Copperheads Drop Opener to Dorados

March 31, 2008 - arenafootball2 (af2)
Texas Copperheads News Release


Houston, Texas - Rio Grande Valley QB Travis Cole passed for 278 yards and eight touchdowns en route to a 66-40 Southwest division victory over the Texas Copperheads on Sunday afternoon. Though the Copperheads would fall to 0-1 to begin the season, 3337 fans at the Richard E. Berry Center in Northwest Houston were treated to an exciting display of offense by both teams.

Jermaine Carpenter lead the Dorados in receiving with 8 grabs for 160 yards and four touchdowns. Fellow wide receivers Eddie Jackson and Anthony Chambers combined to catch 10 passes for 120 yards and four touchdowns (two each).

Copperheads QB Rudy Carlton made his af2 debut completing 25 of 46 passes for 284 yards and five touchdowns. Carlton was intercepted three times; one was returned for a Rio Grande Valley touchdown.

Shaun Rochon emerged as Carlton's early season "go to" receiver catching 13 passes for 139 yards and three touchdowns.

The Dorados opened the scoring with a 13 yard touchdown pass from Travis Cole to Eddie Jackson at the 12:20 mark of the first quarter. The Copperheads answered with 5:51 to play in the first quarter as Rudy Carlton found Shaun Rochon for a 25 yard scoring toss. Nick Gatto's extra point tied the game at 7. The Dorados quickly responded as Anthony Chambers grabbed a 15 yard touchdown strike from Cole. Dustin Bell missed the extra point but the Dorados lead 13-7. On the last play of the first quarter, Carlton found Rochon again, this time on an underneath route where Rochon made a juggling grab and then broke through the Dorados secondary for a 20 yard score. Gatto's successful conversion gave the Copperheads their only lead of the game at 14-13.

The Dorados would strike quickly to open the second quarter. Starting at their 5 yard line after a Gatto touchback, Travis Cole went up top hitting Jermaine Carpenter in stride for a 45 yard rainbow touchdown pass. Bell would again miss the extra point, but the one play drive would give the Dorados a 19-14 lead, a lead they would not surrender.

After a Cole to Carpenter 30 yard touchdown gave the Dorados a 39-20 lead at the 12:12 mark of the third quarter, Texas' Armar Watson would excite the home crowd with a 58 yard touchdown return on the ensuing kickoff. Though the Copperheads drew to within 12 points on Watson's return, the Dorados would score on their next three possessions to push the score to 59-27. The Copperheads continued to be offensively aggressive, but with 5:34 remaining in the fourth quarter Pierre Thomas would intercept his second Rudy Carlton pass of the game. This time Thomas galloped 27 yards for a score. Carlton would rally for two late fourth quarter touchdown passes to close out the scoring, but it wasn't enough as the Dorados prevailed by 26 points.

Schutt Offensive Player of the Game: Travis Cole (RGV) ADT Defensive Player of the Game: Pierre Thomas (RGV) U.S. Army Ironman of the Game: Jermaine Carpenter (RGV) Cutter's Catch of the Game: Jermaine Carpenter (RGV) - 30 yard TD at 10:38 of 2nd

Attendance: 3337

Score by Quarters 1 2 3 4 Score Rio Grande Valley Dorados 13 20 19 14 66 Texas Copperheads 14 6 7 13 40

Statistical Leaders: Passing RGV - Travis Cole, 17-25, 278 yards, 1 INT, 8 TDs TEX - Rudy Carlton, 25-46, 284 yards, 3 INT, 5 TDs

Rushing RGV - Travis Cole, 1-8, 1 TD TEX - Vernon Kennebrew, 3-15

Receiving RGV - Jermaine Carpenter, 8-160, 4 TDs TEX - Shaun Rochon, 13-139, 3 TDs

Defense RGV - Pierre Thomas, 13 tackles (12 solo), 2 INT, 1 TD TEX - James Todd, 6 tackles, 1 INT, 1 forced fumble



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