Desperados Drop Sixth Consecutive Game
May 23, 2004 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Dallas Desperados News Release
The Dallas Desperados (6-9) dropped their sixth straight game, falling 68-56 to the Columbus Destroyers (6-9) in front of 10,493 fans at the American Airlines Center.
The Destroyers opened the scoring two plays into the game when Ryan Vena found Sedrick Robinson open in the end zone for the 20-yard score. The Desperados took possession at midfield following Will Pettis's kick return and answered when Pettis one-handed a Scott Dreisbach pass from eight yards to cut the Destroyer lead to 7-6 (missed PAT). Columbus increased their lead to 14-6 when Vena found Robinson once again for a six-yard score. Dreisbach struck back on the next play, finding Jason Shelley open down the sideline for the 45-yard score. On the ensuing possession, the Destroyers went 30 yards in two plays when Vena called his own number and rushed in from the three-yard line, giving Columbus a 21-13 advantage to close out the first quarter scoring.
Bobby Sippio helped Dallas close their deficit to open the second frame when he hauled in a 21-yard Dreisbach scoring pass. Following back-to-back Desperados sacks, Columbus attempted a field goal and ran a fake with Robinson taking the snap and finding kicker Steve Videtich open for the first down. Columbus scored two plays later when Vena hit Gunnard Twyner for the four-yard score. The Desperados then closed the gap to 27-28 when Ja'Mar Toombs pushed his way in from two yards out. After lining up for the point after, holder Glen Gaunnt took the snap and rushed around right end to convert the two-point attempt and tie the score at 28-28. On the ensuing kickoff, Robinson found the end zone by returning the kickoff 56 yards for the score. Columbus regained possession following a Chad Pegues, but two plays later, Pettis gave Dallas the ball back by picking off Vena's pass intended for Titcus Pettigrew. Dreisbach then took the ball in on his own from one-yard out to tie the score at 35-35 just befor the first half expired.
Duke Pettijohn got the scoring started for the Desperados on the first drive of the third quarter taking a pitch from Dreisbach around left end 20-yards to the end zone for Dallas's first lead of the game 42-35. The Destroyers evened the score when Twyner scored for the second time of the night on an 11-yard Vena pass. On their ensuing possession, Dallas gave Columbus the ball back after Sippio coughed up the ball and Carey Clayton jumped on the ball at the Destroyers' 21-yard line. Jermaine Jones gave Dallas the ball back at on own 12-yard line when he picked off Vena's pass attempt. Toombs found the end zone for his second touchdown of the game after taking a pitch over left end from seven yards out.
Columbus drove 27 yards in five plays to tie the score at 49-49 early in the fourth quarter when Vena found LaKendrick Jones from 14-yards out. Dallas answered on the next drive taking six plays to travel 46 yards, capped by a Driesbach-to-Sippio 19-yard touchdown toss â their second of the game. Columbus quickly responded taking just one play to tie the score 56-56 when Vena found Cornelius White wide open from 31 yards away for the score. Del Lee intercepted a Driesbach pass and returned it 32 yards giving the Destroyers the ball at the Dallas 18-yard line. One play later, Robinson scampered in from 18 yards out on a toss from Vena to Columbus the lead 62-56 (missed PAT). After driving 32 yards in five plays, the Desperados were thwarted when Pettigrew intercepted Dreisbach's pass off the net in the end zone and returned it 24 yards to the Columbus 20-yard line. Vena then hooked up with Robinson - for the fourth time â on a 35-yard touchdown play to close out the scoring, giving Columbus a 68-56 win.
• Discuss this story on the Arena Football League (1987-2008) message board...
Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from May 23, 2004
- Avengers Fend off the Gladiators - OSC Original by Tim Peterson
- Dragons Stopped in Orlando - New York Dragons
- Rush clinches Central Division title with 53-37 win - Chicago Rush
- Crush Stun Fury 45-42 - Detroit Fury
- Firebirds Can't Keep up with Rush, fall 53-37 - Albany/Indiana Firebirds
- Storm win fifth straight, pull into tie for eighth playoff seed - Tampa Bay Storm
- Soul fall to SaberCats, 48-36 - Philadelphia Soul
- Gladiators fall short against Avengers, 54-51 - Las Vegas Gladiators
- Destroyers outlast Desperados in Texas shootout - Columbus Destroyers
- SaberCats Win Over Soul, 48-36 - San Jose SaberCats
- Desperados Drop Sixth Consecutive Game - 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.
