Alexander Sets Record, Kats Lose On Late TD
April 27, 2007 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Nashville Kats News Release
DALLAS, TX - The Nashville Kats (4-5, 1-2) were defeated by the Dallas Desperados (8-1, 3-0) 69-62 Friday night at the American Airlines Center. Kats FB Dan Alexander rushed for three touchdowns, surpassing Bernard Hall and setting an AFL-record for most rushing touchdowns in a season with 27. Kats DB Ahmad Hawkins intercepted his ninth ball of the year, an AFL-high. Offensive Player of the Game honors went to Dallas QB Clint Dolezel who was 28-of-42 for 312 yards and seven touchdowns. Dallas DB Jermaine Jones was named Defensive Player of the Game while Dallas WR/DB Will Pettis took home Ironman of the Game honors. The loss was the third loss in 2007 against a team from the National Eastern Division.
The start of the Kats at Desperados started fast as the teams scored a combined 35 points to open up a physical, high intense game. After winning the toss and deferring until the second half, Dallas took full advantage of getting the ball first in front of their home crowd with AFL great Dallas QB Clint Dolezel throwing for two touchdown passes. Dallas' third TD came when Nashville attempted an onside kick that was recovered by Dallas WR/LB Bobby Perry that he returned four yards for a touchdown. Not to be outdone, the Kats got on the board when FB Dan Alexander scored on a two-yard rushing touchdown, and Smoker found rookie WR Kenny Higgins in the endzone for an eight-yard touchdown.
The second quarter was filled with penalties, physical play and a lot of emotion as the two teams battled it out hoping to get an edge before halftime. With the score tied at 21-21 with 10:51 remaining, DB Ahmad Hawkins intercepted his AFL-high eighth interception of the season and returned it 19 yards for the touchdown. The teams would trade scores before Smoker would find veteran WR Cornelius Bonner in the back of the endzone for a five-yard touchdown making the score 42-34 Kats in front of a stunned Dallas home crowd. The third period started big for the Kats as Alexander rushed for his AFL record 27th touchdown of the season on a one-yard scamper off of the left side, extending the Kats' lead to 49-34. The defending National Eastern Division champions would respond, scoring 21 unanswered points to make the score 55-49 Desperados at the end of the third quarter.
At the top of the fourth quarter on a crucial 4th down play from Dallas' 18-yard line, Smoker again found Kenny Higgins, this time on a 18-yard touchdown with 14:14 remaining to make the score 56-55 Kats. Dallas responded with a five-play 45-yard drive that culminated on a six-yard touchdown pass from Dolezel to WR Marcus Nash to take the lead again, making the score 62-56 Dallas. On fourth down, the Kats again came through in the clutch when Smoker found Higgins for his third touchdown catch of the game. A botched PAT conversion made the score 62 all with 5:38 remaining in the last period. Kats DB Ahmad Hawkins intercepted a Dolezel pass with 3:09 left and returned it for a touchdown before it was called back on a penalty. After an incomplete pass, Smoker was intercepted for the second time, this one by DB Jermaine Jones and the Desperados would never look back going eight plays for 42-yards, ending on an eight-yard Dolezel to WR Will Pettis touchdown to make the score 69-62 with two seconds remaining. A last ditch effort return by DB Monty Montgomery was unsuccessful as the Kats fell to Dallas 69-62.
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