Shock remain winless after loss at Iowa

DES MOINES, Iowa – Kyle Rowley threw for six touchdowns, five to Greg Orton, but the Spokane Shock suffered another loss, 43-42, to the Iowa Barnstormers on Friday night, their third defeat without a victory this AFL season.

The Shock scored on a 47-yard pass from Rowley to Orton with more than 13 minutes left in the game, but neither team scored again.

Rowley completed 22 of 33 passes for 302 yards but was intercepted three times, two coming on the Shock’s final drives. He also had one of the team’s two lost fumbles.

Rowley’s second interception set up the Barnstormers at the Shock 8-yard-line with 5:32 remaining. Iowa ended up with a first down on the Shock 1 as the result of a penalty, but from there was stopped on four consecutive plays with Spokane taking over on its 3 with 1:01 remaining.

Rowley drove the Shock to the Iowa 10 with a penalty pushing them back to the 15. But on second down Cameron McGlenn picked off Rowley at the 1 and returned it 10 yards to seal the outcome with 11 seconds left. It was McGlenn’s second interception.

The Shock led 28-12 in the second quarter before Iowa (1-1) took the lead for good at 31-28 with just more than 5 minutes left in the third quarter.

Orton had his career-best game with the five touchdowns on nine receptions for 203 yards.

The Shock defense came up with two fumbles and an interception. Defensive lineman Khreem Smith recorded his second sack of the season, added two tackles for a loss and forced a fumble.

The game was the first for the Shock since the team fired assistant head coach and offensive coordinator Fred Biletnikoff Jr. after last week’s loss to Cleveland.

The Shock return to the Arena to host the Kansas City Command (0-2) on Friday.