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Spokane Shock

Empire ground Screaming Eagles in IFL action

Former Spokane Empire coach Adam Shackleford, chatting with his players last February, has heading to Nebraska as an assistant. (Dan Pelle / The Spokesman-Review)

The Spokane Empire dominated the first half and survived a second-half rally to turn back the Salt Lake Screaming Eagles 41-35 in Indoor Football League action on Monday in Salt Lake City.

The Empire (2-1) jumped out to a 14-0 first-quarter lead on Trevor Kennedy’s 11-yard touchdown run and a 1-yard plunge by Bryan Pray.

After a Salt Lake field goal, the Empire put together another pair of scoring drives – both through the air. The first TD came when Spokane quarterback Charles Dowdell hooked up with Samuel Charles from 21 yards out. The Empire pushed their lead to 28-3 with 3:25 left in the second quarter on Dowdell’s 13-yard hookup with Dejuan Miller.

The Screaming Eagles (1-2) scored on the last play of the half to pull within 28-10.

Kennedy’s second and third scoring runs – an 8-yard scamper in the third quarter and a 2-yard burst in the fourth – helped Spokane hold off Salt Lake, which outscored the Empire 25-13 in the second half.