Outlaws lose QB, fall in early hole again in loss to Shock

If the Las Vegas Outlaws plan on having a winning record in their inaugural Arena Football League season, they might want to rethink their formula for success.

Playing from 21 points behind isn’t the best way to win games. Even in the frenzied offensively minded game that is Arenaball.

Despite a furious fourth-quarter comeback, Las Vegas failed to get back to .500 Saturday, losing to the Spokane Shock 63-56 before 2,273 at the Thomas &Mack Center to fall to 3-5.

“It’s killing us right now,” coach Aaron Garcia said of his team playing from behind week after week. “It’s tough to win when you’re digging such a deep hole for yourself.”

The situation got worse when the Outlaws lost starting quarterback J.J. Raterink in the second quarter. He was sacked — leading to a Spokane touchdown — and aggravated the broken fifth metacarpal bone on his right hand.

Sean Brackett replaced Raterink and scored on a 2-yard run in the second quarter to cut the deficit to 28-14. But Spokane came back and scored with nine seconds left in the first half.

Brackett threw for 154 yards and four touchdowns, plus the rushing TD. He might have found a favorite receiver in Jason Willis, who had six catches for 68 yards and three TDs.

“I felt comfortable out there,” Brackett said. “I think as we got into the second half, I started to find a rhythm with the receivers.”

Willis, who joined the Outlaws three weeks ago, is an inviting target. He made a sensational grab for his first touchdown, going over the boards and maintaining possession.

But the Outlaws’ defense was guilty of shoddy tackling, with Spokane receivers racking up plenty of yards after the catch.

The Shock (3-5) also came up with big plays when needed.

Witness midway through the third quarter. Spokane’s defense had just held the Outlaws on fourth-and-goal at the 1.

On a second-and-9 play on the ensuing drive, Spokane quarterback Warren Smith fumbled the snap, picked up the ball and in chuck-and-duck fashion, heaved the ball down the right side into the arms of Nick Truesdell. The 32-yard play got Spokane out of a deep hole and set up a touchdown, with Smith connecting with Anthony Amos to extend the lead to 42-14.

Smith finished with 342 yards passing and seven TDs. He also was involved in what was easily the play of the game and perhaps the season.

It happened early in the fourth quarter. On first-and-goal from the 5, Smith threw toward the corner of the end zone. Samuel Charles snagged the ball out of the air, was shoved over the boards and landed on his back onto the concrete, yet still managed to hang onto the ball.

The sensational TD grab increased the lead to 56-21 and pretty much cemented Las Vegas’ third straight loss.

But not before the Outlaws made it interesting by scoring three straight times early in the fourth to get within 56-42. They then pulled within the 63-56 final with nine seconds left, but their ensuing onside kick was recovered by Spokane.

The Outlaws next play at the first-place Philadelphia Soul on Saturday. And while Garcia said he wasn’t sure who would start at quarterback, he knows one thing for certain — another slow start will guarantee another loss.

“It’s on all of us — players, coaches, everyone — to come out ready from the opening kickoff,” he said. “We know we have a good team. We have to play like it from the first play.”

Contact reporter Steve Carp at scarp@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2913. Follow him on Twitter: @stevecarprj.