Pioneers Get "Les" than Guy's Dorados 52-49
May 22, 2005 - arenafootball2 (af2)
Rio Grande Valley Dorados News Release
Hidalgo, Tx - Norman Mason, playing in his first game with the Rio Grande Valley Dorados, registered his second interception of the game in his own endzone with just under ten-seconds remaining in the contest to preserve a 52-49 victory over the Wilkes-Barre Scranton Pioneers Saturday night in front of 4,392 fans at Chase Field / Dodge Arena. The win over the #6 ranked Pioneers, which was the Dorados first ever (1-7) against a non-division opponent, gives the Dorados a 4-3 record and also places them with a franchise best three-game winning streak. The contest was the first ever match-up in arenafootball2 history between recipients of the af2's Coach of the Year honor, as Dorados Head Coach Kevin Guy was a previous winner and Wilkes-Barre/Scranton's Les Moss won the honor last season.
Mason, who earned ADT Defensive Player of the Game honors, was acquired by the Dorados on Thursday and ironically had a two-interception performance the last time he was in the Rio Grande Valley, but it came last season as a member of the Wichita Stealth. His pair of interceptions was the only flaws in the quarterback performance of Wilkes-Barre/Scranton's Kyle Rowley, who was 29 of 46 for 232 yards and 6 touchdowns. Four of his touchdowns were to rookie JR Thomas. The Pioneers offensive specialist hauled in a game-high 11 catches for 124 yards, but couldn't steal the spotlight away from Baby Ruth Offensive Player of the Game award winner Josh Kellett. The Dorados quarterback was 18 of 33 for 263 yards and 3 touchdowns in the air, while also running in a score and gaining 11 yards off two rushes. His performance placed him as the Dorados all-time single-season and career leader in pass attempts (245), completions (132) and passing yards (1647).
Heading into the contest, the Dorados were 3-1 when trailing at the half and had not won a game when leading at halftime. The Dorados took advantage of a fumble by Jason Morris, who attended training camp with the Dorados, and Mason's first interception of the contest by gaining ten points off the turnovers. The ten points, registered by a 24-yard touchdown reception by Dwight Counter and a 26-yard field goal by Eric Houle, helped build a 24-10 lead with 3:38 remaining in the second quarter. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton's Thomie Venisee cut into the Dorados lead with a four-yard touchdown catch with 21-seconds remaining in the half, but the Dorados had enough time for Eric Houle to boot a 17-yard field goal as time expired in the half to give the Dorados a 27-17 lead.
Opening the second-half with the ball, the Pioneers did exactly what they needed to get back into the contest. Rowley hit Jurron Kelly for a seven-yard touchdown reception on the opening drive of the half and the Pioneers defense forced the Dorados to go three-and-out on their following possession. Rowley completed a 16-yard pass to Thomas with 8:35 remaining in the third quarter to give the Pioneers their first lead of the game 30-27. The scoring was back-and-fourth from that point with the Dorados getting a franchise single-game best two blocked kicks on David Davis' extra point attempts to eventually turning out to be a difference in the game. Houle kicked his franchise tying-high third field of the contest from 32 yards with 50-seconds remaining to give the Dorados a 44-43 lead. The Pioneers answered back with 37-seconds remaining with Morris tallying a five-yard touchdown run. Thomas was tackled short of the endzone on a screen pass for the two-point conversion and the Pioneers lead was held to 49-44. An unsuccessful on-side kick attempt by the Pioneers gave the Dorados first-and-goal. Dorados offensive specialist Craig Cole registered his 50th career af2 touchdown reception from six-yards with 28-seconds remaining and Travis McAlpine's two-point conversion gave the Dorados a 52-49 lead. The lead would stand, as the Pioneers drove down to the Dorados 15 yard-line before Mason's heroics.
The US Army Ironman of the Game was issued to Pioneers wide receiver/defensive back Ameer Riley, who gained five yards rushing, 9 yards receiving and a Pioneer leading seven tackles. Mason led the Dorados defense in tackles with a game high and franchise single-game best 11 tackles (all solo).
The win places the Dorados in a second place tie in the West Division with the Central Valley Coyotes, who lost to the Amarillo Dusters 68-61, and places them a win back of Tulsa, who dominated Macon 61-39. The Dorados will take their three-game winning streak on the road next Saturday night as they head to Albany, Georgia to battle the South Georgia Wildcats in attempt to garner three consecutive road wins. The loss for the Pioneers was their first on the road this season and drops their record to 4-3 on the year.
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