Desperados Fall to League Leading Storm
May 4, 2003 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Dallas Desperados News Release
The Dallas Desperados closed out their 2003 home schedule by falling to the Tampa Bay storm 67-64. Despite the loss, Dallas was still able to clinch a playoff spot thanks to the Indiana Firebirds falling to the Georgia Force 77-56. The Desperados travel to Georgia to take on the Force next Saturday night.
The Dallas defense started the game by forcing the Storm into a 65-yard field goal attempt which was short and returned by Dialleo Burks to the Tampa Bay 23-yard line. Three plays later, Jim Kubiak hooked up with Burks on a four-yard scoring pass. Three plays into Tampa Bay's next possession, Tim Martin sacked John Kaleo, forcing a fumble that Doug Lytle recovered at the Dallas 20-yard line. Unfortunately, Dallas returned the ball to the Storm when Kubiak was intercepted in the end zone by Corey Sawyer. Two plays later, Kaleo hooked up with Antoine Toliver on a 36-yard touchdown to tie the score.
On the first play of the second quarter, Kubiak and Will Pettis connected for a 16-yard touchdown. Toliver returned the ensuing kickoff to the Dallas two-yard line to set up a two-yard Kaleo scoring run. On Dallas' next play, Kubiak was sacked and fumbled the ball with Lawrence Samueld recovering at the Desperados 16-yard line. Kaleo quickly found Clif Dell with a 16-yard scoring toss. On Dallas' next offensive play, Kubiak was intercepted by Samuels, who returned the theft five yards for the touchdown and a 27-14 Storm lead following the missed PAT. The Desperados quickly drove to a one-yard Kubiak-to-Burks scoring pass, but Tampa Bay returned the favor with a 17-yard Kaleo-to-Saunders touchdown pass. Kaleo then connected with Toliver for the two-point conversion. Kubiak quickly answered with a 27-yard Kubiak-to-McCullough scoring pass, then forced Tampa Bay into a 25-yard field goal. The Desperados ran out of downs as the first half clock expired, leaving them with a 38-28 halftime deficit.
The Desperados opened the second half with a six-yard Kubiak-to-Burks scoring pass, but the Storm responded with an 11-yard Kaleo-to-Samuels touchdown. Five plays later, Kubiak and Burks again hooked up from six yards out for the score. Kaleo found Freddie Solomon down the right sideline for a 39-yard touchdown as the third quarter came to an end, giving the Storm a 52-42 lead.
Following a 33-yard Andy McCullough catch and run to the Tampa Bay one-yard line, the Desperados were held on downs at the Storm after four straight running plays. The Storm quickly ballooned their advantage to 16 points as Kaleo and Keita Crespina hooked up on an 18-yard scoring pass (PAT failed). Four plays later, Kubiak was sacked by Troy Wilson and fumbled the ball, which David White recovered at the Dallas three-yard line. White then rushed the final three yards on Tampa Bay's next offensive play for a 64-42 Storm lead (PAT failed) with 4:20 remaining in the game. The Desperados quickly drove to a seven-yard Kubiak-to-Shelley touchdown pass and Kubiak-to-Shelley two point conversion to cut their deficit to 14 points. Jermaine Jones recovered the ensuing onside kickoff for Dallas, leading to a 10-yard Kubiak-to-Shelley touchdown with 0:38 remaining in the game. After Tampa Bay recovered the ensuing onside kick, they were forced into a 22-yard David Cool field goal for a 10-point Storm advantage. Three plays later, Kubiak found Pettis in the end zone with a six-yard scoring pass to cut the Dallas deficit to 67-64 with 0:03 showing on the clock. Tampa Bay recovered the ensuing onside to run out the clock and put an end to the Desperados come-back efforts.
Pettis finished the day for Dallas with 266 all-purpose yards â 78 receiving, -2 rushing, 190 kickoff returns â to establish a new club record for most all-purpose yards in a game.
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Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from May 4, 2003
- AFL Week 14 Game Summaries - AFL I
- Rush Keeps Cobras Winless - Chicago Rush
- Cobras Suffer AFL Record-Tying 14th Loss - Carolina Cobras
- Desperados Start Playoff Push in Georgia - Dallas Desperados
- Desperados Fall to League Leading Storm - Dallas Desperados
- Gladiators Upended by Dragons - Las Vegas Gladiators
- Rampage Fall to Sabercats in Heartbreaker, 56-55 - Grand Rapids Rampage
- San Jose nips Rampage, 56-55 - San Jose SaberCats
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