27-0 Run Leads Dorados to 55-36 Win over Central Valley
June 19, 2005 - arenafootball2 (af2)
Rio Grande Valley Dorados News Release
Hidalgo, TX - 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 34 for 187 yards and threw four interceptions and touchdowns. His top receiver was George Williams, who caught seven passes for 109 yards.
The Dorados improved their West Division record to 5-0, but they continue to remain one win back from the Tulsa Talons. The Talons defeated the San Diego Riptide 91-68. The win places the Dorados in a tie for the third playoff seed in the National Conference with the Amarillo Dusters. Amarillo topped Bakersfield 66-55 while Oklahoma City dropped to 6-5 after suffering a 54-46 loss to Bossier-Shreveport. Rio Grande Valley will hit the road next week in San Diego and will not return to the Dodge Arena for regular season action until a matchup against Oklahoma City on July 23rd.
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