BO-ssier Battles Past Dorados 77-69
May 3, 2005 - arenafootball2 (af2)
Rio Grande Valley Dorados News Release
Hidalgo, Tx - They say defense wins championships and in a Monday night high scoring offensive af2 contest in front of 4,516 fans at Chase Field inside Dodge Arena that saw the fifth highest point production in league history, it was a defensive play that sealed the Bossier-Shreveport Battle Wings 77-69 victory over the Rio Grande Valley Dorados.
Battle Wings lineman Kendal Shello, who earned ADT Defensive Player of the Game honors with a sack, 2 pass breakups and 3 quarterback hurries, sacked a scrambling Josh Kellett at the 11 yard line as time expired to keep the Dorados from attempting to get in position for a two-point conversion attempt to eventually tie the game.
It was one of few defensive highlights in the game, which saw 146 points scored and over 650 of combined total offense.
The Dorados started out the contest with a 14-0 advantage and registered touchdowns on their first six offensive drives. Bossier-Shreveport stayed in check after a fumble on their opening possession and tallied touchdowns on five consecutive drives of their own and also received a 56-yard kickoff return for a touchdown by Bo Smith.
The touchdown for Smith was one of six on the night. Smith, who just fell short of career single game bests in touchdowns (seven) and points (36), earned US Army Ironman of the Game honors after producing 250 all-purpose yards with 125 coming off six receptions (five of which were touchdowns) and 125 coming off of specials teams (kickoff returns).
Smith put on a show with Dorados rookie offensive specialist Dwight Counter during the second quarter, which saw the teams combine for 66 points. Each had a pair of touchdowns in the quarter and Counter ended the night claiming the Baby Ruth Real Deal Offensive Player of the Game with 10 catches for 4 touchdowns (both tied single-game franchise record) and a franchise single-game record 185 yards, including a 34-yard touchdown reception as time expired to give the Dorados a 46-41 halftime lead.
The second half was a seesaw battle, but an injury to Dorados deep snapper Kyle Rasmussen turned the Dorados special teams into a nightmare and cost the Dorados several points. Dorados kicker Eric Houle was 4 for 6 in PATs and an additional two PAT attempts were missed on bad snaps.
Dorados quarterback Josh Kellett had spectacular performance, throwing for a franchise single-game best 396 yards falling just four yards shy of 400 and 21 yards shy of his career best. He completed 27 of 42 passes and a franchise best 8 touchdowns. Kellett also rushed in a touchdown on the ground to get in the scoring on nine of the Dorados touchdowns. He had no problem getting the 77 yards needed coming into the game to surpass the 5,000 yard passing mark in his af2 career.
Kelletts only downfall came late in the game, when a deflected pass ended up in the hands of 'Wings linebacker Clint Schexnayder. That possession, along with a fumble by Marquis Floyd in the Dorados first possession of the second half, allowed Bossier to maintain the lead late in the fourth quarter. Rio Grande Valley never trailed more than eight points late in the game and had an opportunity to tie the game after a 21-yard touchdown pass to Counter with 32-seconds remaining, but Houle shanked the extra point attempt giving the 'Wings a 70-69 advantage. The Dorados attempted an onside kick, but former Dorado McKinley Bowie recovered the ball. Bowie recovered all three onside kicks attempted by the Dorados. Battle Wings quarterback Matt Hicks, who was 16 of 27 for 250 yards and 8 touchdowns, could have ended the game by falling to the turf, but he scampered 12 yards into the endzone purposely untouched with 24-seconds remaining. If he goes down prior to the endzone, the clock would have run out, but since he scored, it gave the Dorados an opportunity to score a touchdown and attempt a two-point conversion. The opportunity ended on Shello's sack as the Dorados were driving downfield in the closing seconds.
Bossier-Shreveport's win gives them their first win of the season, ending a four-game winless streak on the season and an eight-game winless streak dating back from last season. Ironically, their last win came on June 18, 2004 against Rio Grande Valley. The loss keeps the Dorados winless all-time against non-divisional opponents (0-6) and places them in a three-way tie for third place in the National Conference's West Division with San Diego and Bakersfield. There will not be a three-way tie situation this upcoming weekend in the West, as the San Diego Riptide (1-3) make their first trip to the Valley to battle the Dorados Saturday night.
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