Brigade unable to knock Dallas from ranks of unbeaten

March 17, 2007 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Kansas City Brigade News Release


KANSAS CITY - Glance at the Kansas City Brigade stat sheet and it looks like a win for home team. Unfortunately, the scoreboard did not agree. The Brigade played from behind the entire game and eventually fell 66-54 to the Dallas Desperados in front of 10,007 at Kemper Arena. Kansas City enters the bye week at 1-2, awaiting a March 30 home game against National Conference opponent the Arizona Rattlers.

Turnovers and defensive penalties really hurt the Brigade and allowed Dallas to get out to a 14-0 lead with three minutes left in the opening quarter. Raymond Philyaw, who threw for 254 yards with three touchdowns on the night, had his third pass of the game tipped and intercepted in the end zone as the Brigade was driving to even the score at seven.

Kansas City got on the board near the end of the first quarter on a rush by who else but Charles Frederick. Philyaw had the offense set up first and goal at the Dallas six yard line, definitely a running down for the Brigade. Frederick took at the handoff as he came across the formation and battled through defender to find the end zone. Clay Rush's extra point cut the Desperados lead to 14-7.

The teams traded touchdowns in the second quarter. Philyaw found Sam Simmons on a nine yard strike that was set up by Frederick's pinball-like rush on fourth and one. Frederick was rewarded on the Brigade's net drive, notching his second rushing score of the game, this time from three yards. It appeared Kansas City would go into the locker room only down by a touchdown, but a penalty gave the opponent points again.

The Desperados got the ball with 46 seconds left in the first half and were content to settle for a Todd Sievers field goal, which went wide right. However, a personal foul penalty gave Sievers a second chance and he did not miss again. The clock expired with Dallas up 31-21.

Kansas City received the opening kickoff of the second half and immediately proved it would not back down. Philyaw hit Frederick for 38 yards on the first play and the shifty wide receiver finished off the drive on another three yard run to make it 31-28. On the night Frederick totaled seven rushes for nine yards with three touchdowns, nine receptions for 136 yards with two touchdowns and seven kick returns for 130 yards.

The game went back-and-forth after that, even when new Brigade backup quarterback Jose Davis was forced into action. Philyaw came off the field with a twisted ankle, but the offense did not miss a beat. On his first and only pass of the game, Davis found Frederick from 24 yards out for a touchdown to bring the Brigade within four at 38-34.

The momentum finally started to swing towards the Desperados early in the fourth quarter. Kansas City 's first drive stalled at its own 19 yard line, but down by 12, head coach Kevin Porter elected to go for it on fourth and five. Philyaw was flushed from the pocket and his off-balance throw sailed past Frederick.

The good field position almost did not do Dallas any good. Clint Dolezel's second pass of the drive was aimed for the end zone, but receiver Marcus Nash was surrounded by Brigade defenders. Denario Smalls tipped the ball, but it prevented DaShane Dennis from making the interception right in front of Nash, who caught the ball for a 52-34 Desperados lead.



Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from March 17, 2007


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