Cobras Fall To Desperados In Thriller
Published on March 21, 2003 under Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Carolina Cobras News Release
CHARLOTTE - In a game that featured 11 lead changes, it was a valiant goal-line stand by the Dallas Desperados that kept the Cobras winless on Friday night with a 47-43 loss at the Charlotte Coliseum. Carolina had five shots inside the Dallas 10-yard line in the final minute before a Ja'Mar Toombs sack of Robert Hall on fourth down ended the Cobras hopes for their first victory of the season.
Carolina held a 43-40 lead with just less than five minutes remaining when Dallas quarterback Jim Kubiak hit Jason Shelley on a 16-yard scoring strike.. The Cobras then drove down to the Desperados three-yard line where they were stopped on five consecutive possessions in their effort to reach the end zone.
Kubiak, the game's Most Valuable Player, finished 24-of-33 for 330 yards and five touchdowns. He threw two scoring passes to Shelley, who caught five passes for 82 yards. Andy McCullough added six receptions for 93 yards and a score.
Hall set a Cobras franchise-record with four rushing touchdowns and was 16-of-37 for 200 yards and two touchdowns in the air. Bernard Holmes caught eight passes for 118 yards and both touchdown receptions for Carolina. He finished the game with 229 all-purpose yards, his fifth consecutive game played with 200 or more all-purpose yards.
The two teams fought back and fourth in the first half, with each answering the other¹s touchdown drives. On the final possession of the half, the Cobras held Dallas' offense to a Jason Wells field goal, preserving a 26-23 halftime lead. The Cobras lead was their first halftime lead of the season.
Dallas opened the second half with a touchdown and the two teams continued to strike back and forth. Holmes¹ second touchdown reception of the night with 2:44 remaining in the third quarter gave the Cobras a 40-37 lead at the end of three periods. After each team kicked a field goal, Kubiak hooked up with Shelley to give the Desperados the lead for good.
The Cobras travel next week to San Jose where they will face the defending ArenaBowl Champion San Jose Sabercats on Friday, March 28.
Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from March 21, 2003
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