Desperados Win Slugfest With Soul
April 16, 2007 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Dallas Desperados News Release
DALLAS - The first person Clint Dolezel celebrated his 800th career touchdown pass with Monday night was Philadelphia Soul defensive back Eddie Moten. And it wasn't a friendly exchange.
Dolezel's verbal spat with Moten and subsequent head-butt from the Soul's star defender was merely a sample of the physical - and at times hostile - confrontation between the Eastern Division rivals. The Desperados (7-0) left American Airlines Center with their perfect record intact, but Monday's 51-41 victory over Philadelphia (4-2) didn't come without a few bumps and bruises.
"Our whole game plan was to come out and play physical because they say we don't play physical," Desperados lineman Colston Weatherington said.
Dolezel followed the plan, too. He became the first quarterback in league history to reach 800 career touchdown passes, just ahead of injured VooDoo quarterback Andy Kelly (793). But he didn't savor the milestone until after his brief staredown with Moten early in the third quarter.
Desperados receiver Marcus Nash had to retrieve the "800" ball for his longtime teammate and close friend.
"It didn't dawn on me until then because I was so emotional and mad," said Dolezel, who took exception to a previous verbal jab from Moten, who had intercepted him four times in last year's two Soul victories over the Desperados.
Dolezel's record-breaking 46-yard touchdown pass to Willis Marshall appeared to spark the Desperados' offense, which took a 30-27 lead over Philadelphia and didn't look back. The Soul turned the ball over on downs on the ensuing drive - one of eight stops by the Dallas defense - and never regained the lead.
Dolezel finished 20-of-41 for 285 yards and five touchdowns, pushing his career touchdown mark to 802. Pettis led all receivers with six catches for 55 yards and a touchdown.
The Desperados forced four turnovers (three interceptions, one fumble) and knocked Soul quarterback Tony Graziani out of the game with a separated shoulder in the second quarter. Backup Juston Wood threw for 213 yards and five touchdowns but was picked off three times - all in the fourth quarter.
"Part of our defensive game plan was to allow our defensive front to get there," McClay said of the Desperados' pass rush, which frustrated Wood and Graziani. "We're a man coverage team. We played a little bit more zone, made them see ghosts a little bit and guys made plays on the football."
With 9:52 remaining, Pettis ended Philly's comeback with a diving interception in the end zone. Nash ran for a 1-yard touchdown seven plays later to stretch the Desperados' lead to 51-34, and then rookie defensive back Bobby Keyes intercepted Wood on the Soul's next drive.
The Desperados also withstood the Soul's physical play and occasional theatrics, including some late hits and trash talk. McClay called his players together after Dolezel's 800th career TD pass and implored them not to retaliate.
"I basically told them you don't want to get in a down and dirty match with people that are down and dirty," McClay said. "You want to be above that. You want to have better class than that and get after them between the whistles. That takes away from what we're trying to do as a team and as a league."
The Desperados increased their Eastern Division lead heading into Saturday's showdown with former backup quarterback Chris Greisen and the Georgia Force to 2½ games over Philly. But even after celebrating a signature moment in his 12-year career, Dolezel focused more on what his team needs to fix.
"Eight stops and we won by 10 points. That's disgusting on the offensive side," he said. "We've got issues and we've got to fix them in a hurry."
Fortunately, that seven-game winning streak provides a nice-sized cushion.
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