It’s no act when Rowley plays QB

Heading out of town for a couple days, but I’ll be back for Saturday’s home game with Utah. Meanwhile, I put together a notebook for Thursday’s S-R that details Kyle Rowley landing a couple of stunt double quarterback roles on a TV series and in a movie. You can read the unedited version below.

—Spokane is up to fourth in the coaches’ poll .

— And here’s a release on Spokane placing Markee White and Jeremy Geathers on I-R. It’s believed White suffered a shoulder injury in Sunday’s win over Oklahoma City. The Shock have signed versatile WR/DB Antwan Marsh.

— UPDATE: Spokane has also signed WR Emery Sammons. More here .

By Jim Meehan

jimm@spokesman.com; (208) 765-7131

Kyle Rowley’s side job isn’t too much of a stretch.

The Spokane Shock quarterback plays a stunt double quarterback in the movie “Red Dawn” and in the television series “Friday Night Lights” on NBC. He’s also logged some time as a wide receiver and defensive back in the latter role.

“I ended up in Detroit for three weeks, going through quarterback fundamentals with actor Josh Peck,” Rowley said of his duties in Red Dawn, a remake of a 1984 film that is scheduled for release in September. “I showed up two weeks early to work with him and get him to fake it the best he could and I’m also his stunt double, everything you see where you can’t see his face.”

The movie opens with a bruising football scene.

“It’s a blast shot on the sidelines,” he said. “They put a large helmet on me, greased up my air pads and a guy comes in and whales on me and the helmet flies off. I must have done that take 10 times. It’s a real hit. They go for the dynamic hit in the movie. On the TV show, it’s more relaxed.”

The job came courtesy of Orlando coach Pat O’Hara, the former USC quarterback who has worked on several TV shows and movies as a consultant, assistant coach or player. O’Hara was looking for a stunt double quarterback and asked his friend Chris Siegfried, the former Spokane head coach, if he had anyone in mind. Siegfried was coaching Rowley at Arkansas at the time. O’Hara and Siegfried appeared briefly in “The Waterboy,” with Siegfried playing the Michigan towel boy who gets clotheslined.

Rowley’s gig on Friday Night Lights took him to Austin , Texas , for four months. He landed the job with the help of a former Arkansas teammate.

“I’m usually the opposing team’s quarterback. He doesn’t have a role, but he’s in a lot of the football shots,” Rowley said. “I didn’t get in the first episode (which aired a couple weeks). I wasn’t there for the first couple, but I think it’s about the third episode where I’m in it.”

In both roles, he plays a high school-age quarterback.

“There was one time where the stunt coordinator (for Friday Night Lights) said he might have a line for me, but it never materialized,” Rowley said. “They actually had me send them a head shot (photo) and he called me back and said, ‘You just look a little too old.’ That makes sense, since I’m 31.”

Rowley also keeps busy with freelance graphic design and, along with his brothers, puts together an on-line Rhode Island nightlife directory. He hopes to continue all of his employment ventures.

“The (stunt work) pays pretty well,” said Rowley, a graduate of Brown University . “I was offered to join the Screen Actors Guild, so we’ll see.”

Notes

Shock wide receiver Markee White and lineman Jeremy Geathers have been placed on the injured-reserve list. Both were hurt in Sunday’s victory over Oklahoma City . White is second on the team with 42 receptions and 569 yards. The Shock signed WR/DB Antwan Marsh, who played at Pikeville College and was in mini camp with the Indianapolis Colts in 2006. He doesn’t have arena football experience. … Spokane climbed up two spots to No. 4 in the coaches’ poll. Milwaukee and Jacksonville , where Siegfried is the offensive coordinator, share the top spot. Spokane on Friday entertains Utah , which is tied with Bossier-Shreveport and Oklahoma City for No. 13 (last).