scoreless in the third quarter, Cleveland exploded for 34 points, 14 of the final 21 in a wacky final minute of the game.

Within the final minute, both teams combined for four touchdowns, with each team's kicker missing an extra point attempt.

Cleveland's Brent Nelson scored his fourth touchdown on a 23-yard pass from John Dutton with 46 seconds remaining to take a 65-61 lead. Spokane drove down the field and eventually converted on an 8-yard pass from Kyle Rowley to Raul Vijil with 8 seconds remaining. Following the Cleveland score, a pass from Rowley to Markee White fell incomplete to end the game.

Rowley finished the night 30 of 45 passing for 375 yards, nine touchdowns and two interceptions for the Shock (2-2), who travel to Arizona on Friday. Huey Whittaker had 11 catches for 149 yards and three touchdowns.

Dutton threw for six touchdowns on 25 of 39 for 285 yards and two interceptions for Cleveland (1-3), which travels to Iowa on Saturday. Nelson finished with seven catches for 129 yards and four touchdowns.

Cleveland 21 17 0 34 - 72

Spokane 14 20 14 20 - 68

Cle - Ben Nelson 46 pass from John Dutton (Matt Denny kick)

Cle - Brent Holmes 24 pass from Dutton (Denny kick)

Spo - Branden Hall 10 pass from Kyle Rowley (Taylor Rowan kick)

Spo - James Todd 1 fumble return (Rowan kick)

Cle - Nelson 13 pass from Dutton (Dutton kick)

Spo - Thompson 2 pass from Rowley (kick failed)

Cle - Travis Williams 28 interception return (Denny kick)

Spo - Raul Vijil 11 pass from Rowley (Rowan kick)

Cle - Victor Williams 2 run (Denny kick)

Spo - Markee White 16 pass from Rowley (Rowan kick)

Cle - Denny 41 field goal

Spo - Huey Whittaker 11 pass from Rowley (Rowan kick)

Spo - White 4 pass from Rowley (Rowan kick)

Cle - Nelson 6 pass from Dutton (Denny kick)

Cle - Russell Monk 2 run (Denny kick)

Spo - Whittaker 2 pass from Rowley (Rowan kick)

Cle - V. Williams 8 pass from Dutton (Denny kick)

Spo - Whittaker 2 pass from Rowley (kick failed)

Cle - Nelson 23 pass from Dutton (kick failed)

Spo - Vijil 4 pass from Rowley (Rowan kick)

Cle - Brent Holmes 56 kickoff return (Denny kick)

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING - Cle, Monk 2-50, V. Williams 1-2, Johnson 1-(-1). Spo, Thompson 2-43.

PASSING - Cle, Dutton 25-39-2-285. Spo, Rowley 30-45-3-375.

RECEIVING - Cle, Nelson 7-129, Johnson 9-65, Holmes 6-64, Tadisch 2-19, V. Williams 1-8. Spo, Whittaker 11-149, White 8-112, Vijil 7-96, Hall 1-10, Thompson 3-8.