Empire hold on late in opener

| February 24, 2017 12:00 AM

SPOKANE — Quarterback Charles Dowdell gave Spokane the lead for good with 10:10 remaining on a 25-yard touchdown run, leading the Empire past the Green Bay Blizzard 34-31 in the Empire’s Indoor Football League opener on Thursday at the Spokane Arena.

Dowdell’s touchdown gave Spokane a 31-23 lead with 10:10 remaining. Craig Peterson kicked a 29-yard field goal with 50 seconds remaining to give the Empire a 34-23 lead.

Green Bay (1-1) pulled within 34-31 on a 3-yard touchdown pass from Matt Behrendt to Marquel Willis with 34 seconds remaining, but the Empire was able to hold on late.

Dowdell finished with 106 yards rushing and threw for another 86 yards and two interceptions for Spokane (1-0).

Spokane visits Wichita Falls on March 3.

Green Bay 10 0 7 14 — 31

Spokane 13 6 0 15 — 34

First quarter

Spo — Charlie Dowdell 3 run (Craig Peterson kick), 11:42

GB — FG, Zeke Arevalo, 45, 8:34

GB — Manny Asprilla 53 interception return (Arevalo kick), 5:05

Spo — Bryan Pray 34 pass from Dowdell (kick blocked), 1:17

Second quarter

Spo — Mulku Kaloho 15 run (kick failed), 7:34

Third quarter

GB — Marquel Willis 11 pass from Matt Behrendt (Arevalo kick), 3:38

Fourth quarter

Spo — Robert Brown 39 interception return (kick failed), 14:32

GB — Deandre Brown 29 pass from Behrendt (pass failed), 12:16

Spo — Dowdell 25 run (kick failed), 10:10

Spo — FG, Peterson, 29, :50

GB — Willis 3 pass from Behrendt (Chevelle Buie pass from Arevalo), :10

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING — GB, Behrendt 4-28, Spence 8-24; Spo, Dowdell 11-106, Kaloho 11-30, Sims 1-4.

PASSING — GB, Behrendt, 14-33-1-169; Spo, Dowdell, 8-16-2-86.

RECEIVING — GB, Willis 5-69, Sumler 3-28, Brown 2-39, Spence 2-22, Mickelsen 2-22; Spo, Pray 3-41, Sims 3-21, Kalohoh 1-19, Miller 1-5.