Desperados Game Notes

Published on March 3, 2003 under Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Dallas Desperados News Release


QUICK FACTS:
Dallas Desperados (3-2) vs. Colorado Crush (1-4)
Series Record: First meeting in series.
Last Meeting: First meeting in series.
Series Streak: First meeting in series.
Coaches: Joe Avezzano (11-10, 2nd Year) Bob Beers (1-4, 1st Year)
Radio: KTCK, The Ticket (1310-AM) George Dunham, Greg Williams KRVA (Spanish, 1600-AM) Victor Villalba
TV: UPN 21 (Ch. 21 in Dallas-Ft. Worth) Brad Sham, Mickey Spagnola (shown on tape delayed basis at 9:30 p.m.)

Season Series: This week's game will mark the first meeting between the Desperados and Crush. Colorado is participating in its inaugural Arena Football League season this spring.

Series Notables:

* Sunday will mark the first time these teams have faced other.

* The Desperados were moved from the Western Division to the Central Division prior to the 2003 season to accomodate the arrival of the Crush.

* The Colorado franchise is run by former NFL great John Elway.

A Desperados Win Would:

* Allow Dallas to take a 1-0 series advantage.
* Give the Desperados a 2-0 record against the Western Division this season.
* Improve Dallas' record at Reunion Arena to 4-0, including a 3-0 record this spring.
* Mark the Desperados fourth vicotry in eight all-time games against Western Division teams.
* Give Dallas a victory in their franchise first Friday night game.

DESPERADOS & CRUSH

The Desperados return home this week to face the expansion Colorado Crush on Friday night at Reunion Arena.

THIS WEEK

Following this week's game, the Desperados will host Central Division rival Grand Rapids Rampage on Sunday, March 16. Next week, the Crush will travel to the desert to take on division rival Arizona Rattlers on Sunday, March 16.

NEXT WEEK

For breaking news, press releases, statistics and rosters, visit the official website of the Dallas Desperados, www.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 (11-10, 2nd 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.

Bob Beers (1-4, 1st Year)

Bob Beers was named the Crush s inaugural head coach on July 11, 2002, shortly after the league announced Colorado s participation in the 2003 season. Beers came to the Crush after spending eight years (1995-2002) as a Denver Broncos collegiate scout. Prior to the Broncos, he was the offensive coordinator of the Amsterdam Admirals (1995) of NFL Europe after serving as head coach/athletic director at Western Montana (1993-95). He made his professional coaching debut with the Frankfurt Galaxy (1990- 92) of NFL Europe as the team s offensive line coach/assistant head coach. He served in the same capacity with Montana (1986-90) after a successful 11-year career as a high school coach. He was the defensive coordinator at Montana Tech (1972-74) after beginning his coaching career as a graduate assistant at Montana (1970-71).

The Desperados snapped their two-game losing streak with a heart-stopping 65-64 overtime victory over the Arizona Rattlers at America West Arena.

Dallas opened the scoring with a 13-yard Jim Kubiak-to-Dialleo Burks scoring pass. Three plays later, Arizona got on the scoreboard with a 17-yard Sherdrick Bonner-to-Randy Gatewood touchdown (PAT failed). The Desperados took a 14-6 lead on a five-yard Kubiak-to-Luke Leverson scoring pass. The Rattlers trimmed their deficit to one with a 21-yard Bonner-to-Tom Pace scoring pass as the first quarter expired.

Arizona opened the second period with an onside kick, which they recovered, but three plays later Will Pettis picked off Bonner in the end zone. Dallas took three plays to up their lead as Kubiak hit Andy McCullough with a 17-yard scoring toss. Three plays later, Bonner connected with Orshawante Bryant with a 30-yard touchdown pass. Dallas took a 28-20 lead when Kubiak hit Burks with a five-yard touchdown pass, but Arizona responded with a one-yard Bonner scoring run. Kubiak then hooked up with Shannon Culver for a 16-yard touchdown pass with 0:19 remaining in the half, but as the half expired, Bonner connected with Hunkie Cooper on a 14- yard scoring pass for a 35-34 Dallas advantage at halftime.

On the first play of the second half, Bonner found Pace with a 40- yard touchdown pass to give Arizona the lead. Dallas responded with a six-yard Kubiak-to-McCullough scoring toss to reclaim the lead. Bonner then found Bryant with a 36-yard scoring strike, but the Desperados quickly answered with a one-yard Kubiak scoring jaunt that left the score tied at 48-48 following the missed PAT.

Arizona re-took the lead to start the fourth quarter when Bonner and Chris Horn hooked up on a 22-yard scoring strike. Dallas responded with a one-yard Kubiak touchdown run to tie the score.

Dallas then held Arizona to a 39-yard Nelson Garner field goal. On Dallas' next play, Kubiak was intercepted, but Culver forced a fumble on the return which Kubiak recovered. Six plays later, the Desperados tied the score with a 34-yard Jason Wells field goal with 0:49 remaining. The Rattlers then drove to the Dallas 17-yard line, but Garner missed a 32-yard field goal attempt at the game clock expired.

Arizona recovered an onside kick to open the overtime period and proceeded to take a six point lead and a one-yard Bonner-to- Horn scoring pass and a missed PAT. Dallas then put together a seven play drive that was culminated with a 10-yard Kubiak-to- Culver scoring pass. Dallas claimed the victory when Wells converted the ensuing extra point attempt.

The victory marked the Desperados second overtime victory in three overtime games in the club's short history.

2003 BIG PERFORMANCES

The 2003 season has started with several of the club's best performances. Here's a look at a few:

QB Jim Kubiak - threw for 326 yards (club second best) against New York (2/2), 325 yards (club third best) at Detroit (2/16) and 387 yards (club best) at Arizona (3/2). His 71.9 completion percentage at Detroit (2/16) is the club's third best single-game completion percentage.

OS Dialleo Burks - caught 11 passes (tied club fourth best) for 188 yards (club best) at Detroit (2/16). He caught 12 passes (club third best) at Arizona (3/2)

OL/DL Tom Briggs - has totaled 4.5 sacks on season, the most sacks in a single season in club history. Dallas' 357 total offensive yards against New York (2/2) is a club second best and the 325 at Detroit (2/16) is the club's third best behind the club-best 380 yards at Arizona (3/2). The 224 total yards surrendered to Chicago (2/9) ties the club's second lowest yards surrendered figure.

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Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from March 3, 2003


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