Dallas Desperados Game Notes
April 28, 2003 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Dallas Desperados News Release
QUICK FACTS:
Dallas Desperados (8-5) vs. Tampa Bay Storm (10-3)
Series Record: Desperados lead 1-0.
Last Meeting: @ Dallas 62, Tampa Bay 56.
Series Streak: Desperados won one in a row.
Coaches: Joe Avezzano (16-13, 2nd Year) Tim Marcum (153-54, 15th 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) Mike Breen, Ray Bentley, Lewis Johnson
Season Series: This week's game marks the second meeting between these clubs. In their only other contest, the Desperados forced overtime wtih a 24-yard field goal at the end of the fourth quarter. Both teams missed overtime field goals before Tim Martin forced a Storm fumble that Dallas recovered to set up the game winning 16-yard Kellyto- Culver touchdown pass.
Series Notables:
* This is the second straight meeting in Dallas.
* Last year's contest was the first overtime game in Desperados club history.
* The two quarterbacks last year combined to throw for 609 yards and 12 touchdowns.
* Tampa Bay control the ball for 43-of-72 minutes played in last year's game.
A Desperados Win Would:
* Improve Dallas' series advantage to 2-0.
* Mark the Desperados second win in three games against Southern Division foes this spring.
* Allow Dallas to remain atop the Central Division standings.
* Give the Desperados a 6-2 record at Reunion Arena this spring and a 7-2 overall record at Reunion.
DESPERADOS & STORM
The Desperados return to Reunion Arena this Sunday to host the league leading Tampa Bay Storm.
THIS WEEK
Following this week's game, the Desperados travel to Georgia to take on the Force at The Arena at Gwinnett Center on Saturday, May 10. The Storm return to the Ice Palace to host the San Jose SaberCats on Sunday, May 11.
NEXT WEEK
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 (16-13, 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.
Tim Marcum (98-42-9th Year (TB), 153-54-15th Year) Tim Marcum, one of the AFL s all-time best coaches, is in his ninth season at the Storm helm after stops with the Detroit Drive and Denver Dynamite to start his indoor coaching career. Marcum is a two-time AFL Coach of the Year honoree and was part of the inaugural induction class (1998) of the Arena Football League Hall of Fame. He is the league s all-time leader in regular season wins, poseason wins, games coached, winning percentage and championships.
He has led three different teams to ArenaBowl championships -- Denver (1987), Detroit (1988, 1989, 1992) and Tampa Bay ((1995, 1996) -- while appearing in nine championship games. His success is witnessed in the fact that his teams have advanced to postseason play each year he has coached in the Arena Football League.
LAST WEEK
The Dallas Desperados began their late season push by defeating the Los Angeles Avengers 60-57. The victory pushes the Desperados record to 8-5, marking the first time in the club's short history the team has been three games above the .500 mark.
Los Angeles began the game with a five-yard Tony Graziani-to-Chris Jackson touchdown pass. Dallas quickly answered with a three-yard Jim Kubiak-to- McCullough scoring toss. The Desperados defense then rose to the occasion by holding Los Angeles on downs Dallas then drove to the Avengers six-yard line before Kubiak was intercepted in the end zone by Siaha Burley. Five plays later, Mathias Vavao scored on a one-yard carry to give the Avengers a 14-7 lead. The Desperados wasted no time in responding as Kubiak hooked up with Burks from eight yard out. Dallas' defense again stepped up to hold Los Angeles on downs, but Cornelius Coe picked off Kubiak in the end zone three plays later. Los Angeles reclaimed the lead with a 13-yard Graziani-to-Jackson scoring toss with 0:10 remaining in the half. Jason Wells connected on a 38-yard field goal as the half expired to cut Dallas' halftime deficit to 21-17.
After recovering the Avengers onside kick to open the second half, the Desperados took their first lead of the day when Patrise Alexander rumbled in from a yard out. Los Angeles then reclaimed the lead as Graziani hooked up with Burley from 11 yards out. On Dallas' next play, Kubiak connected with Jason Shelley on a short pass that Shelley converted into a 31-yard touchdown, breaking several tackles on the way. The Avengers wasted no time responding, as Graziani and Jackson hooked up on an eight-yard scoring pass for a 35-31 advantage.
The Desperados opened the final period with a 19-yard Kubiak-to- McCullough touchdown pass. Los Angeles reclaimed the advantage when Graziani hit Greg Hopkins with an eight-yard touchdown pass. (PAT failed) Four plays later, however, Kubiak threw his third interception as Damen Wheeler picked off the pass in the end zone. The Desperados defense forced the Avengers into a 23-yard Hamilton field goal for a six-point Avengers lead. The Desperados recovered the ensuing onside and reclaimed the lead with a two-yard Will Pettis touchdown run. Los Angeles recovered Dallas' onside attempt and Graziani and Hopkins hooked up on an eight-yard touchdown pass for a 50-45 Avengers lead. After recovering the Avengers onside kick, Dallas reclaimed the lead when Kubiak hit Burks with a 17-yard scoring strike.
Kubiak then connected with Pettis on the two-point conversion to give the Desperados a 53-50 lead with 0:38 remaining in the game. Two plays later, Tim Martin sacked Graziani, forcing a fumble the McCullough recovered and returned 22 yards for the touchdown and a 10 point Dallas advantage. Los Angeles drove to a one-yard Graziani touchdown run with 0:02 left on the clock. The Avengers recovered the ensuing onside kick, but Hamilton's 53-yard field goal attempt was blocked by Martin and recovered by McCullough to seal Dallas' victory.
VS. THE STO R M
Following is a look at how several Desperados have fared against the Storm during their careers:
FB/LB Patrise Alexander - two tackles, a deflected pass, two catches for 32 yards and three carries in one game. OS Shannon Culver - 12 catches for 150 yards and four touchdowns in two games.
DS Tim Denton - five tackles and a pass deflection in one game. WR/DB Luke Leverson - five catches for 59 yards in one game.
OL/DL Jamie Lovern - two stops and a tackle for aloss in one game.
OL/DL Tim Martin - one tackle, a sack, a tackle for a loss, a forced fumble and a fumlbe recovery inone game.
WR/LB Andy McCullough - eight catches for 95 yards and a score and a fumble recovery in one game.
OL/DL Patrick Scott - five tackles, a pass deflection and a forced fumble and two catches for 22 yards and a score in two games.
WR/LB Jason Shelley - four catches for 32 yards and two passes defensed in one game.
K Jason Wells - four-of five field goals and six-of-six PATs in one game.
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