Shock Get 63-56 Road Win Over Outlaws

May 23,2015

LAS VEGAS -- The Spokane Shock (3-5) defeated the Las Vegas Outlaws (3-5), 63-56, on Saturday in the first of three matchups between the two teams this season.
Spokane took early command of the contest, holding the Outlaws to a four-and-out on the opening drive of the game before Shock quarterback Warren Smith found receiver Anthony Amos on fourth-and-two for a 29-yard touchdown pass to take the 7-0 lead. Shock kicker Taylor Rowan's ensuing kickoff would hit the scoreboard above the field at the Thomas & Mack Center, by rule, placing the ball at the Las Vegas 20-yard line to set up the short field and a 22-yard touchdown pass from quarterback J.J. Raterink to receiver Jason Willis. Spokane would score once more before the end of the quarter as Smith found receiver Nick Truesdell on a four-yard pass and put the Shock ahead at 14-7.
The Shock defense made their presence known in the second quarter as defensive lineman Micah King put pressure on Raterink, causing a pass to sail over the head of his receiver and resulting in an interception by Shock defensive back Ruschard Dodd-Masters. On Spokane's ensuing possession, Smith found the end zone on a four-yard bootleg as he jumped over a pair of Outlaw defenders for the score. Following a penalty to open their next drive, Raterink was buried into the turf by Micah King, causing a fumble in the end zone that would be recovered by Jack linebacker Kevin McCullough for the Spokane touchdown to extend the Shock lead to 28-7. Rookie backup quarterback Sean Brackett entered the game for Las Vegas on the next series and completed a quick pass while adding three rush attempts as he led the Outlaws down the field to bring the game back within two scores. On the Shock's final possession of the first half, Spokane would work their way down field and score with nine seconds left on the clock with a four-yard pass from Smith to receiver Rashaad Carter to give Spokane the 35-14 lead.
In second half action, Spokane returned the opening kick and drove the length of the field before fumbling on the Las Vegas three-yard line. The Outlaws would put together their own field-length drive setting up a fourth-and-goal on the Shock one-yard line where the Spokane defense dug in to hold Las Vegas to a turnover on downs. Shock quarterback Warren Smith led the offense down the field and connected with Anthony Amos on a six-yard touchdown pass for the first points of the half and push the Spokane lead to 42-14. After Outlaws quarterback Sean Brackett responded with a 22-yard touchdown pass to Clinton Solomon, the ensuing kickoff hit the scoreboard to set Spokane up with a short field resulting in another Smith touchdown pass, this time to Carter from 11 yards out as the third quarter would close out with Spokane leading 49-21.
The Shock opened the final quarter of play by holding the Outlaws to a four-and-out on their own five-yard line. On the next series, Smith found Samuel Charles for the Cutters Catch of the Game on an amazing catch over the boards from five yards out to extend the Spokane lead to 56-21. The Outlaws​ would go on to score three unanswered touchdowns beginning with a pass from Brackett to Jomo Wilson on the left wall, as Wilson broke two tackles on his way to a 45-yard score. On the Shock's next possession, Outlaws defensive back Ray Little intercepted a hitch route and walked into the end zone for a five-yard score before the ensuing kickoff would bounce out from the slack net to the Spokane five-yard line where it would be recovered by Las Vegas and result in an eight-yard touchdown pass from Bracket to Wilson to bring the score to a 56-42 Shock lead. Spokane would end the onslaught as Smith found Amos on a 15-yard touchdown pass, but the Outlaws would not go quietly. Defensive back Tanner Varner would take the ensuing kickoff the length of the field for an Outlaws score. After a failed onside kick attempt by Las Vegas, the Outlaws dug in to hold Spokane to a 23-yard field goal attempt by Taylor Rowan that would go wide of the posts and give the ball back to Las Vegas on their own two-yard line. Working their way down field, the Outlaws would find the end zone once more on a pass from Brackett to Willis, but failed to recover the onside kick and allow Spokane to run out the clock and take home the 63-56 win.
Shock quarterback Warren Smith earned Russell Athletic Offensive Player of the Game honors as he completed 26-of-37 pass attempts for 342 yards and seven passing touchdowns while adding another score on the ground. Rashaad Carter led the Spokane receiving effort with nine receptions for 96 yards and two scores. He was complemented by Nick Truesdell, who recorded eight receptions for 106 yards and three touchdowns, while Anthony Amos added seven receptions for 111 yards and one score.
The Outlaws looked to rookie quarterback Sean Brackett in relief of J.J. Raterink early in the second quarter. Brackett completed 13-of-23 pass attempts for 154 yards and four touchdowns in the air while adding another score on the ground. Jason Willis led the Outlaws in receiving with eight catches for 80 yards and three touchdowns while Jomo Wilson and Clinton Solomon also recorded receiving scores. Defensive back Ray Little recorded an interception for Las Vegas that he would return for a five-yard touchdown, while defensive back Tanner Varner recorded a 56-yard kickoff return for a score.
MEDIA AWARDS
Russell Athletic Offensive Player of the Game: Spokane QB Warren Smith
Riddell Defensive Player of the Game: Las Vegas DB Eddie Moten
J. Lewis Small Playmaker of the Game: Spokane WR Anthony Amos
Cutters Catch of the Game: Spokane WR Samuel Charles' touchdown catch over the boards (Q3)
AFL Highlight of the Game: Las Vegas WR Clinton Solomon