Desperados Game Notes
Published on February 10, 2003 under Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Dallas Desperados News Release
QUICK FACTS: Dallas Desperados (2-0) @ Orlando Predators (2-0)
Series Record: Orlando leads 1-0.
Last Meeting: Orlando 44, @ Dallas 41
Series Streak: Predators won only meeting.
Coaches: Joe Avezzano (10-8, 2nd Year) Fran Papasedero (11-8, 2nd Year)
Radio: KTCK, The Ticket (1310-AM) George Dunham, Greg Williams KRVA (Spanish, 1600-AM) Victor Villalba
TV: NBC Sports (Ch. 5 in Dallas-Ft. Worth) Tom Hammond, Pat Haden, Lewis Johnson
Season Series: The Desperados and Predators closed out the 2002 regular season against each other in Dallas. In a battle that was fought to the wire, Orlando scored with 6.1 seconds left to take a 44-41 lead and had to watch as Jason Wells missed a game-tying 48 yard field goal as the clock expired.
Series Notables:
* Sunday is the teams' first meeting in Florida.
* There were 11 combined field goal attempts in the clubs first meeting last summer (Dallas - 4-of-7, Orlando 1-of-3).
* The Desperados set a team record with three interceptions against the Predators in their first meeting.
A Desperados Win Would:
* Allow Dallas to tie the all-time series at 1-1.
* Secure the Desperados first 3-0 start in club history.
* Mark Dallas' first road victory this spring.
* Improve the Desperados all-time road record to 5-3.
* Give Dallas a 2-1 all-time record against Southern Division teams.
* Mark the Desperados first victory in the state of Florida.
DESPERADOS & PREDATO R S
The Desperados play their first road game of the season as they travel to Orlando to take on the Predators at TD Waterhouse Centre.
THIS WEEK
Following this week's game, the Desperados travel to Detroit, MI, to take on the Fury at The Palace of Auburn Hills. The Predators travel to Charlotte, NC, next week to take on the Carolina Cobras in their new home, Charlotte Coliseum.
NEXT WEEK
For breaking news, press releases, statistics and rosters, visit the official website of the Dallas Desperados, w w w.dallasdesperados.com. Updated daily, www.dallasdesperados.
com has the most extensive information on upcoming games. The Desperados website is also a great place to find information on players and coaches, order tickets for upcoming games and purchase Desperados merchandise.
HEAD COACHES
Joe Avezzano (10-8, 4th Year)
After establishing himself as one of the top assistant coaches in the NFL, Joe Avezzano made a name for himself last spring as an Arena Football League head coach.
Avezzano led the expansion Desperados to a 7-7 regular season record and a trip to the quarterfinal round of the playoffs.
This success helped the club win the prestigious Commissioner s Award. Avezzano was the Dallas Cowboys special teams coach from 1991-2002, earning NFL Special Teams Coach of the Year honors three times. Before coming to Dallas, he coached collegiately at Texas A&M (1985-88), Oregon State (1980-84), Tennessee (1977-79), Pittsburgh (1973-76), Iowa State (1969-72) and Florida State (1968). He starred at guard for Florida State before being drafted by the Boston Patriots.
Fran Papasedero (11-8, 2nd Year)
Fran Papsedero took over the reigns in Orlando in 2002 and led the team to the semifinal round of postseason play after posting a 7-7 regular season record. With nine total victories last spring, he became one of only six coaches in AFL history to post nine wins in their first season as a head coach. Before becoming head coach, Papasedero spent four seasons (1998-01) as the Predators offensive/defensive line coach. Prior to the 2001 season, he added Director of Player Personnel, defenisve coordinator and assistant head coach duties to his job description. Prior to joining the coaching ranks, he spent five years playing as an Arena Football League lineman with Albany (1993), Massachusetts (1994), St. Louis (1995-96) and Nashville (1997).
Game Notes
The Dallas Desperados upped their record to 2-0 for the first time in franchise history with a 46-38 victory over the Chicago Rush Dallas was led by game MVP Andy McCullough, who caught seven passes for 118 yards and 2 touchdowns. OL/DLTom Briggs was named Ironman of the Game after posting three tackles and two sacks on defense while catching a 19-yard pass on offense.
The Rush opened the scoring when Jamie McGourty rumbled in from one yard out (PAT failed). Dallas got on the scoreboard with a 28-yard Jason Wells field goal. Chicago then drove to the Dallas 15-yard line before Keith Gispert missed a 30-yard field goal.
Early in the second quarter, Dallas took the lead with a six-yard Jim Kubiak-to-Will Pettis touchdown pass. Chicago quickly responded when Billy Kicken connected with Dameon Porter on an eight-yard scoring pass for a 13-10 lead. Kubiak then hooked up with McCullough on a 31-yard touchdown pass to restake Dallas with the lead. The Rush quickly added a 24-yard Gispert field goal. After Jason Wells had a 34-yard field goal blocked as the half expired, Dallas took a 17-16 lead into halftime.
Three plays into the second half, Kubiak found McCullough for a 33-yard gain before finding Dialleo Burks with a seven-yard scoring pass. On Chicago's next play, Dicken found Anthony Ladd deep down the middle for a 24-yard touchdown. The Desperados put together a six play drive that was capped by a one-yard Patrise Alexander scoring jaunt. On fourth-and-10 from their own sevenyard line, Chicago's Gispert missed a 62-yard drop-kick field goal attempt that Carl Greenwood returned to the Chicago 11-yard line.
On Dallas' next play, Kubiak connected with McCullough on an 11- yard touchdown pass and a 36-23 lead. Four plays later, Kareem Larrimore intercepted Dicken at the Dallas seven-yard line to thwart a Rush scoring chance as the third quarter ended.
Five plays into the fourth period, Kubiak found Burks in the end zone with a six-yard scoring pass and a 43-23 Dallas lead. After changing quarterbacks, Chicago's Chad Salisbury was picked off by Will Pettis deep down the left sideline, which Pattis returned 16 yards to the Dallas 23-yard line. The Desperados were unable to capitalize as Wells missed a 34-yard field goal. Salisbury then led the Rush to a 19-yard Salisbury-to-Antonio Chatman scoring pass.
After Dallas recovered the ensuing on-side kick, Wells converted a 30-yard field goal for a 46-30 Desperados lead. Chicago then scored on an 11-yard Salisbury-to-Porter touchdown pass and Salisbury-to-Chatman two-point conversion to cut their deficit to eight points with 0:41 remaining in the game. Dallas recovered the ensuing on-side kick and ran out the clock to secure the victory.
VS. THE PREDATORS
Here's how a few Desperados have performed against the Predators during their careers:
* Tom Briggs - eight tackles, a stop for a loss, a sack, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery in two games.
* Shante Carver - three tackles, a pass defensed and an interception in one game.
* Shannon Culver - seven catches for 79 yards in two games.
* Jim Kubiak - 21-of-28 for 218 yards and five TDs in one game.
* Kareem Larrimore - career-high nine tackles, two passes defensed, an interception, five kickoff returns for 148 yards and two MFG returns for 26 yards in one game.
* Doug Lytle - five tackles, including career-high tying three in 2000, and a tackle for a loss in two games.
* Andy McCullough - six catches for 70 yards and a touchdown and a tackle for a loss in one game.
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