Shock hand QB job to Rowley

It’s not often that a 9-2 football team changes starting quarterbacks, but Spokane Shock coach Chris Siegfried has decided the time is right.

Siegfried’s reason has nothing to do with records or statistics. He simply feels Kyle Rowley gives Spokane its best chance to defeat defensive-minded Arkansas on Saturday.

“Win, lose or draw I’ll get my fair share of naysayers about why we made this move, but the bottom line is I feel this is the best move for our team,” Siegfried said.

Rowley triggered a second-half comeback last Saturday with four touchdown passes and one rushing TD in Spokane’s 49-46 victory over Albany (N.Y.). Alex Neist, who is ninth in completion percentage (62.2) in arenafootball2 and is just outside the top 10 in passing yards and efficiency rating, has started every game this season.

“There just seemed to be a spark when Kyle was in there Saturday,” Siegfried said. “It was a tough call either way because Alex was playing pretty good. If you look at statistics Alex has been playing great, but (in making) our decisions I don’t really look at stats. I look at the game film and try to put in the guy that’s best suited to make us better.”

Rowley has four years of af2 experience, including three starts earlier this season with Manchester and 12 starts for Wilkes-Barre/Scranton in 2005. Rowley passed for 4,169 yards and 79 touchdowns and ran for eight more scores for Columbus in 2004.

“We wanted to do it before the Arkansas game so that if Kyle ends up leading us the rest of the year, he has ample time to get ready for the playoff drive,” Siegfried said. “Kyle works on his footwork 20 to 30 minutes before and after every practice and he’s performed well in the past. We’re not talking about some rookie.”

Siegfried said Neist was disappointed with the decision. Neist is 214 of 344 for 2,550 yards and 44 touchdowns. He’s thrown eight interceptions.

“I don’t expect him to be happy and excited about it,” Siegfried said, “but Alex is a pro and he isn’t going to do or say anything that negatively impacts him.”

Notes

Receiver Kevin Beard, who left Saturday’s game in the third quarter after colliding with the dasherboards surrounding the field, probably won’t play this weekend. … Receiver Charles Frederick is back practicing with the team after missing Saturday’s game. … Despite its recent win, Spokane dropped from No. 2 to No. 4 in the coaches’ poll. Florida remained No. 1, followed by Memphis and Oklahoma City. Arkansas is No. 5.