Command Drop Final Home Game Of The Season, Fall To Shock 49-48

Command quarterback Matt Gutierrez threw for 239 yards, four touchdowns and rushed for another to give Kansas City (3-14) their first lead of the game with 6:43 left in the fourth quarter. A thrilling finish would unfold as the Spokane Shock (9-8) etched one final touchdown with 12 seconds left in the game.  The subsequent two-point conversion gave the Shock a one-point lead, 49-48. A missed KC field goal attempt as time expired gave Spokane the victory in front of 3,764 fans Saturday night at Sprint Center.
“It’s never just one play, but that was a tough loss,” Command head coach Danton Barto said on the missed field goal to end the game. “I’m proud of these guys.  They played their hearts out and battled their butts off tonight.” The Sprint crowd tried to fuel the home team as well. “The one thing I love about KC, we had a great turnout, a lot of kids, a lot of energy, and it was fun,” said Barto.
Though Kansas City didn’t earn a first down until 11:58 in the second quarter, Command QB Gutierrez settled in and connected with Samie Parker for his first touchdown in front the home crowd to keep the Command close, 14-7 at the 11:18 mark.  Spokane quarterback Kyle Rowley threw a quick touchdown to Rod Harper to go up 21-7, but on the ensuing kickoff Command special teams weapon Jackie Chambers broke free for a 38 yard kickoff return; giving KC their best starting field position of the game. Command fullback Trey Bryant took advantage of a wide open left side of the field and rushed in for a quick 12 yard touchdown; once again bringing KC within one score, 21-14.
Spokane QB Rowley was in line for another touchdown to Jefferey Solomon when Command DB Sergio Gilliam forced a fumble, and KC QB Gutierrez converted the possession into points connecting with Parker for his second touchdown.   
Spokane quarterback Kyle Rowley connected with Adron Tennell for his third touchdown in the first half with just 17 seconds left in the second quarter and headed into the locker room with a halftime lead of 28-21.  Rowley finished the game with 320 yards passing and seven touchdowns.
Command defense kept the pressure on Spokane, forcing a Shock turnover at the goal line on the first possession of the third quarter which Kansas City again converted into positive points with fullback Trey Bryant’s second rushing touchdown of the game, bringing his season total to six.
The fourth quarter provided a thrilling finish as Armand Robinson’s return from IR delivered two touchdown catches from Gutierrez and gave Kansas City their first lead of the game, 42-41 with 6:43 left in the fourth quarter. When Spokane turned the ball over on downs and Gutierrez rushed for a touchdown, it looked as if KC would hold on to the win. However, there was enough time on the clock and Shock QB Rowley connected with Jefferey Solomon for a touchdown and a successful two-point conversion gave Spokane a one point lead with just 12 seconds remaining in the game. Kansas City would get one final opportunity, but a missed 47 yard field goal attempt as time expired gave the Shock the victory.
On his return from injured reserve, Robinson said “I’m just excited to be back. I’ve never missed a game with an injury, and I was happy to be out there with my team. The fact that the last time we played Spokane they beat us by almost 30, so the fact that we were that close (to winning), I was just proud to be a part of the game and of the guys.”
Chambers has recorded at least 100 kickoff return yards in each of the last six games; and his 116 kickoff return yards on Saturday brings his season total to 1,019; breaking the single-season franchise record of 983, set by Jerel Myers in 2008. Command DB Rashad Barksdale also broke his own single-game record for tackles, notching 15 total tackles against Spokane.

Command Get Ready To Host Spokane On Saturday

This week, the Spokane Shock (8-7) hit the road to take on the Kansas City Command (3-13) this Saturday, July 14th at the Sprint Center in Kansas City, MO with a 7:00pm CDT kickoff.
The first meeting between the Command and Shock took place just over four weeks ago in week 14 of the AFL regular season and ended with a decisive Spokane victory by a final score of 70-46. Kyle Rowley connected with five different receivers for touchdowns, ending the contest with 8 total. While the game remained tied through the first half, a 28-point third quarter widened the gap as Spokane intercepted Command QB Brian Jones twice and forced three fumbles in route to the home win.
Kansas City enters this week 18 matchup ranked last in the Power Rankings and on a three-game losing streak. Injuries and instability at the quarterback position throughout the year has left the Command with the league's worst passing offense (3,511 yards) and 10th ranked rushing offense (286 yards). Despite their inability to produce offensively as they have only averaged 39.7 points per game, they have managed to post the 3rd best total defensive output this season only giving up only 272.9 yards and 52.6 points per game.
Spokane has completed the most difficult and challenging four weeks of their 2012 schedule after playing all three West Division opponents who have clinched their spots in the 2012 playoffs and the East Division Champion Philadelphia Soul. The Shock are currently ranked 7th in passing offense (4,451 yards) and average 59.4 points per game. The achilles heel of Spokane over the past few weeks has been their inability to protect football and their defense which is ranked last in the AFL as they have given up 332.2 yards and 59.2 points per game.
While each team has been eliminated from playoff contention, there is a strong sense of urgency by each team to finish the season on a high note with only two games remaining in the season. This will mark the first year that the Shock will not make the playoffs in their seven years of existence between the af2 and AFL. With the new CBA on the horizon and a major restructure approaching in regard to player contracts going into 2013, these last two games will play pivotal roles in evaluating roster spots and potential long term contract opportunities for players as the season comes to a close.
This week's game broadcast will be available for listening on ESPN 1510 AM and broadcasted on the Command's Ustream page at Ustream.tv/kansascitycommand.

Kansas City Command Lose Second In A Row, Fall to Spokane 70-46

Kansas City Command quarterback, Brian Jones and wide receiver Bret Smith connected for five touchdowns Saturday night (tying a franchise record), but Spokane lite up the scoreboard and KC dropped their second game in a row, losing (70-46) in front of 8,628 fans at Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena.  Shock QB Kyle Rowley spread the ball around to five different receivers, passing for 272 yards and eight touchdowns.
“It’s the same old same old,” said Command Coach Danton Barto.  “Our starting quarterback is out and we don’t know if Zack’s ready to play. Brian is giving us everything he can but we’re just out of sync at times. We’ll go back to the drawing board and see what we can do.”
Jones got his second start for KC stepping in for the injured Matt Gutierrez, but never found a consistent rhythm.  The Command defense, led by JC Neal’s eight tackles, helped keep the Shock in check during the first half; that allowed Jones to find his favorite target of the night, Bret Smith who had three touchdowns by the halfway point.  KC and Spokane traded scores and went into halftime tied at 28 points apiece.
On connecting with Jones for eight touchdowns in just two games, Command wide receiver Bret Smith said, “I wish we could put together some wins with it, but Brian and I have that chemistry dating back to our Arkansas days (they played together at Arkansas in 2010 under Coach Barto).  “We’ve just gotta keep working hard and hopefully it will turn into wins.  We’re not pointing any fingers; we’ve just got to improve as a team.”
Spokane came out firing on all cylinders in the third quarter, quickly going up 35-28 with a six yard touchdown catch by Steven Black at the 12:28 mark and never relinquished their lead.  The Shock receiving core of Black, Rod Harper, Jefferey Soloman, and Adron Tennell kept KC’s defense on their heels all night and five different Shock receivers combined for 26 catches and 272 yards.  Spokane’s defense gave KC a taste of their own medicine compiling four sacks, two interceptions, and three fumble recoveries; scoring 21 points off turnovers alone.
“We keep turning the ball over, and we keep losing,” said Barto. “It’s not some secret formula and we do it at crucial points and it hurts us, and we’re just not good enough to recover right now.”

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.