Desperados Corral Wranglers, 52-28
March 13, 2005 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Dallas Desperados News Release
DALLAS - The Dallas Desperados' three-game winning streak snapped last Saturday because of untimely penalties and turnovers. And while their performance didn't improve much Sunday against the Austin Wranglers, the Desperados made just enough plays to avoid another loss to their in-state rival.
Behind six crucial stops by their defense, the Desperados (5-2) earned a 52-28 victory over Austin at Frank Erwin Center to stay a half-game behind the New York Dragons for first place in the AFL's Eastern Division.
"We won real ugly today," said Desperados head coach Will McClay, whose team overcame two turnovers and a missed field goal with an inspired defensive effort. "We'll take them however we can get them, but we can't win ugly every week. We've got to win, we've got to be on point and take care of our business."
The Desperados also avenged last year's 48-36 loss to Austin in the first-ever meeting between the two teams. With the loss, Austin (2-5) is now 0-4 at home this season and remains one of three teams in the league without a home victory.
Defensive specialist Jermaine Jones, who led the Dallas defense with nine tackles and one interception, was named the ADT Defensive Player of the Game. Desperados WR/DB Will Pettis (eight catches, one touchdown and one interception) was named the U.S. Army Ironman of the Game, while WR/LB Bobby Sippio (three catches for 43 yards and two touchdowns) took home Offensive Player of the Game honors.
The Desperados stopped Austin's offense three times in each half and intercepted quarterback John Fitzgerald three times. Dallas also recovered a live kickoff late in the fourth quarter to set up a late touchdown run by FB/LB Ja'Mar Toombs.
Desperados quarterback Clint Stoerner also rebounded from last Saturday's three-turnover performance against the VooDoo. Stoerner completed 17-of-28 passes for 219 yards and five touchdowns with one interception.
The Desperados took a 24-14 lead into halftime but could not take advantage of several Austin miscues. After Dallas took an early 7-0 lead in the first quarter, Fitzgerald's second pass of the game was intercepted by Desperados defensive specialist Jermaine Jones. But two plays later, Stoerner gave the ball right back to Austin with his fifth interception of the season while scrambling to avoid Wranglers OL/DL Tom Briggs.
Both teams traded scores throughout the half, but the Dallas defense stopped Austin on 4th-and-goal with 11 seconds left to preserve a 24-14 lead. The Desperados quickly drove down the field for a last-second field goal try, but Carlos Martinez's 36-yard attempt sailed wide right.
The Desperados stopped Austin's offense at the start of the second half when Jones broke up a fourth-down pass intended for Nickerson. On the Desperados' first play from scrimmage, Stoerner found a wide-open Shelley for a 21-yard touchdown to extend the lead to 31-14.
The Wranglers cut Dallas' lead to 31-21 and threatened to score again early in the fourth quarter, but Fitzgerald's pass was picked off in the end zone by Hamin Milligan. The Desperados turned the ball over again on FB/LB Duke Pettijohn's fumble, but their defense stopped the Wranglers for a fifth time.
Dallas then scored 21 unanswered points over the final 7:39 to seal its fifth win of the season. The team will now travel to Los Angeles next Friday to take on the Avengers (9:30 p.m. CST kickoff).
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Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from March 13, 2005
- Storm nip Rattlers, 59-56 - Arizona Rattlers
- Despite strong defensive effort, Wranglers fall to Desperados, 52-28 - Austin Wranglers
- Desperados Corral Wranglers, 52-28 - Dallas Desperados
- Predators beat VooDoo, 63-52 - New Orleans VooDoo
- Rampage lose squeaker, 48-45 - Grand Rapids Rampage
- Rush comes back, holds on against Rampage, 48-45 - Chicago Rush
- Dragons win battle of top teams - OSC Original by David Holusha
- Storm Improve to 4-0 at Home - Tampa Bay Storm
- Bironas wins it! - New York Dragons
- Force fall to Dragons in New York, 53-51 - Georgia Force
- Gladiators roll in Columbus, 63-34 - Las Vegas Gladiators
- Crush Turns Back Kats - Colorado Crush
- Colorado beats Nashville - Nashville Kats
- Las Vegas upends Columbus, 63-34 at Nationwide Arena - Columbus Destroyers
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