Boise gets ?Burn?ed in Spokane

A pair of special team TD? along with some costly turnovers and penalties wound up being the difference in the Boise Burn?s 64-62 loss at Spokane, in front of a sell out crowd at Spokane Arena. The Burn (4-2) started the scoring on the first drive of the game. QB Taylor Tharp hit Nichiren Flowers on a 19 yard TD and the early 7-0 lead. Following a Charles Dillon score and a Brian Jackson missed P.A.T that cut Boise?s lead, the Burn scored 14 unanswered points on a Jomo Wilson 3 yard score and a Flowers 10 yard grab, giving Boise the 21-6 lead after the first 15 minutes of play. Spokane (6-0) outscored Boise 27-14 in the second quarter with the major damage coming on special teams. The first big break for Spokane cam after an Andy Olson TD that got Spokane within 8 at 21-13. On the ensuing kick off, Brian Jackson?s kick hit off the bar, went under the legs of Terrance Sanders and into the hands of Kevin McCullough for the game tying TD. That was just the beginning of bad fortunes for Boise. The Burn would score 14 unanswered points on a Nichiren Flowers 22 yard TD and a Levi Madarieta 14 yard Interception return for TD. But with 11 seconds left in the half the Shock had the momentum shift in their favor once again. Nick Davila would score on a 1 yard TD run and when Ben Scott?s 46 yard field goal attempt was wide left, Raul Vijil returned the miss 55 yards for a TD on the final play of the half cutting Boise?s lead to 2 at 35-33. Davila started the 3rd quarter with a 32 yard pass to Andy Olson giving the home team their first lead of the game at 40-35. Boise answered with a one play 34 yard pass from Tharp to Casey Allen for the 42-40 lead. Following a Raul Vijil 9 yard TD, Tharp found Flowers again open in the end zone for the 4th time of the night giving Boise their final lead of the game at 49-47. Davila would score from a yard out for the 54-49 lead with 3:02 left in the 3rd quarter and the Shock would lead the rest of the way. On the Burn?s ensuing drive, Taylor Tharp?s pass intended for Jomo Wilson in the end zone was picked off by Sergio Gilliam. Spokane turned that into a field goal for an 8 point lead. The Burn had a chance to take the lead late in the game. Down 57-55, the defense came up with a big 4th and goal stop but on the first play following the stop, Tharp?s pass flew over the head of Flowers and Gilliam came up with his second pick of the game sealing the victory. Vijil would score on an 11 yard pass and Casey Allen would score on a 22 yard pass of the net as time expired but it was too little too late as the Shock improved to 6-0 on the season, with the 64-62 win. Boise returns home next Saturday, May 16th as they host the Tri-Cities Fever at Qwest Arena. Kick off is at 7pm. The Burn defeated the Fever in the season opener back on March 27th 48-13. Game Notes: Boise Burn quarterback Taylor Tharp completed 28-32 pass for 347 yards and 8 TD?s, WR Nichiren Flowers had 9 catches for a season high 156 yards and 4 TD?s, WR Casey Allen had 9 catches for 109 yards and 2 scores and WR Jomo Wilson had a team high 10 catches for 82 yards and 2 TD?s. Defensively Levi Madarieta recorded his 5th interception of the season and returned his 3rd pick for a TD in the loss. Terrance Sanders had his 4th interception of the season called back on an illegal defense call. Boise was penalized 9 times for 82 yards in the loss. LEADERS: PASSING: THARP, Taylor (BOI) 28-32-2 347 yards 8 TD?s; DAVILA, Nick, (SPO) 27-45-1 285 yards 5 TD?s. RECEIVING: FLOWERS, Nichiren (BOI) 9-156-4 : (SPO) OLSON, Andy 8-132-2