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Vigilantes Fall to Chicago, 69-57

May 22, 2011 - Arena Football League (AFL)
Dallas Vigilantes News Release


CHICAGO- Turnovers were the factor today in yet another road loss for the Dallas Vigilantes (6-4), as the Chicago Rush (7-3) defeated Dallas, 69-57, in front of a crowd of 10,000 strong at the Allstate Arena. The Central Division battle for first place in the group now puts the Vigilantes a game behind the Rush with over a month to go before Dallas can seek revenge in the confines of the American Airlines Center. Vigilante quarterback Dan Raudabaugh went 29 of 39 for 322 yards and five touchdowns, but through two costly interceptions in the process. Dallas also fumbled the ball once to add to the day's turnover problem.

"It wasn't just the offensive side of the ball that had problems today," Vigilante head coach Clint Dolezel said. "We have to be able to get off the field on defense. We had the Rush on a couple of third and fourth down and longs, and we bailed them out. We busted some protections on offense and we busted some coverages in the secondary, and that's all stuff that is fixable. It's Week 11; we have to start figuring out how to not shoot ourselves in the foot."

The Vigilante offense got to work in a hurry, wasting no time on its first drive of the game, which was capped off by a one-yard pitch and run touchdown by fullback Derrick Ross. But quarterback Russ Michna and the Rush offensive attack responded in a hurry, ending its first drive of the game with a four-yard touchdown strike to receiver Reggie Gray.

In a freakish turn of events, a would-be Tiger Jones touchdown would turn into an interception by Rush defensive back Vic Hall. Hall scooped up the ball on a heads-up play after Jones lost possession slamming into the end zone wall. The interception quickly turned into six points for Chicago, putting the Vigilantes down 14-7 at 2:41 to go in the first quarter.

After a Matt Fields 18-yard touchdown reception to slam the door on the first quarter, the Vigilantes began the second quarter in better shape, knotted up with the Rush at 14 a piece. A Remy Hamilton field goal mid-way through the quarter allowed the Vigilantes to jump ahead, 17-14. Dallas fell behind again to the Rush, but the deficit was short lived, as Raudabaugh found receiver Tiger Jones on a 21-yard bomb to the corner of the end zone. The go-ahead touchdown put the Vigilantes on top, 24- 21, with 3:57 to go in the half.

With seven seconds remaining, Rush fullback Marcus Waugh rammed through the goal line on a one-yard draw. The late score would tip the scales back in Chicago's favor, ending the first half, 28-24.

Dallas began the second half in trouble, giving up an early 40-yard touchdown reception to Gray, the receiver's second of the day. But Dallas narrowed the gap quickly, as Ross slammed in a two-yard run for his second touchdown of the day and 22nd of the season.

"We left some plays on the field today," Vigilante defensive back Jason Harmon said. "Chicago has a great receiving core, and Gray is a definite deep threat. But like I said, it just comes down to us doing our job and making plays, and we just didn't do that today."

Both teams in a shootout, the fourth quarter began with the Vigilantes trailing, 48-37. But another Tiger Jones touchdown reception at the 12:30 mark inched the Vigilantes closer, down by four at 48-44. After another successful Chicago drive, Dallas found itself down, 55-44. But with goal to go, Raudabaugh would be intercepted in the end zone, and to add insult to injury, the pick would be turned into a pick six, as Chicago jack linebacker Kelvin Morris returned the ball 55 yards for a touchdown. The two rivals continued to trade blows, but there just simply was not enough time for Dallas to complete the comeback, falling to the Rush by a score of 69-57.

Next up for the Vigilantes is a May 28th home date with the Pittsburgh Power (5-4). Kickoff at the American Airlines Center is slated for 7:30 p.m. (CST), where Dallas boasts a perfect 4-0 record.

"We don't have anybody who is super-banged up from this game, so it's not a bad situation to get ready for this game against Pittsburgh in a short week," Dolezel said. "We're going to get right back on the field, learn from our mistakes, and erase this loss from our memory."

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