Dorados Break the Law 37-6
April 4, 2004 - arenafootball2 (af2)
Rio Grande Valley Dorados News Release
The Rio Grande Valley Dorados opened their inaugural season Saturday night with a 37-6 lopsided victory over the Laredo Law in a sold-out Dodge Arena (5,600).
The Dorados struck first and never looked back, scoring on their opening drive as quarterback Will Burch tossed a 9 yard pass to newly acquired Dorado Craig Cole. Laredo answered back with a scoring attack of their own in their next possession. Law QB Josh Rogers found Martino Theus streaking past the Dorados defense and he hit him up for a 45-yard touchdown reception. Brian Hegnaur's extra point was no good and that was as close as the Law would get to the Dorados.
Rio Grande Valley rolled off 30 consecutive points from there and never looked back. 17 of the points came in the second quarter as Will Burch threw a 26 yard pass to Mike Duncan before Abel Gonzalez stepped in at quarterback and connected with a game-high 33-yard strike to Cole. Gonzalez' touchdowns were at key times, which helped put the game out of reach, as he was 2 for 4 in the game and both receptions ended up being touchdowns. He closed out the scoring with an 11-yard touchdown pass to Preston Hartfield in the fourth quarter.
Laredo tried and tried to get things going offensively, but went eight consecutive drives without gaining any points. They even started a drive at the Dorados own 13 yard-line after the Dorados missed an onside kick opportunity, but the Law turned the ball over on downs at the three yard line. Rogers had his head on a swivel all night long, scrambling away from Dorados defenders in his backfield. He was sacked 5 times and two of which by ADT Defensive Player of the Game Karleton Thomas. Thomas also had 4.5 of the Dorados 10 tackles for a loss. While the Dorados were 4 of 5 in trips to the Red Zone, the Law were 0 for 4 and were also held to 2 of 13 in third down conversions and 1 for 7 in fourth down conversions.
Preston Hartfield earned the US Army Ironman of the Game honors with a touchdown reception and 61 yards off 5 catches on offense to go along with three tackles and some big hits on defense.
The Dorados now prepare for their first road game, as they face another expansion team next weekend in the Oklahoma City Yard Dawgz. The Yard Dawgz opened their season Saturday night as well and recovered from losing a 15-point lead in the final minute by winning in overtime 70-63 at Tulsa.
Box Score (Final) Score by Quarters 1 2 3 4 Score ----------------- -- -- -- -- ----- Laredo Law.......... 6 0 0 0 - 6 Record: (0-1) Rio Grande Valley Do 7 17 7 6 - 37 Record: (1-0)
Scoring Summary: 1st 12:27 R - COLE,CRAIG 9 yd pass from BURCH,WILL (HOULE,ERIC kick), 4-19 2:33, L 0 - R 7 01:07 L - Martino Theus 45 yd pass from Josh Rodgers (Brian Hegnaur kick failed), 1-36 0:14, L 6 - R 7 2nd 14:00 R - DUNCAN,MIKE 26 yd pass from BURCH,WILL (HOULE,ERIC kick), 4-36 15:59, L 6 - R 14 03:10 R - COLE,CRAIG 33 yd pass from GONZALEZ,ABEL (HOULE,ERIC kick), 2-28 0:55, L 6 - R 21 00:00 R - HOULE,ERIC 26 yd field goal, 3-0 0:09, L 6 - R 24 3rd 03:17 R - TALBERT,MANWELL 6 yd pass from BURCH,WILL (HOULE,ERIC kick), 4-30 2:28, L 6 - R 31 4th 09:11 R - HARTFEI,PRESTON 11 yd pass from GONZALEZ,ABEL (HOULE,ERIC kick failed), 2-20 0:37, L 6 - R 37
L R FIRST DOWNS................... 8 9 RUSHES-YARDS (NET)............ 14--36 7-21 PASSING YDS (NET)............. 184 161 Passes Att-Comp-Int........... 38-17-2 29-12-1 TOTAL OFFENSE PLAYS-YARDS..... 52-148 36-182 Fumble Returns-Yards.......... 0-0 0-0 Punt Returns-Yards............ 0-0 0-0 Kickoff Returns-Yards......... 4--19 2-45 Interception Returns-Yards.... 1-0 2-1 Punts (Number-Avg)............ 0-0.0 0-0.0 Fumbles-Lost.................. 0-0 0-0 Penalties-Yards............... 9-41 11-55 Possession Time............... 38:40 21:20 Third-Down Conversions........ 2 of 13 3 of 6 Fourth-Down Conversions....... 1 of 7 0 of 0 Red-Zone Scores-Chances....... 0-4 4-5 Sacks By: Number-Yards........ 1-11 5-23
RUSHING: Laredo Law-Melvin Phillips 2-3; Erick Gonzalez 1-0; Rocky Perez 3-minus 4; Josh Rodgers 8-minus 35. Rio Grande Valley Do-Jamison Holmes 3-17; Jason Null 1-7; GONZALEZ,ABEL 3-minus 3.
PASSING: Laredo Law-Josh Rodgers 15-26-1-155; Rocky Perez 2-12-1-29. Rio Grande Valley Do-BURCH,WILL 10-25-1-117; GONZALEZ,ABEL 2-4-0-44.
RECEIVING: Laredo Law-P.J.Winston 7-75; Martion Theus 5-79; Melvin Phillips 3-20; C.J. Richardson 1-6; Erick Gonzalez 1-4. Rio Grande Valley Do-HARTFEI,PRESTON 5-61; COLE,CRAIG 3-48; TALBERT,MANWELL 3-26; DUNCAN,MIKE 1-26.
INTERCEPTIONS: Laredo Law-Arron Fletcher 1-0. Rio Grande Valley Do-DAVIS,NICK 1-1; COLE,CRAIG 1-0.
FUMBLES: Laredo Law-None. Rio Grande Valley Do-None.
Stadium: Dodge Arena Attendance: 5600 Kickoff time: 7:45 End of Game: 10:00 Total elapsed time: 2.25 Officials: Referee: Dave Malone; Umpire: Ruben Flower; Linesman: Bradford Edward; Line judge: Wayne Winckler; Back judge: Frank Lablanc; Temperature: Wind: Weather:
Baby Ruth Offensive Player of the Game: A. Gonzalez (RGV) US ARMY Ironman of the Game: P. Hartfield (RGV) ADT Defensive Player of the Game: K. Thomas (RGV)
Laredo Law vs Rio Grande Valley Do (Apr 03, 2004 at Hidalgo, Texas)
SACKS (UA-A): Laredo Law-Ariel Famaligi 0-1; John Amarro 0-1. Rio Grande Valley Do-Karleton Thomas 2-0; HARTFEI,PRESTON 1-0; Jason Null 1-0; Danny Perez 1-0.
TACKLES (UA-A): Laredo Law-Rachal Traco 5-2; Martion Theus 4-0; Melvin Phillips 2-1; John Amarro 1-3; Arron Fletcher 1-3; Joe Strandhardt 1-1; B'Jay Jones 1-0; Ariel Famaligi 1-1; Rodney Jones 0-1; P.J.Winston 0-1; C.J. Richardson 0-1. Rio Grande Valley Do-DAVIS,NICK 4-2; Raymond James 4-0; Karleton Thomas 4-1; COFER,JIMEL 3-1; WITHERS,BRENT 2-2; TALBERT,MANWELL 2-1; Danny Perez 2-0; HARTFEI,PRESTON 2-1; DUNCAN,MIKE 2-0; Jason Null 1-1; Jamison Holmes 1-1; Tim Cook 1-1; GARDNER,RICO 1-0; HOULE,ERIC 1-0; COLE,CRAIG 1-0; WELLS,DONTE 1-0; CONLEY,SPENCER 0-2; Diego Saenz 0-1.
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