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Dallas Vigilantes Cruise To Victory In Inaugural Pre-Season Game

March 22, 2010 - Arena Football League (AFL)
Dallas Vigilantes News Release


DALLAS, Texas - Led by three touchdowns apiece from wide receivers Matt Fields and Derek Lee, the Dallas Vigilantes made a bold statement in the franchise's first-ever pre-season game with a 65-44 victory over the Bossier-Shreveport BattleWings Sunday afternoon at the CenturyTel Center.

Fields reached the end zone in a variety of ways, including returning the game's opening kickoff 55 yards for a touchdown to give Dallas the early momentum and a 7-0 lead.

Following a botched snap by Bossier quarterback Raymond Philyaw which resulted in a Dallas safety and pushed the Vigilantes' lead to 9-0, Fields would score once again on a reverse on fourth-and-goal from the one-yard line to make it a quick 16-0 Dallas lead. Fields' final touchdown came right before the half when Dallas quarterback Shane Stafford hit him on a short crossing pattern from two-yards out.

Lee meanwhile, led all receivers with eight receptions for 103 yards and the three scores. He also scored the game-clinching touchdown with 3:35 left in the fourth quarter to put Dallas up 44-30.

Dallas head coach Rich Ingold went into the game thinking Lee would only play a quarter and a half and then rest the remainder of the contest, but Lee convinced the coach to play the entire game and set an early example for the rest of the team.

"Here's Derek who is already an all-AFL receiver and already established himself as one of the best in the league, if not the best, and the guy just didn't want to come off the field in a pre-season game," Ingold said. "He has a passion for winning and tonight he didn't play just to get some reps. That guy wanted to win the game. He's truly special."

Both Stafford and backup quarterback Collin Drafts were very efficient for the Vigilantes on Sunday. Stafford completed 17-of-21 passes for 158 yards and three touchdowns while Drafts was 7-of-10 for 51 yards and two touchdowns.

Special teams were a big story in this game as well. Not only did Dallas score a touchdown on the opening kickoff, but kicker Mark Lewis was a perfect 9-for-9 on extra points. Bossier, on the other hand, struggled in the kicking game, missing three extra points and botching the snap on two other occasions.

All in all and despite it only being one exhibition game, Ingold felt like Sunday was a giant step for a Vigilantes team that is coming together early.

"Overall I couldn't be more pleased with the effort considering we've really only had about five real practices coming into today's game," Ingold said. "We came out today with really good energy and offensively the ball hardly ever hit the ground. If you were to tell me this is how we'd play after only one week of practice I'd gladly take it. We still have lots of work to do but this was a great start. This gives us a real nice psychological boost in the sense that this shows the players that getting up every morning at 4:20 a.m. pays off. Winning cures all ills."

Dallas entered the game without the services of three of its key starters, as Larry Brackins (WR), Eddie Moten (DB), and Duke Pettijohn (DL) all were held out of the game.

The Vigilantes open the regular season April 10 when they travel to Tulsa to take on the Talons. The Vigilantes make their 2010 home debut on Friday, April 30, when they host Oklahoma City at 7:30 p.m. at American Airlines Center.

Season tickets for the 2010 Dallas Vigilantes arena football season are on sale now by calling 972.378.5454. For more information, log onto www.DallasVigilantes.com.

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The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

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