Subplots aplenty as Shock take on Kiss in California

Spokane quarterback Erik Meyer returns to the venue where he suffered a broken collarbone nearly eight weeks ago. Brandon Thompkins, the Shock’s leading receiver in that game, now suits up for the opposing L.A. Kiss.

Subplots are easy to find for tonight’s Spokane-L.A. matchup at the Honda Center in Anaheim, California.

Spokane routed L.A. 70-21 last month but they lost Meyer when he landed hard on his right shoulder after being tackled by former Shock roommate Beau Bell. The Shock dropped five of their next six games but Meyer’s return to the starting lineup last week has the team thinking it can make a run in the playoffs.

“Obviously, their pass rush is very good and the Bell brothers (Beau and B.J.) are really good players,” said Meyer, who was a standout at La Mirada High, roughly a 20-minute drive from the Honda Center. “We have to make sure we do what we do.”

The Shock made numerous roster moves during their losing skid, including a trade that sent Thompkins to Philadelphia. He was dealt to L.A. the next day.

“Brandon’s like a brother to me,” said defensive back Paul Stephens, who played with Thompkins at Arkansas State. “He doesn’t want me showing him up and I dang sure don’t want him showing me up.”

Spokane’s receiving unit is a work in progress. Meyer is developing his timing with rookies Rashaad Carter and Nick Truesdell and veterans Nichiren Flowers and Mike Washington, who leads the team in catches (81), yards (1,034) and touchdowns (17).

Head coach Andy Olson is spending extra time with receivers. He’s been visibly upset with receivers at times during the last 5-6 games.

“That’s where we’re the youngest,” Olson said. “A 2-to-1 (veteran-to-rookie) ratio is always good, 1-to-2 isn’t as good. They have to learn by trial and error and unfortunately some of those errors come in games.”

Spokane (7-7) has an outside shot at the second seed. L.A. (3-10) trails Portland (4-10) for the fourth and final playoff berth.

L.A. continues to reshape its roster with an AFL-high 240 transactions, 10 alone on Thursday. Aaron Garcia, the AFL’s all-time passing leader, came aboard five games ago but his stats are comparable to former starter J.J. Raterink, who is now with Iowa.

“I know they only have three wins but they’re dangerous,” Olson said. “They’re beginning to click with each week that goes by.”