Shock win in battle of backup QBs

| July 27, 2014 9:00 PM

PORTLAND - In a battle of the backup quarterbacks of two teams that have already qualified for the Arena Football League playoffs, it was Brian Zbyniewski that stood tall over a former Oregon Duck standout.

Zbyniewski, who started four games this season for the Spokane Shock in the absence of injured starter Erik Meyer, finished with 259 yards and five touchdowns, leading the Shock past the expansion Portland Thunder 45-40 on Saturday night in front of 12,848 at the Moda Center.

Darron Thomas, who starred at Oregon, completed 19 of 41 passes for 200 yards and three interceptions for Portland.

Spokane (11-7) had won its previous four games since the return of starting quarterback Meyer, averaging 31.8 points per game more on offense.

Meyer sat out the game, as did former Shock quarterback Kyle Rowley, the starter for Portland (5-13).

Spokane opens the National Conference playoffs on Saturday at San Jose at 7 p.m. Portland travels to Arizona in the other National Conference game next Sunday at 3 p.m.

Spokane 7 10 7 21 - 45

Portland 7 6 14 13 - 40

First quarter

Port - Darron Thomas 1 run (Zach Ramirez kick), 13:23.

Spo - Nick Truesdell 16 pass from Brian Zbydniewski (Taylor Rowan kick), 11:03.

Second quarter

Spo - Rashaad Carter 16 pass from Zbydniewski (Rowan kick), 13:53.

Spo - FG Rowan 21, 2:56.

Port - Thomas 1 run (kick failed), :16.

Third quarter

Port - Doug McNeil III 27 pass from Thomas (Ramirez kick), 10:05.

Port - Jamar Howard 7 pass from Thomas (Ramirez kick), 3:31.

Spo - Carter 26 pass from Zbyniewski (Rowan kick), :34.

Fourth quarter

Spo - Terrance Sanders 16 interception return (Rowan kick), 14:14.

Spo - Adron Tennell 13 pass from Zbyniewski (Rowan kick), 9:39.

Port - Stanley Daniels 12 pass from Thomas (Ramirez kick), 6:06.

Spo - Mike Washington 39 pass from Zbyniewski (Rowan kick), 3:57.

Port - Kevin Cummings 12 pass from Thomas (pass failed), :46.

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING - Spo, Carter 2-1, Zbyniewski 3-3, Nixon 3-0. Port, Thomas 6-11.

PASSING - Spo, Zbyniewski 22-37-2-259. Port, Thomas 19-41-3-200.

RECEIVING - Spo, Washington 4-58, Carter 7-91, Tennell 5-42, Truesdell 6-68. Port, Brooks 2-17, Howard 7-69, McNeil III 6-74, Cummings 2-16, Daniels 2-24.