Dorados ABEL to End Winless Streak
July 4, 2004 - arenafootball2 (af2)
Rio Grande Valley Dorados News Release
A quarterback change at halftime led to a change of momentum as well, as the Rio Grande Valley Dorados went on a 28-0 run to start off the second half in route to a 49-34 victory to end their seven-game winless streak and improve their record to 4-8 in front of 5,000 fans at the Dodge Arena in Saturday night arenafootball2 league action.
It was a typical first quarter for the Dorados, who were outscored 105-54 coming into the contest. Wichita scored on their first and third play from scrimmage to open up with a 14-0 advantage. The Dorados finally got on the board with 6:42 remaining in the first quarter, as starting quarterback Caleb Slover hit Craig Cole with a 4 yard completion in the endzone to complete a four-play 45-yard drive. The Dorados had a chance to tie the contest on their next offensive drive, which resulted from a Dorados interception by Eddie Moten that was returned to the Wichita 4 yard line, but Slover's pass into the endzone on the ensuing play was picked off by Wichita's Norman Mason. Wichita's offensive drive was short-lived, as quarterback Jonathan Beasley had a pass picked off by newly acquired Dorado Eric Spencer, which gave the Dorados another opportunity to tie the contest. The Dorados would end up turning the ball over on downs, opening the door for Wichita to extend their lead. Facing 4th and goal from the six yard line, Bealey scrambled up in the pocket and decided to tuck the ball and run but as he was hit at the five, he was hit back behind the line of scrimmage and as he was going down he was able to toss the ball towards the endzone to a wide open Anthony Griffin. Griffin caught the ball for the fourth down conversion building the Stealth lead to 21-7. The two teams traded touchdowns on their next possessions, as Wichita's Brian Livingston scored on a 26-yard touchdown completion to answer Manwell Talbert's 10-yard touchdown catch, keeping the Wichita lead at 14. The Dorados had one final chance to cut into the Wichita lead to close out the half, but Norman Mason grabbed his second interception of the game off of Slover and the Dorados settled with the 28-14 halftime score.
Dorados Head Coach Gary Gussman decided to change things up in the second half by making a move at quarterback and replacing Slover, who was 8 of 15 for 97 yards with 2 touchdowns and 2 interceptions, with Rio Grande City native Abel Gonzalez. The change turned out to be exactly what the Dorados needed, along with the "breaks" that came soon after, which is something the Dorados have not seen during the long winless streak. Gonzalez tossed a short third down pass to Ronshay Jenkins along the right boards. Jenkins caught the ball, but as he hit the wall the ball bounced free and was grabbed in the air by Mason. It was the turning point of the game, as the officials denied Mason his third interception by ruling that Jenkins was out of bounds when he hit the boards, giving the Dorados back the ball and the catch was good enough for a first down. The Dorados scored on the very next play with a 34-yard completion to Jenkins in the endzone to cut the deficit to 28-21. On the following kickoff, kicker Eric Houle placed the kick off the bottom iron of the netting system, which sent the ball over the return man and onto the turf. It was no other than Jenkins coming into the play and recovering the loose ball to set-up a Manwell Talbert rushing touchdown from one-yard out to tie the game 28-28. Ricardo Dyson would recover a fumble on the next Wichita drive for the Dorados, who then converted with the opportunity by driving down 48-yards in 5 plays and setting up Chris McIver with a four yard rushing touchdown for his first touchdown of his pro career to give the Dorados a 35-28 lead. They continued extending their lead, as Gonzalez looked left and threw right to Craig Cole, who marched 15-yards down the right side to complete the 26-yard touchdown hook-up. Trailing 42-28, Wichita was able to get their first points of the second half with a Brian Livingston 1 yard rushing touchdown. The PAT was missed and the Dorados continued to lead 42-34. The Stealth attempted an onside kick, but Jenkins recovered the ball and the Dorados did not have far to go, as Abel Gonzalez completed a two-play four-yard drive with a one-yard touchdown scamper to complete the game's scoring at 49-34.
With the win, the Dorados evened up their season series with Wichita at 1-1. Gonzalez finished the game 7 of 11 for 112 yards and 2 touchdowns for a 137.1 passing rating to earn the Baby Ruth Offensive Player of the Game Award. Jenkins was at the right place at the right time to earn the US Army Ironman of the Game. Dorados defensive specialist Eddie Moten had a whale of a game defensively with 2 interceptions, 6 tackles and 6 pass deflections.
The Dorados will remain home next week and will host the Oklahoma City Yard Dawgz, who destroyed the Central Valley Coyotes 69-35. Wichita will head to Tulsa, who defeated the Laredo Law 60-40.
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