Scoreless first half leads to Shock loss

ANAHEIM, Calif. – The Spokane Shock were shut out in the first half before a second-half rally came up short in a 34-28 loss to the Los Angeles Kiss on Sunday in an Arena Football League game. The loss left the Shock at 4-9 and tied for with Portland for the fourth and final playoff spot from the National Conference. Las Vegas is 5-8 and the Kiss 3-11 with four weeks left in the regular season. Arizona and San Jose have already claimed the other two berths as division champions. Backup quarterback Arvell Nelson came into the game in the second half and threw for two scores before running 14 yards for another to get the Shock within six points with 7:36 to go. The Shock blocked their second field-goal attempt of the game with 40 seconds left setting them up at their own 21. A pass interference call and a 12-yard reception by Anthony Amos got the Shock down to the Kiss 6. A penalty pushed the Shock back 10 yards and three incompletions later the clock had run out. Nelson replaced Warren Smith after the Shock starter completed 8 of 19 passes for 101 yards and an interception in the scoreless first half for Spokane. In the third quarter, Nelson threw touchdown passes of 12 yards to Nick Truesdell and 22 yards to Jabin Sambrano, and James Ruffin scored after stripping Kiss QB Danny Southwick and recovering the ball in the end zone. Myles Mason ran 15 yards to give Los Angeles a 34-21 lead early in the fourth quarter. Nelson finished 10 of 20 for 130 yards.