Copperheads Put Scare In Dorados
July 28, 2007 - arenafootball2 (af2)
Texas Copperheads News Release
HOUSTON, TX - After top-ranked Wilkes-Barre/Scranton dropped its regular season finale for its second loss, Rio Grande Valley saw an opportunity to hit the playoffs with the best record in the af2.
The Texas Copperheads, though, stood in their way with a commendable defensive effort that eventually wasn't enough as Rio Grande defeated the expansion team 40-19 on Saturday night in front of a record crowd of 4,485 in the Richard E. Berry Center.
Rio Grande Valley, ranked No. 2 in this week's af2 coaches' poll, is certain to capture that top spot as they racked up 219 yards and scored five touchdowns.
Quarterback Josh Kellett, who finished the game 23-of-47 for 200 yards and four TDs, connected with Coco Blalock in the end zone twice in the first half and hit Dwight Counter to open up a 14-point lead with 2:29 left in the third quarter.
The Copperheads, though, showed some promise for their 2008 campaign through the leg of Nick Gatto. Gatto captured the af2 title in field goals made (20) and attempted (53) by hitting from 40 and 42 yards. He once again picked up for an offense that struggled the entire season, including setting a league mark for a shutout in the first month of the season and a 10-yard offensive output late in the year.
Texas' season finale was no different as it recorded only 93 total offensive yards. Quarterback Tony Eckert was 10-of-27 for 103 yards and one rushing touchdown. He was also picked off three times. A fumble by Eckert late in the game cost the Copperheads an opportunity to tie the game late in the loss.
After Gatto's two field goals, the Copperheads broke a touchdown-drought of 160 minutes and 18 seconds with a one-yard push with 42 seconds left in the first half.
A 14-yard screen pass to Booker Jenkins gave the fullback his first touchdown of the year and helped Texas pull back to within one possession early in the fourth, but Jermaine Carpenter took away all of the Copperheads' momentum with a 50-yard return of the ensuing kickoff for a touchdown.
With the win, Rio Grande Valley clinched the top seed in the National Conference playoffs and will host an opponent to be determined in the playoffs next weekend.
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