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Spokane Shock

Offensive woes still hinder Shock in loss to San Jose

SAN JOSE, Calif. – Spokane’s offense had another rough night with dropped passes, red-zone issues and costly turnovers.

The Shock dug a 20-point hole and a fourth-quarter rally led by quarterback Erik Meyer came up short as San Jose posted a 47-37 Arena Football League victory on Saturday at the SAP Center.

Spokane was held to 28 points – a franchise low in five AFL seasons – last week in Jacksonville. The Shock managed just 37 points against the SaberCats, who registered eight quarterback sacks.

Meyer, who missed the previous five games with a broken collarbone, entered in the fourth quarter with Spokane trailing 44-24 and promptly led a touchdown drive capped by Nichiren Flowers’ acrobatic catch in the corner of the end zone.

Meyer added his second touchdown pass with 17 seconds left, but San Jose secured the ball on the ensuing onside kick and ran out the clock.

Spokane dropped to 6-7. San Jose (9-4) has a three-game lead over the Shock in the Pacific Division and won the season series 2-1.

Head coach Andy Olson told CBS Sports Network that he put Meyer in for Brian Zbydniewski in the fourth quarter “because (Meyer) told me he was ready.” Olson said Spokane’s offensive struggles in the first three quarters had more to do with the wide receivers than the quarterback.

Spokane had generated just two offensive touchdowns in five quarters, including last week’s loss, before Meyer entered the game.

Zbydniewski finished 16 of 30 for 156 yards with one interception and one touchdown. Meyer, activated from injured reserve Thursday, was 9 of 14 for 88 yards and two TDs.

San Jose quarterback Nathan Stanley put together a solid second half and finished 18 of 31 for 240 yards and four touchdowns.

Spokane led 24-21 late in the second quarter but the SaberCats went ahead to stay on Reggie Gray’s 42-yard touchdown reception. The SaberCats’ Rod Harper and Dominique Curry sandwiched touchdown catches around a Shock possession that went backward after earning first-and-goal at the San Jose 2.