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Vigilantes win fourth-straight game at home

May 8, 2011 - Arena Football League (AFL)
Dallas Vigilantes News Release


DALLAS, TX - Home-field advantage seemed to be key again, as the Dallas Vigilantes (6-2) won their fourth-straight game at home Friday night at the American Airlines Center, defeating the Iowa Barnstormers (2-6), 71-57. The win is also the Vigilantes fourth-straight win overall, and with Chicago losing this week, Dallas is now all alone at first place in the Central Division. Vigilante quarterback Dan Raudabaugh was 18 of 34 for 249 yards and seven touchdowns.

The Vigilantes opened the first half with the ball, but on the first play of the game, Raudabaugh through a costly interception to Barnstormer defensive back Cameron McGlenn. The pick would turn into a quick three points at 12:19. But Dallas bounced back quick in its next possession, as Raudabaugh found receiver DeAndrew Rubin on a 14-yard crossing route.

In the ensuing Iowa possession, Barnstormer quarterback Brad Banks would lead a four-play, 41-yard drive that would end with a 11-yard touchdown strike to receiver Todd Blythe. But the Iowa scoring would not end there. In the next Vigilante possession, Raudabaugh threw his second interception of the night, this time to Barnstormer defensive back Patrick Stoudamire, which ended in a 16-yard return for a touchdown.

Raudabaugh would answer in Dallas' next drive, connecting with Rubin on a 29-yard touchdown pass for the receiver's second of the night. With 1:19 to go in the quarter, the Vigilantes cut the Iowa lead to 17-14.

At 9:20 to go in the second quarter, Banks found receiver Jesse Schmidt on an eight-yard slant for Schmidt's first touchdown of the night.

After a 29-yard kick return by Vigilante receiver Jerrian James, it wouldn't take long for Raudabaugh to find Rubin for their third touchdown of the night, this time on a 21-yard bomb down the right sideline. The Dallas defense came up big in its next outing, as defensive back Jason Harmon forced the ball out of Blythe's hands, allowing the Vigilante offense to take over on its own eight-yard line. From there, Raudabaugh would throw his fourth touchdown of the game, connecting with receiver Tiger Jones on an eight-yard strike with 4:27 left to go in the second.

They played a lot of zone tonight," Rubin said. "But when they played man-to-man, we had to take advantage of that, and I think we did for the most part. Our offense and defense are really coming together, and that's important as we get later in the season."

But the Dallas defense was still not done wreaking havoc. On the Barnstormers' next offensive at bat, Vigilante defensive back Chris Brown would snag his second interception of the season, wrestling the ball away in the corner of end zone. The Vigilante offense knew what to do from there, as Raudabaugh would hook up with Jones for their second touchdown of the night, this time on a 31-yard lob to pay-dirt.

"We all just kept fighting out there tonight," Jones said. "We've been getting down early the last few games, but we don't give-up." I think we are really starting to gel as a whole unit." You can't win many games if you can't make that transformation."

With 36 seconds to go in the half, a one-yard quarterback sneak by Banks put the Barnstormers down, 34-31. In an eerie turn of events, Iowa would score again seconds later, recovering the ensuing kickoff in the end zone. But the Vigilantes would find a way to answer and answer in a hurry. With 28 seconds to go, Raudabaugh would fire a nine-yard pass to Jones, putting the Vigilantes back on top, 41-37, to end the half.

To open up the third quarter, Harmon and the Vigilante defense would terrorize again, as the defensive back picked off Banks, the quarterback's second of the game, and returned the ball just short of the end zone. The interception would set-up fullback Derrick Ross for his first touchdown of the game, slating the score at 48-37 in favor of Dallas.

"We were mixing it up all night, but we were prepared specifically for that play and that route," Harmon said. "I just read what I saw and jumped on it. The defensive line did a great job creating pressure on the play."

After a Barnstormer touchdown, Raudabaugh and the offense got back to work. In the red zone, Ross would find the end zone again off of a three-yard draw, his second rushing touchdown of the night.

Having already recorded a sack earlier, Vigilante linebacker Dusty Bear came up in Dallas' next turn at defense. The team's sack leader leaped over the wall to grab a tipped pass for his first interception of the season. Dallas marched down to red zone after the pick, where Ross would cap the drive with an outside sweep for six.

"I just looked up and made the play," Bear said. "I have to give a lot of credit to our D-line for putting the pressure on Banks." I couldn't have done it without them."

A Ross fumble on Dallas' next drive allowed Iowa to set-up shop on its own 22-yard line. Iowa would respond with a touchdown of its own in its next possession, cutting the Dallas lead to 14 at 64-50.

A late touchdown reception by Jones with 1:55 left to go in the game allowed Dallas to break the 70-point for the second time this season. The Barnstormers would try to rally late, but the deficit was just too much to overcome, as the Vigilantes would triumph, 71-57.

Next up for the Vigilantes is a May 14 battle with the defending champion Spokane Shock (3-4). Dallas is 0-1,so far, when traveling to the West, but the Vigilantes will look to right that ship come Monday's practice.

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