Dallas Desperados Game Notes
April 21, 2003 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Dallas Desperados News Release
QUICK FACTS:
Dallas Desperados (7-5) vs. Los Angeles Avengers (9-3)
Series Record: Series tied 1-1.
Last Meeting: Dallas 62, @ Los Angeles 55.
Series Streak: Desperados won one in a row.
Coaches: Joe Avezzano (15-13, 2nd Year) Ed Hodgkiss (17-9, 2nd Year)
Radio: KTCK, The Ticket (1310-AM) George Dunham, Greg Williams KRVA (Spanish, 1600-AM) Victor Villalba
TV: NBC Sports (Ch. 5 in Dallas-Ft. Worth) Tom Hammond, Pat Haden, Lewis Johnson
Season Series: This week's game marks the third meeting between these two clubs, with each having won at the other's home arena. Los Angeles spoiled Dallas' home opener last year with a 52-51 victory, but the Desperados returned the favor a month later with a 62-55 win in Los Angeles.
Series Notables:
* Both contests in 2002 were decided in the final seconds of play (a defensive stop and a scramble in the end zone).
* Dallas' 62 points in the second battle is the sixth highest point total in a game in club history.
* The Desperados rushed for seven combined touchdowns in the two games last spring.
* The Avengers picked off five Desperados passes in 2002. A Desperados Win Would:
* Allow Dallas to take a 2-1 series advantage, including two consecutive wins.
* Improve the Desperados record at Reunion Arena to 6-2, including a 5-2 mark this spring.
* Give Dallas a four game sweep of the Western Division.
* Allow the Desperados to remain in second place in the Central Division.
THIS WEEK
The Desperados return to Reunion Arena this Sunday to host former Western Division rival Los Angeles Avengers.
NEXT WEEK
Following this week's game, the Desperados remain at Reunion Arena as they host the Tampa Bay Storm on Sunday, May 4. The Avengers continue their road trip next week as they travel to Arizona to face the Rattlers at America West Arena on Sunday, May 4.
www.dallasdesperados.com
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 (15-13, 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.
Ed Hodgkiss (17-9, 2nd Year)
Ed Hodgkiss is in his second season at the Avengers helm after leading the club to a then franchise-best 8-6 record during his rookie season. This effort earned the team the fifth seed in the playoffs last spring. Prior to taking over in Los Angeles, Hodgkiss was the Indiana Firebirds offensive coordinator (1999-2001). In his three years leading the Firebirds offense, the squad averaged just more than 58 points-per-game each season while leading the team to an ArenaBowl championship in 1999. During that championship season, the Firebirds averaged 58.7 points and 326.5 yards-per-game. He was elevated to offensive coordinator after serving as the Firebirds wide receiver and special teams coach during the 1997-98 seasons. He had a short stint as a wide receiver for the Atlanta Falcons.
LAST WEEK
After digging themselves into an early two touchdown hole, the Desperados were able to fight back in the second half to claim a 60-54 overtime victory over the Chicago Rush.
The Desperados started the game on the wrong foot as Jim Kubiak's first pass was intercepted by Dameon Porter. The Dallas defense forced a Rush field goal attempt, but Chicago recovered the miss and promptly scored on a nine-yard Billy Dicken-to-Antonio Chatman touchdown pass. DeJuan Alfonzo then converted the two-point attempt. Dallas quickly drove to the Rush seven-yard line, but Marvin Taylor picked off a Kubiak pass at the goal line. Chicago then added a one-yard Levelle Brown scoring run (PAT failed). The first period ended without a Dallas score, marking only the second time in club history the team failed to score in the opening quarter.
On the second play of the second period, Patrise Alexander got the Desperados on the board with a one-yard scoring plunge. Chicago quickly responded with a two-yard Bob McMillen touchdown run for a 21-7 Rush lead. Dallas then put together a nine minute drive - featuring three Rush penalties - before scoring an a two-yard Kubiak-to-Andy McCullough pass. The Rush then added a four-yard Dicken scoring run, but the Desperados were able to cut their halftime deficit to 28-17 with a 28-yard Jason Wells field goal as the first half expired.
Adifferent Dallas team came out in the second half, forcing the Rush into a 56-yard field goal attempt to start the quarter. Will Pettis returned the miss to the Chicago 17-yard line to set up a five-yard Kubiak-to-Pettis touchdown pass. Kubiak connected with McCullough on the two-point attempt for a 28-25 score. Dicken then hit Cornelius Bonner with a 25- yard touchdown bomb, but Luke Leverson returned the ensuing kickoff 57-yards for a touchdown. Dallas then forced Chicago into a fourth-and eight at their own nine-yard line, and Tom Briggs sacked Dicken, forcing a fumble Dicken recovered at the one-yard line. Two plays later, Kubiak scampered in for the score and a 39-35 Dallas lead.
Chatman caught a seven-yard Dicken pass for a score to open the final frame, but the Desperados answered with a 35-yard Kubiak-to- Pettis scoring toss. Dicken connected with Chatman on a 26-yard scoring play on Chicago's next play, and the Rush forced a 61-yard field goal attempt which missed short. Chicago then took a 54-46 lead with a 29- yard Dicken-to-Chatman touchdown. Dallas then took seven plays to drive 43 yards in the final minute of play, culminated by a 12-yard Kubiak-to-McCullough touchdown with 0:03 remaining in the game. Kubiak then hit Pettis with the two-point conversion to tie the score and send the game into overtime.
On Chicago's possession to start the overtime period, the Rush drove to the Dallas one-yard line before Lindsay Fleshman fumbled at the goal line, giving the ball to Dallas. Two plays later, Kubiak hit McCullough with a short screen that he took 37-yards down the right sideline for the winning touchdown.
VS. THE AVENGERS
Following is a look at how several Desperados have fared against the Avengers during their careers:
FB/LB Patrise Alexander - seven carries for 18 yards and five touch downs and three tackles in two games.
OL/DL Tom Briggs - five tackles, two pressures, a sack, a tackle for a loss and a fumble recovery in five games.
OS Dialleo Burks - 10 catches for 102 yards and three touchdowns in two games.
DS Tim Denton - eight tackles, two passes defensed, a tackle for a loss and a fumble recovery in two games.
WR/LB Andy McCullough - seven catches for 144 yards and three touchdowns in two games.
WR/LB Jason Shelley - seven catches for 95 yards in two games.
K Jason Wells - 19-of-22 on PATs and four-of-six on field goal attempts in three games.
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