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Dallas Desperados game notes

February 1, 2005 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Dallas Desperados News Release


DALLAS DESPERADOS at NEW YORK DRAGONS

Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum (11,216)
Sunday, Feb. 6, 2005 12:00 p.m. (CST)

QUICK FACTS:
Dallas Desperados (1-0)
at New York Dragons (0-0)

Series Record: Dallas leads 3-1
Series Streak: Dallas has won three of the last four games
Last Meeting: New York 44, @ Dallas 20 (5/1/04)
Last Time at New York: Dallas 56, New York 49 (2/22/04)

Coaches: Will McClay (7-10, 2nd Year)
Weylan Harding (0-0, 1st Year)

Radio: KTCK, The Ticket (1310-AM)
Rich Phillips, Kevin Scott


TV: NBC Sports, KXAS-TV Ch. 5 in Dallas/Ft. Worth
Bob Papa and Ray Bentley

This Week:
The Desperados kick off their 2005 road schedule with a Super Bowl Sunday matchup against the division rival New York Dragons. The Dragons are coming off a bye in Week 1.

Season Series: The Desperados and Dragons have met four times with the Desperados claiming three wins.

Series Notables:
* Dallas has out scored the Dragons 71-42 in the fourth quarter of their three victories
* Dallas’s 72 points scored against the Dragons on May 11, 2002 is the fourth highest point total in franchise history.


A Desperados Win Would:
* Allow Dallas to take a 4-1 series advantage.
* Improve Dallas’s season record to 2-0.
* Mark the second time in Dallas’s short history that the club won their first two games of the season.
* Give Dallas two consecutive wins for the first time since defeating Grand Rapids 66-50 (3/6/04) and winning at Carolina 77-52 (3/14/04).
* Snap a five-game road losing streak dating back to March 14, 2004 (77-52) at Carolina.

Tuesday, Feb. 1
Noon Meetings Only
Wednesday, Feb. 2
10:45 a.m. - 12:50 p.m. Practice
1:00 p.m. - 1:30 p.m. Locker room open
Thursday, Feb. 3
10:45 a.m. - 12:50 p.m. Practice
1:00 p.m. - 1:30 p.m. Locker room open
Friday, Feb. 4
10:45 a.m. - 12:35 p.m. Practice
12:40 p.m. - 1:30 p.m. Locker room open
Saturday, Feb. 5
Team leaves for New York
Sunday, Feb. 6
Noon Kickoff

Will McClay (6-10 - 2nd Year)
Will McClay begins his second year as the Desperados Head Coach. He was promoted to lead the team three days before kicking off the 2004 AFL season following the resignation of Joe Avezzano. He will also serve as the team’s defensive coordinator, a position he has held since the teams inaugural season in 2002. In the AFL offseason, McClay works in the Dallas Cowboys Player Personnel Department. Prior to moving to Dallas, he was the Assistant Director of Pro Scouting with the Jacksonville Jaguars (2001) and Player Personnel Director of the XFL’s Orlando Rage (2001). He was the Grand Rapids Rampage Defensive Coordinator/Director of Player Personell (1998-99) after serving in the same capacity for the Anaheim Piranhas (1997). He served as the Defensive Coordinator for the Florida Bobcats (1996) and the Milwaukee Mustangs (1995) after beginning his coaching career with the Detroit Drive (1993). He was a WR/DB with Detroit from 1989-92, helping them win three ArenaBowl championships.

Weylan Harding (0-0 - 1st Year)
Weylan Harding kicks off his first season at the helm of the New York Dragons. He joined the team after spending three seasons as the Columbus Destroyers (Buffalo 2002-03) defensive coordinator. He broke into the coaching ranks in 2000 with the Destroyers. Under his guidance, DS Prentice Taylor was an All-Rookie selection. He worked with the defensive backs of the af2s Rochester Brigade in 2001 before returning to Buffalo in 2002 as the teams defensive coordinator. In his second season heading up the Buffalo defense (2003), Harding’s defense fiinished as the AFL’s top-ranked passing unit, allowing only 219.1 yards-per-game, while finishing second in the league in total defense, allowing 238.5 yards-per-game. Before breaking into the coaching ranks, Harding was a defensive specialist for the Iowa Barnstormers (1995-96), Nashville Kats (1997) and the Portland Dragons (1999). Harding was a standout defensive back at Iowa State University, where he was a key component to the defensive’s success through the early 90s.


Earnest Allen, OL/DL
Two sacks in three games against New York.
Jermaine Jones, DS
11 tackles in two games.
Duke Pettijohn, FB/LB
23 carries for 42 yards and four scores, four catches for 36
yards and a score and eight tackles in five career games.
Will Pettis, WR/DB
17 catches for 148 yards and a score, four tackles and two
passes defensed in two career games.
Jason Shelley, OS
19 catches for 212 yards and a score in three career games.
Bobby Sippio, WR/LB
10 catches for 136 yards and four touchdowns, two kickoff returns for 64 yards, one interception and 4.5 tackles in two games.
Ja’Mar Tooms, FB/LB
Five rushes for 34 yards and two scores in two career games.


With this week’s game at New York, Dallas opens its division schedule. This season marks the first time in the team’s history that the club remains in the same division from the previous season (Eastern). Overall, Dallas is 9-11 in division play. Below is a look at how the Desperados have faired against division rivals:

2002 - West
2-4
SJ - Loss, at SJ, 54-77 (5/25) Loss, vs. SJ, 41-58 (6/29)
Ari - Loss, vs. Ari, 30-53 (5/18) Win, at Ari, 36-33 (6/16)
LA - Loss, vs. LA, 51-52 (5/4) Win, at LA, 62-55 (6/1)

2003 - Central
3-3
GR - Loss, vs. GR, 42-45 (3/16) Win, at GR, 62-51 (5/18)
Chi - Win, vs. Chi, 48-36 (2/9) Win, at Chi, 60-54 OT (4/20)
Ind - Loss, vs. Ind, 55-62 (3/29) Loss, at Ind, 57-61 (4/13)

2004 - Eastern
4-4
NY - Win, at NY, 56-44 (2/22) Loss, vs. NY, 20-44 (5/1)
Car - Loss, vs. Car, 41-67 (2/8) Win, at Car, 77-52 (3/17)
Cmb - Win, at Cmb, 51-35 (2/29) Loss, vs. Cmb, 56-68 (5/22)
Phi - Win, vs. Phi, 51-47 (2/15) Loss, at Phi, 31-47 (4/4)


The Dallas Desperados opened the 2005 Arena Football League season with a 66-65 overtime victory against the Chicago Rush. Desperados rookie quarterback Clint Stoerner began his AFL career with a club-record 398 passing yards and six touchdowns on 26-of-40 passes. After winning the toss, Dallas struck on the third play of the game when Stoerner hooked up with Will Pettis for a 35-yard touchdown toss on Stoerner’s first career attempt. The Dallas defense proved strong when Hamin Milligan picked off a Raymond Philyaw pass in the end zone on the Rush's fourth play. The Desperados increased their lead to 14-0 when Stoerener connected on three consecutive passes, culminating with a 33-yard scoring toss to Bobby Sippio. On their next possession, Chicago got on the board when Philyaw found Henry Douglas for an 18-yard score. Dallas answered on their next possession when Ja'Mar Toombs hauled in a 14-yard Stoerner pass for the score and a 21-7 lead. Two plays later, Philaw fumbled and Rob Johnson scooped up the ball for Dallas and took it in for the score from 12 yards.

Chicago opened the second frame when Philyaw found Etu Molden for a 17-yard catch and run to close their deficit to 28-13 (Keith Gispert PAT failed). Dallas bettered their lead when Stoerener found a wide-open Jason Shelley from 38 yards out. Chicago then took three plays to close the gap to 35-21 when Bob McMillen posted a two-yard touchdown scamper. The Desperados recorded a touchdown on their fifth consecutive drive when Stoerner hooked up with Bobby Sippio for a 21-yard touchdown for a 42-28 advantage. The Rush closed the gap to 42-28 after Philyaw found Molden again - this time from 10 yards out - for the score. On the ensuing possession, the Rush's John Moyer sacked Stoerner and forced a fumble that he recovered at the Dallas two-yard line. Chicago capitalized on Dallas's turnover when Molden rumbled in on a two-yard run for his third touchdown of the game. On the final possession of the half, Dallas drove to the Chicago seven-yard line and Carlos Martinez's 22-yard field goal attempt was blocked.

To open the second half, Chicago tied the score at 42-42 when Philyaw hooked up with Molden for the duo’s third touchdown pass of the game. The Desperados were looking to regain the lead when DeJuan Alfonzo knocked the ball out of Sippio's hands following a 29-yard catch to give Chicago the ball at their 23-yard line. Chicago took their first lead of the game on a three-play, 27-yard drive capped off by a Philyaw-to-Douglas 20-yard touchdown toss. Dallas inched to a one-point deficit after Ja'Mar Toombs pushed his way in from eight yards out (Martinez PAT failed) to close out the third period.

Chicago jumped to a 56-48 lead to start the fourth quarter after Alfonzo caught a six-yard Philyaw scoring toss. Stoerner led Dallas on another scoring drive, hooking up with Jason Shelley on a six-yard fade. Pettis plowed his way in on the two-point conversion to tie the score. Chicago tested the Desperados after Gispert gave them a three-point advantage, connecting on a 20-yard field goal. Dallas managed to tie the score when Martinez drilled a 24-yard field goal with 0:02 remaining in the game. Following the Martinez kickoff, time expired in regulation to force overtime.

Dallas won the toss, elected to receive and took a 66-59 lead when Duke Pettijohn rumbled in from three yards out. Chicago answered as Molden rushed in on a four-yard scoring run to pull within one. To avoid sudden-death, Chicago went for the win with a two-point conversion attempt but fell short when Molden caught a Philyaw screen pass and was stuffed by the Dallas defense at the two-yard line.


Making his AFL debut last week against Chicago, QB Clint Stoerner became the sixth quarterback - first rookie - in franchise history to earn the starting nod. He stepped up to the task, setting the club’s single-game record in passing yards record 398.

First Starts in Dallas

Passing Passing
Player Year Yards Player Year Yards
1. Andy Kelly 2002 259 4. Walter Church 2004 282
2. Jim Kubiak 2003 326 5. Scott Dreisbach 2004 316
3. Glen Gauntt 2004 250 6. Clint Stoerner 2005 398

Desperados Top 10 Single-Game Passing Yards Leaders

1. Clint Stoerner 398 vs. Chicago, 1/30/05
2. Jim Kubiak 387 at Arizona, 3/2/03
3. Jim Kubiak 345 at Grand Rapids, 5/18/03
4. Jim Kubiak 338 vs. Indiana, 3/29/03
5. Jim Kubiak 334 vs. Tampa Bay, 5/4/03
6. Jim Kubiak 326 vs. New York, 2/2/03
7. Jim Kubiak 325 at Detroit, 2/23/03
8. Andy Kelly 324 at San Jose, 5/25/02
9. Scott Dreisbach 316 vs. Columbus, 5/22/04
10. Glen Gauntt 314 at Arizona, 3/18/04

In addition to Stoerner’s record setting week, several other Desperados players moved up in team history books. The following is a look at the movers and shakers:

Career Receiving Leaders
Player Rec. Yards Avg. Lng TD
1. Jason Shelley, 2002-05* 180 2,223 12.4 45t 38
2. Andy McCullough, 2002-03 178 2,051 11.5 47 48
3. Will Pettis, 2003-05 173 1,995 11.4 45t 37
4. Dialleo Burks, 2002-03 156 1,932 12.4 45t 44
5. Shannon Culver, 2002-03 98 1,131 11.5 40 20
6. Bobby Sippio, 2004-05 81 1,325 16.4 48t 36
* moved into first place following Week 1 performance

Most Consecutive Games Scoring
24 Andy McCullough, 2002-2003
20 Will Pettis, 2003-05
12 Bobby Sippio, 2004-05
6 Jason Shelley, 2004
5 Shannon Culver, 2002
5 Dialleo Burks, 2002-03
5 Jason Shelley, 2004-05

Career Touchdowns
50 Andy McCullough, 2002-03
46 Will Pettis, 2003-05 **
45 Dialleo Burks, 2002-03
43 Jason Shelley, 2002-05
35 Bobby Sippio, 2004-05
** moved above Burks following Week 1 performance

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