Desperados Corral Kansas City, 66-54
March 17, 2007 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Dallas Desperados News Release
Flu-like symptoms slowed Josh White before kickoff Saturday night at Kemper Arena, but he hardly played like someone less than full strength.
The Dallas Desperados' 255-pound fullback/linebacker set a franchise single-game mark with five touchdown runs, including a 7-yard rumble with 4:40 remaining to help seal a 66-54 victory over the Kansas City Brigade.
The Desperados (3-0) took an early 14-0 lead off a Jermaine Jones interception in the first quarter and never trailed against the expansion Brigade (1-2). Two Desperados fumbles in the final minute led to a late Kansas City touchdown, but the outcome already had been decided.
White, who inherited the starting fullback job with Duke Pettijohn focusing more on defense under the league's free substitution rules, scored several touchdowns thanks to excellent field position provided by wide receiver Marcus Nash.
The Desperados' prized off-season signing caught a game-high 10 catches for 169 yards and two touchdowns. When he wasn't catching touchdown passes from quarterback Clint Dolezel, Nash was setting up White for bruising runs into the end zone.
White said his illness actually helped him focus more during the game.
"I just kept telling him (Michael) Jordan scored 60-something when he had the flu," Desperados head coach Will McClay said on The Ticket (KTCK-AM, 1310). "So step up and make plays."
Nash also scored a 3-yard rushing touchdown after WR/DB Will Pettis' 44-yard kickoff return late in the first quarter. Pettis had a relatively quiet night after scoring a career-best five touchdowns last Saturday against Tampa Bay, but he logged heavier minutes on both sides of the ball with WR/DB Bobby Keyes sidelined (illness).
"It's different guys at different times," McClay said in reference to Nash. "They wanted to try and handle us man and it's hard to handle (No.) 82 man. He made some big plays for us."
Friday's win matched last season's franchise-best 3-0 start and improved the Desperados' road record to 9-1 dating back to last February. Dallas finished the 2006 season with a league-record tying 13 wins before falling to the Orlando Predators in the National Conference title game.
The Desperados will get a road rematch with Orlando on March 26, but first they had to outlast an improved Brigade team which upset defending ArenaBowl champion Chicago in its season opener.
Kansas City quarterback Raymond Philyaw was intercepted twice by Jones and left the game briefly in the third quarter with what appeared to be a lower leg injury. His top target was wide receiver Charles Frederick, who scored five touchdowns (three rushes, two catches).
Dolezel completed 18 of 23 passes for 212 yards and only three touchdowns with White finishing most drives on the ground. Kicker Todd Sievers, who was signed Tuesday, drilled all of his extra points and kicked a 16-yard field goal at the end of the half.
The Desperados built a commanding three-score lead in the fourth quarter after their defense stopped Philyaw on fourth down. Nash then caught a tipped pass in the end zone to make the score 52-34, and the Desperados led by at least 11 points the rest of the game.
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Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from March 17, 2007
- Storm fall to Force 61-47 - Tampa Bay Storm
- Georgia Force calm Tampa Bay Storm 61-47 - Georgia Force
- Preds bang out win over Austin - Orlando Predators
- Desperados Corral Kansas City, 66-54 - Dallas Desperados
- Crush take second straight with 56-54 victory over Arizona - Colorado Crush
- Brigade unable to knock Dallas from ranks of unbeaten - Kansas City Brigade
- Rattlers lose close contest to Crush, 56-54 - Arizona Rattlers
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