Desperados Crushed In Final Seconds, 66-58
March 26, 2005 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Dallas Desperados News Release
DALLAS - Desperados head coach Will McClay preaches to his team about playing a complete game rather than just one good half.
And after leading the Colorado Crush by six points at halftime, the Desperados simply couldn't finish.
Colorado (6-2) took advantage of a sputtering Desperados offense in the second half, outscoring them by two touchdowns over the final two quarters in a 66-58 victory over Dallas at American Airlines Center.
The Desperados (6-3) will have to enter their bye week with a loss and are in jeopardy of losing their half-game lead in the Eastern Division.
Desperados WR/DB Will Pettis, the U.S. Army Ironman of the Game, gave the Desperados a 7-0 lead on the opening kickoff with a 56-yard return for a touchdown, his fifth career return for a score and the first for Dallas this season.
Early in the second quarter, Desperados rookie WR/DB Bobby Perry made two consecutive big plays to help stretch Dallas' lead to 27-14. Perry recovered a surprise onside kick by Colorado, and then caught a 17-yard touchdown pass from Stoerner.
Crush WR/DB Willis Marshall, who kept Colorado close in the second quarter with two spectacular diving touchdown catches, was named the Offensive Player of the Game. He also scored all four of Colorado's first-half touchdowns.
After taking a 37-31 lead into halftime, the Desperados held Colorado to a field goal early in the third quarter but turned the ball over on downs on their first drive of the half.
The Crush took its first lead of the game with 7:05 left in the third quarter when WR/DB Ahmad Hawkins beat DS Jermaine Jones for a touchdown. Desperados FB/LB Duke Pettijohn blocked the extra point to make the score 40-37.
Stoerner then threw his sixth interception of the season, and Crush quarterback John Dutton capitalized with a touchdown pass to Damian Harrell to extend the lead to 47-37.
The Desperados eventually pulled with three points with less than a minute remaining, but kicker Carlos Martinez's onside kick resulted in a safety when the live ball rolled into the Desperados' own end zone. Martinez recovered it in the end zone, making it a safety according to league rules.
After recovering another onside kick, the Crush added another field goal with five seconds remaining to extend their winning streak to a franchise-record five games.
• Discuss this story on the Arena Football League (1987-2008) message board...
Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from March 26, 2005
- Rattlers defeat Kats - Arizona Rattlers
- Destroyers drop 56-55 decision to New York at Nationwide Arena - Columbus Destroyers
- Soul win second straight; defeat Rampage 64-41 - Philadelphia Soul
- Dragons win in Harding's homecoming - New York Dragons
- Preds wallop Austin, 51-21 - Orlando Predators
- Hamilton, Predators outgun Wranglers 51-21 - Austin Wranglers
- Crush Wins Duel of Division Leaders - Colorado Crush
- Desperados Crushed In Final Seconds, 66-58 - Dallas Desperados
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.
