Desperados Drop Seventh Consecutive Game, Falling to Storm
May 30, 2004 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Dallas Desperados News Release
The Dallas Desperados (6-10) closed out the 2004 season by dropping their seventh consecutive game, falling 59-57 to the Tampa Bay Storm (9-7) in front of 7,836 fans at the American Airlines Center. With their win, Tampa Bay clinched a berth in the 2004 postseason.
The Desperados opened the scoring when Scott Dreisbach found Bobby Sippio open from 22 yards out. Sippio struck again, this time on defense, picking off a Shane Stafford pass and returning it 40 yards for a touchdown and a 14-0 Desperados lead. Tampa answered back when Stafford found David Saunders open on a post route for a 37-yard touchdown pass and catch. Dallas was then held to a 42-yard Carlos Martinez to close out first quarter scoring.
The Storm cut their deficit to 17-14 to open the second quarter when Stafford hit T.T. Tolliver on a 10-yard touchdown pass. Tampa regained possession at the Dallas nine-yard line after Ernest Certain recovered Dreisbach's muffed exchange from center Jeff Chase. Stafford took one play to give the Storm their first lead of the game - 21-17 - when he found Freddie Solomon for the nine-yard touchdown pass. Lawrence Samuels then picked off a Dreisbach pass, and Tampa took two plays to increase their lead to 28-17 when Stafford found Saunders in the back of the end zone for their second scoring combo of the game. Tampa held Dallas to a 50-yard Martinez field goal that was wide right, but the Desperados held Tampa to a 28-yard Ignacio Brache field goal with just 0:01 remaining to increase their lead to 31-17. Following a Will Pettis return and a defensive penalty, Dallas had an opportunity to cut into the Tampa lead with a 31-yard Martinez field goal attempt that was missed to close out first half play.
Tampa took possession to open the third frame, but Duke Pettijohn pounced on Stafford's muffed exchange from center and rolled into the end zone from the one-yard line to cut the Desperados' deficit to 24-31. Tampa then increased their lead to 34-24 with a 16-yard Brache field goal. Dreisbach took three plays to cover 45 yards, capped by a 12-yard Sippio touchdown reception (PAT missed). The Storm answered right back with a seven-yard Stafford-to-Clif Dell touchdown pass to finish out the third quarter scoring.
Dallas pulled within three, 37-40, to open the fourth quarter after Dreisbach hooked up with Jason Shelley for a five-yard touchdown toss. Tampa struck back on their next possession when Stafford found Solomon in the back of the end zone from 12-yards out to give Tampa a 10-point lead. The Desperados cut their deficit to 44-47 after Dreisbach found Shelley once again, this time from 21 yards. Stafford and the Storm increased their lead to nine, 53-44, when Del hauled in an 18-yard touchdown pass (PAT missed). Dreisbach hooked up with Shelley on a 26-yard touchdown pass for their third consecutive scoring drive of the quarter to pull Dallas within two with 0:46 remaining in the contest. Following the Dallas onside kick attempt, Tampa took over at the Dallas 15-yard line and scored on their second play from scrimmage when David White took the handoff from Stafford and pushed his way in from 14-yards out to give Tampa a 59-51 advantage following the third consecutive missed PAT. Pettis returned the kick 33 yards to give the Desperados the ball at the Tampa Bay 24. Sippio found the end zone one more time with no time remaining in regulation to pull the Desperados to within two. On the two point attempt, Dreisbach's pass was deflected back to him, and he ran to the one-yard line, short of the end zone, giving Tampa a 59-57 victory.
Desperados offensive specialist Jason Shelley led all Dallas receivers with eight receptions for 125 yards and three scores. With his performance, Shelley finished the season as the club's all-time leader in receptions (103) and receiving yards (1,304).
• Discuss this story on the Arena Football League (1987-2008) message board...
Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from May 30, 2004
- Gladiators finish Destroyers, 64-51 - Las Vegas Gladiators
- Destroyers drop season finale, 64-51, to Vegas - Columbus Destroyers
- Storm hold on to beat Desperados, advance to playoffs as No. 7 seed - Tampa Bay Storm
- Desperados Drop Seventh Consecutive Game, Falling to Storm - Dallas Desperados
- Arizona comes from behind to nip SaberCats - San Jose SaberCats
- Dragons Season Ends with a Win - New York Dragons
- New Orleans VooDoo to face Colorado Crush in inaugural home playoff game - New Orleans VooDoo
- Crush knocks down Rush, 56-47 - Chicago Rush
- VooDoo activate WR/LB Anthony Collins and WR/LB Tremaine Neal from injured reserve - New Orleans VooDoo
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.
