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Dorados Weekly Notes

June 20, 2005 - arenafootball2 (af2)
Rio Grande Valley Dorados News Release


DORADOS PLAY FIRST OF THREE CONSECUTIVE ROAD GAMES THIS WEEK IN SAN DIEGO

GAME #12 SATURDAY IPAYONE CENTER AT THE SAN DIEGO SPORTS ARENA 9:00 PM VS. SAN DIEGO RIPTIDE (4-7)

BROADCAST: RADIO: ESPN RADIO 1240 AM

The Rio Grande Valley Dorados (7-4) have won six of their last seven games and now return back on the road for the first of three consecutive road games, as they head to the Golden State for a contest against the San Diego Riptide (4-7). The ‘Tide had their two-game winning streak snapped this past week with a 91-68 road loss at Tulsa. The Dorados are 3-2 on the road this season and are 5-0 against division opponents. They will seek to stop the offensive presence of quarterback Kane Claunch and the defensive prowess of Asi Faoa. Claunch ranks fifth in the af2 with an average performance of 259 yards passing a game and Faoa is second in the league in sacks with a team-leading 10 off the af2's third best sack unit in the league (22 sacks as a team). A Dorados win, combined with a loss by Tulsa to Arkansas, could place the Dorados in a tie for the West Division lead.

DORADOS DROPBACK

The Rio Grande Valley Dorados improved their record to 6-2 when trailing at halftime, as they went on a 27-0 run to defeat the Central Valley Coyotes 55-36 Saturday night to the delight of 4,525 fans at Chase Field inside the Dodge Arena. The win extends the Dorados home winning streak to a franchise best four games and improves their overall record to 7-4, which is one win more than garnered during their inaugural season last year (6-10).

The 27-0 run began late in the second quarter while the Dorados were trailing 29-14 due to a pair of Coyotes touchdown passes from Juston Wood to Wes Borba. With 2:38 remaining in the first half, Josh Kellett, who completed his first six consecutive passes to start the game, tossed a 12-yard touchdown pass to Dwight Counter. A Travis McAlpine failed extra point attempt kept the Dorados from cutting into the 29-20 deficit.

Rio Grande Valley started the second half on offense just as they did the first half, by going to Marquis Floyd. Floyd caught a pair of touchdown passes in the first half and caught his third touchdown pass on the Dorados opening drive of the second half with a 13-yard catch to place the Dorados within two points (29-27). The Dorados defense came out with vengeance in the second half, as Gathan McGinnis and Deorrick Henry each sacked Wood on the Coyotes opening drive, forcing John Gockman to attempt a 63-yard field goal attempt. Gockman decided to pooch the kick and he lifted the ball to the Rio Grande Valley ten yard line, where Counter awaited. Counter caught the ball in stride and scampered 40 yards for the first missed field goal return for a touchdown in franchise history. The touchdown return gave the Dorados a 34-29 lead and one they wouldn't give back.

Norman Mason registered his sixth interception of the season on the ensuing Coyotes drive, leading to the first touchdown reception by Xavier Patterson as a member of the Dorados (seven-yard catch from Kellett). Patterson's touchdown built the Dorados lead to 41-29. Central Valley finally stopped the bleeding with a one-yard rushing touchdown by Wood with 9:55 remaining in regulation.

Kellett answered back with a one-yard rushing touchdown of his own to place the Dorados lead to 48-36. Central Valley faced a must-score drive on the ensuing possession, but dropped passes led to a turnover on downs and the Dorados got the ball back with 1:56 remaining. With point total tiebreakers that exist in the af2 playoff seeding system, the Dorados made the decision to keep plugging away offensively. Marquis Floyd became the sixth Dorados member to tie the franchise's single-game mark for points and touchdowns in a game by tallying his fourth touchdown of the game with a three-yard touchdown rush to end the game's scoring.

Floyd claimed US Army Ironman of the Game honors in the contest by grabbing two of the Dorados franchise single-game best four interceptions, while also leading the Dorados in receiving with seven catches for 73 yards and in rushing with five yards off two carries. The Offensive Player of the Game was issued to Josh Kellett, who set a franchise single-game record with a 76.5% passing percentage after completing 26 of 34 passes for 241 yards. He found the endzone five times in the air, once on the ground and did not throw an interception. The ADT Defensive Player of the Game for a second consecutive week was awarded to Pierre Thomas, who led the game in tackles with 9 and also picked up a tackle for a loss and an interception. Dorados kicker Eric Houle collected 2 tackles in the game and was also 7 for 7 in PATs, placing him with 18 consecutive successful PATs. In the loss, Wood was 19 of 35 for 212 yards and threw four interceptions and touchdowns. His top receiver was George Williams, who caught seven passes for 109 yards.

RIPTIDE REPORT (a look at the opponent's previous game) Courtesy of San Diego Riptide

A 34-point fourth quarter and Steve Gonzalez's personal highlight reel were not enough for the San Diego Riptide Saturday night as they lost to the National West Division-leading Tulsa Talons, 91-68.

‘Tide quarterback Kane Claunch completed 21-of-39 passes for 317 yards and eight touchdowns. It was the first time this season that Claunch threw for over 300 yards and the fifth time out of seven games that he threw over six touchdowns.

Gonzalez, the Ironman of the game, hauled in eight passes for 136 yards and four touchdowns. He also returned seven kickoffs for 202 yards, including one for a touchdown in the first quarter.

The Riptide defense sacked Talons quarterback Josh Blankenship twice and held him to just 196 passing yards on the night, but the Talons still rolled to a franchise single-game scoring record as the rookie QB connected for scores with five different receivers.

San Diego opened the night with a 24-yard touchdown pass from Claunch to Nian Taylor. Tulsa responded with two scores, a 1-yard run by Corky Martin and a 1-yard pass to Toby Moeves. Gonzalez came right back with his TD return of 55 yards. A Kimo Naehu missed PAT kept the score at 13-13. Tulsa pushed the lead to 20-13 on a 32-yard pass from Blankenship to Aleric Clark.

Tulsa began to pull away in the second quarter, scoring on three of their four drives. San Diego's two scores came on a Jeff Macrea rushing touchdown, his ninth of the season, and a 34-yard Claunch-to-Taylor touchdown connection to close the half, 40-27.

The Talons regained the momentum in the third quarter and took control of the game. Blankenship threw touchdowns to three different receivers in the quarter and Chris McIver recorded a team safety. Taylor hauled in San Diego's lone score.

Gonzalez took over the fourth quarter with four touchdown catches, but the Talons held off the 'Tide by returning two onside kicks for TD's.

The ‘Tide (4-7) still have a chance at the playoffs despite tonight's defeat. Both the Bakersfield Blitz (4-7) and the Central Valley Coyotes (5-6) lost on Saturday. San Diego has four divisional contests left in the season and currently has the head-to-head advantage over the Central Valley Coyotes. The ‘Tide return home next weekend to take on the Rio Grande Valley Dorados (7-4). San Diego lost to the Dorados in Week 6, 51-45.

RECORD THIS

The following team records were set in the Dorados win Saturday night over Central Valley:

Individual

Highest Percentage of Passes Completed: Josh Kellett (76.5%)
Most Points Scored in a Game: Marquis Floyd (sixth time this record has been tied with 24)
Most TDs in a Game: Marquis (sixth time this record has been tied with 4)
Most Missed Field Goal Returns in a Game: Dwight Counter (fourth time this record has been tied with 2)
Most Missed Field Goal Return Yards in a Game: Dwight Counter (56)
Most Missed Field Goal Returns for a TD in a Game: Dwight Counter (1)

Team

Highest Percentage of Passes Completed: 76.5%
Most Missed Field Goal Returns in a Game: 2 (5th time in franchise history)
Most Missed Field Goal Return Yards in a Game: 56
Most Missed Field Goal Returns for a TD in a Game: 1
Most Interceptions in a Game: 4

Misc.

The win is the seventh this season, passing last season's mark for wins...
The win gave the Dorados four consecutive home wins for the first time in franchise history...

PLAYOFF PICTURE

With five games remaining, we take a look at the playoff picture in the af2's National Conference. In the af2, the top six teams in the conference qualify for the playoffs, with division-leading teams receiving first round byes.

1. Memphis 10-1
2. Tulsa 8-3
3. Amarillo 7-4 (Currently holds tiebreaker over Dorados)
4. Rio Grande Valley 7-4
5. Oklahoma City 6-5
6. Central Valley 5-6

af2 WEEK 12 REVIEW

Saturday, June 18
Green Bay 56, LOUISVILLE 49 (6,961)
Manchester 52, FLORIDA 29 (6,034)
MACON 53, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton 41 (2,758)
AMARILLO 66, Bakersfield 55
TULSA 91, San Diego 68 (5,926)
BOS-SHREVE 54, Oklahoma City 46 (2,107)
ARKANSAS 59, South Georgia 28 (6,373)
MEMPHIS 62, Birmingham 32 (2,751)
RIO GRANDE VALLEY 55, Cen. Valley. 36 (4,525)
QUAD CITY 62, Albany 50 (5,162)

af2 WEEK 13 PREVIEW

Friday, June 24
Quad City at Manchester 6:30 p.m.
Louisville at Albany 6:30 p.m.
Birmingham at Green Bay 7:00 p.m.
Memphis at Oklahoma City 7:30 p.m.
Central Valley at Bakersfield 9:00 p.m.
Saturday, June 25
W-B/Scranton at South Georgia 6:30 p.m.
Macon at Florida 6:30 p.m.
Arkansas at Tulsa 7:00 p.m.
Bossier-Shreveport at Amarillo 7:00 p.m.
Rio Grande Valley at San Diego 9:00 p.m.

NEXT HOME GAME

The Dorados next home game is Saturday, July 23, as the Dorados host the Oklahoma City Yard Dawgz at Chase Field inside the Dodge Arena. Individual tickets for the game and all other home games are already on sale. Season ticket packages and advertising opportunities are still available by contacting the Dorados offices at 956-843-7825. Additional info can also be found by visiting the Dorados online at www.doradosfootball.com.

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The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

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