Command Try To Get Back On Winning Track In Spokane

This week, the Kansas City Command (2-9) travel to Spokane to take on the Shock (6-5) at Spokane Arena with a 7:00pm PST kickoff on Saturday, June 9th, 2012.
Last week the Command came up just short against the league’s top-passing offense as Utah Blaze QB Tommy Grady finished with 436 yards, passing for seven touchdowns, one rushing TD and walked away with the National Guard MVP of the game. Command defense held Utah to under 60 points for just the fourth time this season, but the Blaze (7-5) scored on their first 6 possessions of the game, and went on to win 55-45 over the Command (2-9) in front of 4,618 at Sprint Center.
With Matt Gutierrez placed on IR late Friday, Brian Jones (6’2, 205 Toledo) stepped in at quarterback. Jones had been out of the league since 2008 but played for Command Coach Danton Barto on three different teams, winning the af2 championship in 2005 with the Memphis Xplorers. In his first game back Jones completed 68.2 % of his passes for 268 yards and 4 TDs.
The Shock are coming off a loss to Chicago which ended their three-game winning streak. Having three turnovers in the game, the Shock were unable to match the hot hand of Rush QB Russ Michna who threw for over 400 yards and 9 TDs last week. Kyle Rowley threw for a season high of 402 yards with 8 TDs, but two costly interceptions allowed Chicago to maintain their lead and hold on to an 11-point victory with a final score of 73-62.
Kansas City’s offense (ranked 16th in Passing and 11th in Rushing) will arrive in Spokane lead by their trio of receivers WR Syvelle Newton has recorded 42 receptions for 413 yards and 9 TDs, Bret Smith with 37 receptions for 485 yards and 8 TDs and Arman Robinson with 32 receptions for 342 yards and 7 TDs. Defensively (ranked 5th in Opp Passing and 1st in Opp Rushing), Kansas City has given up 2,890 yards in the air and 62 TDs this season.
Spokane’s offense (ranked 12th in Passing and 14th in Rushing) have posted no less than 62 points in each of their last five games led by QB Kyle Rowley who has thrown for 2,193 yards, 46 TDs and 12 INTs. WR Adron Tennell leads the team through ten games with 85 receptions, 1,029 yards and 20 TDs while being accompanied by Brandon Thompkins with 74 receptions, 884 yards, and 26 TDs. Defense (ranked 16th in Opp Passing and 11th in Opp Rushing) will enter this week’s match-up with a healthy secondary led by DB and KR Specialist Terrance Sanders who not only leads the league in Tackles (76 solo, 13 assisted ) but has recorded seven INTs, four KR TDs, and one missed FG attempt that he returned for a TD as well.
Returning to Spokane to begin a two-game home stint, Coach Andy Olson recognizes the need to perform strongly against Kansas City. “We are never going to look beyond a team or count a team like Kansas City out, they have as much as we do to prove each week and are hungry for a win. We need to use this game as an opportunity to get better and do everything we can to get a win before we compete against our West Division rivals in the weeks to come.”
The Command is (1-1) vs. Shock having split the season series last year.  Kansas City lost on the road but won the rematch at the Sprint Center.
The game will be broadcast on SportsRadio 810 WHB AM, KSMO-TV 62 and Ustream.tv/kansascitycommand.