Empire put emphasis on eliminating turnovers for Iowa game

The Spokane Empire went from scoring 60 and 66 points in their first two games to 22 in the third.

That’s not nearly enough in arena football.

Spokane’s first Indoor Football League loss was caused in large part by six turnovers against Billings. That game unfolded March 12, so you can probably guess what Spokane (2-1) has been working on leading up to Friday’s home game against Iowa.

“For us to have a chance at the end (of the Billings’ game) says a lot about our team and the fight we have,” quarterback Charles Dowdell said. “I’m just working on taking what the defense gives us and not trying to force anything, being OK with 5 yards or 10 yards and being OK with long drives.”

Dowdell was intercepted twice. A bigger culprit was the team’s six fumbles, four recovered by the Wolves. The Empire converted just 1 of 7 third downs and 1 of 5 fourth downs.

“Our defense finally had some film on a team and played as well as we did, offensively I dropped the ball,” said coach Adam Shackleford, who calls the plays. “We put the ball on the ground too much and that can’t happen.”

That will be particularly important against Iowa (3-1), which has committed just three turnovers and forced 10. Spokane went 4-2 against Iowa when the franchises were Arena Football League members. The Barnstormers left the AFL in 2015.

Spokane had several center-quarterback exchange issues against Billings after an injury to center Michael Boyefio, who will be back for Friday’s game.

“I’ve never had a quarterback here or anywhere else I’ve been that didn’t have a bad game. And it didn’t look as bad once we watched it as we maybe originally thought,” Shackleford said. “He’s still our guy.”

Iowa has a familiar name at quarterback in Donovan Porterie, who has tossed just one interception and ranks third in the IFL in passing yards per game (167.8) and touchdown passes (15). Porterie spent a few weeks with Spokane in 2014 when Erik Meyer was sidelined with a broken collarbone.

“A lot of people remember him from Spokane, but how much success was he going to have with four days of practice and going against Arizona and those teams?” Shackleford said. “He’s good in this system.”

Spokane will have its third kicker in four games after signing Brady Beeson, who kicked for Shackleford’s Tri-Cities teams.