Despite late comeback, Dusters fall short to Tulsa 58-43
May 2, 2009 - arenafootball2 (af2)
Amarillo Venom News Release
Amarillo, TX - Even after a valiant comeback by the Amarillo Dusters and a one-point fourth quarter lead, the home team fell short Saturday night at the Amarillo Civic Center, 58-43 to the Tulsa Talons.
The Dusters struck on the first play of the game from scrimmage-after an out-of-bounds kickoff placed Amarillo at their own 20 yard line, quarterback COLLIN DRAFTS found ALEX WATSON open in the endzone for a 30-yard touchdown strike. Tulsa wasted no time in responding, as JUSTIN ALLGOOD connected with CARLESE FRANKLIN for a 31-yard touchdown on the Talons' first play from scrimmage. After the exchange, Amarillo led 7-6 (Tulsa failed on their two-point conversion attempt).
Following two injury timeouts, including one in which Dusters offensive lineman LEE TIBBS was carted off the field following a left leg injury, the Dusters re-took the lead on a three yard scamper from KYLE WILSON. Tulsa responded just 2:27 later, on another Franklin touchdown grab (23 yards), and tied the game up after a two point conversion. Driving to score, Drafts threw his only interception of the evening into the hands of Tulsa defensive lineman KAMAU JACKSON. Tulsa would respond with a nine-yard touchdown catch by JEFF HUGHLEY and another two point conversion to capture their first lead of the evening, 22-14, at the conclusion of the first quarter.
Amarillo started the scoring in the second frame, with a KEITA IIZUKA 28-yard field goal, putting the Dusters within five. Tulsa and Amarillo would then exchange rushing touchdowns-Tulsa's on a two-yard JAMAR RANSOM run and Amarillo's on a CRAIG FULTON JR. rush from four yards out-to set the tally at 28-23. With the Talons leading late in the first half, Hughley managed an incredible snare of a 24-yard Allgood pass to put the Talons up 34-23 (following a failed two point conversion). With just 27 seconds to go before halftime, the Dusters were able to drive into Tulsa territory but could not score before time expired, going into halftime down by 11.
The third quarter belonged to Amarillo, as the Dusters forced a fumble on Tulsa's first drive of the second half. After a Franklin catch, JOHN KING jarred the ball loose in the defensive secondary, with the loose pigskin picked up by Dusters defensive end T.J. NICKLEBERRY. Amarillo would drive and score, with BRENT CRAFT plucking a nine-yard Drafts pass out of midair for the touchdown. Tulsa surged back, and just two minutes later scored on an ANTWAN FLOYD two-yard run. Down 42-29, Craft reached paydirt once again for the Dusters, this time on a 32-yard bomb from Drafts. Back within a single score (42-36), Amarillo's DARIUS PETTIGREW picked off an Allgood pass at his own five, giving the Dusters their second takeaway of the third quarter.
Helped by several Tulsa penalties, the Dusters would score on the ensuing drive-once again, Craft pulled in the touchdown pass from Drafts. This time, it was on a crucial fourth down play from the Tulsa seven yard line. After the Iizuka extra point, Amarillo had their first lead of the second half, 43-42, with 11:31 on the clock in the fourth quarter.
The Dusters comeback, while complete, proved insufficient at curtailing the Talons' offense. Allgood led a scoring drive that culminated in a Hughley 19-yard touchdown catch with 8:55 left in the game and gave the Talons a 50-43 lead. After an Amarillo three-and-out, Tulsa struck again through Hughley, this time from three yards out, to solidify the final score at 58-43 with only 1:59 left on the clock. Amarillo's offense could not muster a final scoring drive late en route to their fifth consecutive loss.
The story of the game, despite the Tulsa victory, may have been Craft. After the receiver was a healthy scratch for the Dusters' last two games (against Corpus Christi and Oklahoma City), he prevailed for nine catches and 91 yards against Tulsa, including three touchdowns. The first-year Duster also recorded a pair of tackles on special teams to round out his effort.
Amarillo will be back in action on Monday, May 11 at 7:30 PM as they visit the Rio Grande Valley Dorados. Game coverage will be carried on KPUR-FM 107.1 in Amarillo, and through af2TV worldwide-visit www.dustersfootball.com for more information.
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