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Dallas Desperados Game Notes

March 18, 2003 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Dallas Desperados News Release


QUICK FACTS:
Dallas Desperados (4-3) @ Carolina Cobras (0-7)
Series Record: Dallas leads 1-0.
Last Meeting: Dallas 57, @ Carolina 44.
Series Streak: Desperados won only meeting.
Coaches: Joe Avezzano (12-11, 2nd Year) Mike Hold (0-7, 1st Year)
Radio: KTCK, The Ticket (1310-AM) George Dunham, Greg Williams KRVA (Spanish, 1600-AM) Victor Villalba
TV: UPN 21 (Ch. 21 in Dallas-Ft. Worth) Bill Jones, Mickey Spagnola, Tony McGee

Season Series: This week's game marks the second meeting between the Desperados and Cobras, with Dallas winning the inaugural contest 57-44 in Carolina last spring.

Series Notables:
* Dallas' victory over Carolina last spring marked the first victory in Desperados franchise history.
* The Cobras were Dallas' first regular season opponent in their inaugural season.
* Sunday's contest wil be the teams' first meeting in Charlotte after the Cobras moved from Raleigh this spring.

A Desperados Win Would:
* Allow Dallas to take a 2-0 series advantage.
* Give the Desperados a 1-1 record against the Southern Division this season (lost to Orlando).
* Improve Dallas' road record this spring to 2-2.
* Mark the Desperados third victory during the month of March.
* Allow Dallas to remain in second place in the Central Division with three division opponents in the next four games.

NEXT WEEK

Following this week's game, the Desperados travel to Charlotte, NC to face the Carolina Cobras at the Charlotte Coliseum. Grand Rapids continues their three-game road trek next week, traveling to Los Angeles to face the Avengers at the STAPLES Center.

For breaking news, press releases, statistics and rosters, visit the official website of the Dallas Desperados, www.dallasdesperados.com. Updated daily, www.dallasdesperados.com has the most extensive information on upcoming games. The Desperados website is also a great place to find information on players and coaches, order tickets for upcoming games and purchase Desperados merchandise.

HEAD COACHES

Joe Avezzano (12-11, 2nd Year)

After establishing himself as one of the top assistant coaches in the NFL, Joe Avezzano made a name for himself last spring as an Arena Football League head coach. Avezzano led the expansion Desperados to a 7-7 regular season record and a trip to the quarterfinal round of the playoffs.

This success helped the club win the prestigious Commissioner s Award. Avezzano was the Dallas Cowboys special teams coach from 1991-2002, earning NFL Special Teams Coach of the Year honors three times. Before coming to Dallas, he coached collegiately at Texas A&M (1985-88), Oregon State (1980-84), Tennessee (1977-79), Pittsburgh (1973-76), Iowa State (1969-72) and Florida State (1968). He starred at guard for Florida State before being drafted by the Boston Patriots.

Mike Hold (0-7, 1st Year)

Mike Hold is making his Arena Football League coaching debut this spring with the Carolina Cobras. He joined the Cobras after leading the Augusta Stallions of af2 for two seasons (2001-02), accumulating a 22-10 record. He led the Stallions to the playoffs in 2002 with a 13-3 mark. Prior to joining the coaching ranks, Hold spent 12 seasons as an AFL quarterback, playing with Chicago, Washington, Denver, Sacramento, Orlando, Connecticut, Arizona and Houston. His best indoor season occurred with the Denver Dynamite in 1991, when he threw for 1,506 yards and 28 touchdowns while rushing for another 13 scores. Hold has also been involved in broadcasting, serving as a color commentator for the Mountain West Conference and for ESPN s AFL coverage in 2000.

LAST WEEK

The Dallas Desperados suffered their first loss at Reunion Arena as the Grand Rapids Rampage claimed a 45-42 victory to take over sole possession of first place in the Central Division.

After receiving the opening kickoff, the Rampage were forced into a 47-yard field goal attempt, which Brian Gowins missed wide left. Dallas quickly drove to the Grand Rapids seven-yard line before Andy McCullough fumbled fighting for the end zone. The Rampage recovered the fumble and quickly took the lead with a 40-yard Chris Avery scoring rush. The Desperados responded as Jim Kubiak found McCullough with a 13-yard touchdown pass.

On the first play of the second quarter, Clint Dolezel hooked up with Willis Marshall on a 19-yard scoring pass. Dallas then drove to the Grand Rapids one-yard line before Will Pettis scored on a one-yard jaunt. The Rampage drove to the Desperados seven yard line before Avery fumbled. McCullough recovered the ball at the Dallas five-yard line, setting up a Desperados drive that was culminated by a seven-yard Kubiak-to-Shannon Culver scoring pass. Grand Rapids then put together a five play drive which ended with an eight-yard Dolezel-to-Marshall scoring toss. Dallas' Jason Wells missed a 32-yard field goal attempt as the first half expired, leaving the score tied at 21-21.

Dallas opened the third period with a one-yard Ja'Mar Toombs touchdown run, but Grand Rapids quickly responded with a three-yard Dolezel-to-Terrill Shaw touchdown pass. The Desperados used a four-play drive to take the lead when Kubiak found Pettis with a nine-yard scoring pass. Three plays later, Tim Martin sacked Dolezel, forcing a fumble which Henry Taylor recovered and returned to the Rampage 15-yard line. Kubiak quickly connected with Luke Leverson for a five-yard touchdown and a 42-28 Dallas lead as the third quarter came to a close.

The Rampage opened the final frame with a 43-yard Dolezel to- Shaw scoring pass. Grand Rapids then kicked an onside kick, which they recovered at their own 12-yard line. Four plays later, Dolezel found Marshall with a nine-yard scoring pass to tie the score at 42-42. Dallas then drove to the Rampage 10-yard line, but Wells missed a 25-yard field goal attempt wide right. Grand Rapids then drove to their own 23-yard line before Brian Gowins converted a 42-yard field goal attempt to give the Rampage a 45- 42 lead with 0:55 remaining in the game. Kubiak led a quick Desperados drive to the Rampage nine-yard line before being intercepted in the end zone by Shea Showers with 0:25 remaining in the game. Grand Rapids then picked up a first down and was able to run out the clock to secure the victory.

VS. THE COBRAS

Following is a look at how several Desperados have fared against the Cobras during their careers:

FB/LB Patrise Alexander - two tackles, four rushes for two yards and a touchdown in one game.

OL/DL Tom Briggs - three tackles, a sack and a tackle for a loss in one game.

OS Dialleo Burks - five catches, 86 yards and a score, 36- yard kickoff return, eight-yard MFG return in one game.

OL/DL Shante Carver - one interception for touchdown and one reception for touchdown in one game.

OS Shannon Culver - four catches, 83 yards and a score in two games.

QB Jim Kubiak - 35-of-59 for 594 yards and 10 touchdowns in two games.

OL/DL Doug Lytle - two tackles, a sack, a tackle for a loss and a forced fumble in two games.

WR/LB Andy McCullough - six catches for 43 yards and a score and one tackle in one game.

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