When Mark Grieb tossed an 11-yard touchdown pass to James Roe to give San Jose a four-point lead with 3.9 seconds left, some in the crowd of 9,680 at the Arena headed for the exits.
Bad timing.
What happened next will go down as one of the wildest finishes in the six-year history of the Spokane Shock – and they’ve had several thrillers from which to choose. Randy Hymes, signed last week and playing in his first game Saturday night, hauled in Kyle Rowley’s 34-yard pass in a crowd at the back of the end zone as the Shock pulled out a 63-61 victory over the SaberCats.
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Spokane trailed 41-40 after Brandon Thompkins’ touchdown catch, but Taylor Rowan’s PAT was blocked. The Shock finally tied it when Hymes pulled in a 1-yard TD pass and Thompkins made a couple of nifty moves on a reverse on the two-point conversion with 1 minute left.
The final 60 seconds were a parade of highlights. On Spokane’s kickoff, SaberCats returner Marco Thomas got out to the 1, but went back in the end zone and was brought down by Emery Sammons for a safety. Spokane had its first lead, 57-55.
San Jose kicker Juan Gamboa recovered his own onside kick after it hit the hands of Spokane’s Antwan Marsh at the 8. Grieb guided the SaberCats down field. On third-and-7 at the 11, he scrambled and found Roe for the touchdown. The two-point conversion failed and San Jose led 61-57.
Alex Teems fielded a squib kick and immediately fell to the turf. With 2.9 seconds left, Spokane sent Sammons, Hymes and Adron Tennell to the end zone and Rowley lofted a pass near the right upright. Tennell seemed to have the first crack at it, but it somehow ended up in Hymes’ adhesive hands, setting off a wild celebration.
