Dallas Desperados Game Notes
May 5, 2003 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Dallas Desperados News Release
QUICK FACTS:
Dallas Desperados (8-6) @ Georgia Force (8-6)
Series Record: first meeting.
Last Meeting: first meeting.
Series Streak: first meeting.
Coaches: Joe Avezzano (16-14, 2nd Year) Marty Lowe (14-14, 2nd 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) Brad Sham, Mickey Spagnola, Tony McGee (shown on tape delayed basis at 11:30 p.m.)
Season Series: This weeks game will mark the first time these two franchises have faced each other. The Force began operations in Georgia last spring after relocating from Nashville.
Series Notables:
* Sunday is the first time these clubs have played each other.
* The Force are one of only two teams (Buffalo being the other) that the Desperados have not faced in their almost two full seasons of play in the AFL.
A Desperados Win Would:
* Give Dallas an initial 1-0 series advantage.
* Improve the Desperados record in road games this spring to 4-3.
* Mark Dallas second victory in four games against Southern Division foes this spring.
* Allow the Desperados to remain atop the Central Division standings.
* Improve Dallas chances of hosting a playoff game on the opening weekend of postseason action.
* Give the Desperados the tie-breaker over the Force.
DESPERADOS & FORCE
The Desperados travel to Atlanta, GA, to take on the Georgia Force on Saturday night at the Arena at Gwinnett Center.
NEXT WEEK
Following this weeks game, the Desperados close the regular season by traveling to Grand Rapids to face the Rampage on Sunday, May 18. The Force wrap up the regular season next week by hosting the Tampa Bay Storm on Sunday, May 18.
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 (16-14, 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.
Marty Lowe (14-14, 2nd Year)
Marty Lowe is in his second season at the Force helm after taking over the head coaching duties six game sinto the 2002 season. Under his direction, Georgia was victorious in five of their final eight games. He began his indoor coaching career as an offensive assistant with the Nashville Kats in 2000. In 2001, he became the Kats offensive coordinator while coaching the team s wide receivers and quarterbacks.
The University of Louisville graduate spent two season playing in the Arena Football League, one season with the St. Louis Stampede (1996) and another with the Texas Terror (1997). He rounded out his coaching background by serving as an assistant coach at Louisville from 1997 - 98.
LAST WEEK
The Dallas Desperados closed out their 2003 home schedule by falling to the Tampa Bay storm 67-64. Despite the loss, Dallas was still able to clinch a playoff spot thanks to the Indiana Firebirds falling to the Georgia Force 77-56.
The Dallas defense started the game by forcing the Storm into a 65- yard field goal attempt which was short and returned by Dialleo Burks.
Three plays later, Jim Kubiak hooked up with Burks on a four-yard scoring pass. Three plays into Tampa Bay's next possession, Tim Martin sacked John Kaleo, forcing a fumble that Doug Lytle recovered at the Dallas 20-yard line. However, Dallas returned the ball to the Storm when Kubiak was intercepted in the end zone by Corey Sawyer. Two plays later, Kaleo hooked up with Antoine Toliver on a 36-yard touchdown.
On the first play of the second quarter, Kubiak and Will Pettis connected for a 16-yard touchdown. Toliver returned the ensuing kickoff to the Dallas two-yard line to set up a two-yard Kaleo scoring run. On Dallas' next play, Kubiak was sacked and fumbled the ball with Lawrence Samueld recovering for Tampa. Kaleo quickly found Clif Dell with a 16-yard scoring toss. On Dallas' next offensive play, Kubiak was intercepted by Samuels, who returned the theft five yards for the touchdown and a 27-14 Storm lead (PAT failed). The Desperados quickly drove to a one-yard Kubiak-to-Burks scoring pass, but Tampa Bay rsponded with a 17-yard Kaleo-to-Saunders touchdown pass. Kaleo then connected with Toliver for the two-point conversion. Kubiak quickly answered with a 27-yard scoring pass to McCullough. Dallas then forced Tampa into a 25-yard field goal. The first half clock expired on the Desperados, leaving them with a 38-28 halftime deficit.
The Desperados opened the second half with a six-yard Kubiak-to- Burks scoring pass, but the Storm responded with an 11-yard Kaleo-to- Samuels touchdown. Five plays later, Kubiak and Burks again hooked up from six yards out for the score. Kaleo found Freddie Solomon down the right sideline for a 39-yard touchdown as the third quarter came to an end, giving the Storm a 52-42 lead.
Dallas was held on downs at the Storm one-yard line after four straight running plays to open the final period. The Storm quickly ballooned their advantage to 16 as Kaleo and Keita Crespina hooked up from 18-yards out (PAT failed). Four plays later, Kubiak was sacked by Troy Wilson and fumbled the ball, which David White recovered. White then rushed three yards for a score and a 64-42 Storm lead (PAT failed) with 4:20 remaining. Dallas quickly drove to a seven-yard Kubiak-to- Shelley touchdown pass and Kubiak-to-Shelley two point conversion.
Jermaine Jones recovered the ensuing onside kick for Dallas, leading to a 10-yard Kubiak-to-Shelley touchdown with 0:38 remaining. After Tampa Bay recovered the ensuing onside kick, they were forced into a 22-yard David Cool field goal. Three plays later, Kubiak found Pettis in the end zone with a six-yard scoring pass to cut the Dallas deficit to 67- 64 with 0:03 showing on the clock. Tampa Bay recovered the ensuing onside to run out the clock.
2003 RECORD SETTERS
Despite being in only their second year of existance, the Dallas Desperados have the clubs record books. Following are a few of the teams new records:
Dialleo Burks and Andy McCullough have become the franchises first 1,000-yard receivers and are on pace to become the clubs first receivers with 100 catches.
Jim Kubiak is the first quarterback in team history to throw for more than 4,000 yards and 80 touchdowns in a season.
Tom Briggs is on the verge of becoming the first defensive player to post a double digit sack total in a season and the first in the AFL since the 2000 season. He is also the first player in team history to register multiple sacks in a game.
Will Pettis is the first player to accumulate more than 1,400 allpurpose yards in a season.
Jermaine Jones is the first defensive player to record more than 60 tackles and 12 pass deflections in a season.
Tim Martin is only the second player is club history to register at least four sacks in a single season.
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