Dorados close out regular season on a Blitz

July 25, 2005 - arenafootball2 (af2)
Rio Grande Valley Dorados News Release


GAME #16 SATURDAY CHASE FIELD AT DODGE ARENA 7:30 PM VS BAKERSFIELD BLITZ (6-9)

BROADCASTS: TV: TELEVISA RADIO: ESPN RADIO 1240 AM WEBCAST VIDEO: af2TV.com

The Rio Grande Valley Dorados (9-6) close out the regular season Saturday night in division style, as they host the Bakersfield Blitz (6-9). The Dorados not only look for a win to gain momentum heading into the playoffs, but they also look to end a two-game winless streak. It is the first two-game winless streak since the opening two weeks of the season. They ended that streak with a win over Bakersfield and they look to do the same this weekend in attempt to grab the #3 or #4 seed in the Northern Conference Playoffs, which includes hosting a first round contest. Rio Grande Valley enters the meeting with a 6-1 West Division record.

DORADOS DROPBACK

The Rio Grande Valley Dorados were involved in a fight with some canines Saturday night in arenafootball2 action, resulting in good news and bad news. The Dorados suffered their worse home loss in franchise history with a 71-40 loss to the Oklahoma City Yard Dawgz in front of a disappointed 5,519 fans at Chase Field/Dodge Arena, but the fans can rest easy knowing that the Dorados clinched their first playoff spot in club history due to the Central Valley Coyotes 69-57 loss to the Memphis Xplorers.

Oklahoma City set the tone of the game by stopping the Dorados on a fourth down and goal-to-go opportunity from the one yard line on the Dorados opening drive. Rio Grande Valley fell behind early and couldn't get anything going to catch the Yard Dawgz, who were led by the precise arm of quarterback Craig Strickland. The Yard Dawgz tallied scores on their first six drives and Strickland completed his first six passes of the game to open the game. Strickland, who finished the night as the Offensive Player of the Game by completing 17 of 22 passes (77.2%) for 260 yards and six touchdowns, did not throw his second incomplete pass until late in the third quarter.

The 'Dawgs signal caller shared the wealth in the first half, completing touchdown passes to Al Hunt (five yards), Brandon Daniels (30 yards) and Jarrail Jackson (28 yards). Oklahoma City's other first half scores came on behalf of a 28-yard field goal by AJ Haglund and a fumble recovery by Cliff Holloman, who was recovering their own fumble from the one-yard line. The Dorados tried to keep pace in the first half, with touchdowns from Dwight Counter (five yard pass from Josh Kellett), Marquis Floyd (2 yard run) and Stephan Lewis (11 yard pass from Kellett), and went into the locker room after the first half trailing 31-21.

Rio Grande Valley kicked off to begin the second half and the 'Dawgz continued right where they left off from the first half. Strickland hit Daniels for a 17-yard touchdown pass to open the third quarter and then found Jackson for a 13-yard touchdown pass to build a 44-21 third quarter lead. The 'Dawgz defense did their part as well, keeping the Dorados off the scoreboard for the entire third quarter. It was just the third time this season the Dorados went scoreless in the third period of play.

They did open the fourth quarter scoring with Kellett connecting with Floyd for a season leading 48-yard touchdown reception to cut the deficit to 44-28. Teams began trading scores, as Floyd caught a five-yard touchdown pass to answer Strickland's one-yard touchdown run, but the Dorados were unable to answer Jackson's nine-yard touchdown catch. Kellett fumbled the ball in his own endzone and it was gobbled up by Curtis Bolden, who was a lineman that began the season in camp with the Dorados, with 4:15 remaining. That closed Kellett's night with 298 yards off an 18 of 36 (50%) passing performance with four touchdowns thrown. It snapped a streak of four consecutive games in which he had completed at least 66% of his passes. J.R. Davies came in the rest of the way for the Dorados, going three-of-six for 28 yards and a seven-yard touchdown to Floyd. Oklahoma City closed their scoring with a five-yard touchdown run by Walter Taylor.

Oklahoma City ended the game with three rushing touchdowns and eight rushing attempts for 46 yards. Jarrail Jackson, who leads the af2 in all-purpose yards, finished the night as the games' all-purpose yards leader with 209 yards. Daniels led the 'Dawgz in receiving with 110 yards off a pair of touchdowns. Floyd earned US Army Ironman of the Game honors with a game high 159 yards receiving off seven catches and four touchdowns (3 receiving and a rushing touchdown). The ADT Defensive Player of the Game accolade was presented to Rickie Davis, who had four tackles, a tackle for a loss and a pair of pass breakups.

PLAYOFF PICTURE

With one game remaining, we take a look at the playoff picture in the af2's National Conference. In the af2, the top six teams in the conference qualify for the playoffs, with division-leading teams receiving first round byes.

1. Memphis 11-3
2. Tulsa 11-4
3. Quad City 9-6
4. Oklahoma City 9-6
5. Rio Grande Valley 9-6
6. Amarillo 8-7

Dorados Playoff Scenarios -

Games remaining of importance: Quad City @ Louisville, Tulsa @ Oklahoma City, *Amarillo at Arkansas
*= a loss by Amarillo would keep them as the #6 seed

What if the Dorados, Oklahoma City and Quad City each win this weekend?: The 3-5 seeds remain the same.

What if Quad City and Rio Grande Valley each win this week and Oklahoma City loses?: The Dorados would end up as the #4 seed and host a playoff game on Sunday, August 7th at 6 PM against the #5 seed (Oklahoma City).

What if Amarillo, Oklahoma City and Rio Grande Valley each win this weekend and Quad City loses?: The Dorados would end up as the #4 seed and host a playoff game on Sunday, August 7th at 6 PM against the #5 seed (Amarillo).

What if Oklahoma City and Rio Grande Valley each win this weekend and Quad City and Amarillo each lose?: The Dorados would end up as the #4 seed and host a playoff game on Sunday, August 7th at 6 PM against the #5 seed (Quad City).

What if Rio Grande Valley and Amarillo each wins this weekend and Quad City and Oklahoma each lose?: The Dorados would end up as the #3 seed and host a playoff game on Sunday, August 7th at 6 PM against the #6 seed (Amarillo).

What if Amarillo wins and Oklahoma City, Quad City and Rio Grande Valley each lose this weekend?: The Dorados would end up as the #6 seed and would spend the first round on the road with a game on Saturday, August 6th at 7 PM against the #3 seed (Amarillo).

What if Amarillo, Oklahoma City, Quad City and Rio Grande Valley each lose this weekend?: The Dorados would end up as the #5 seed and would spend the first round on the road with a game on Saturday, August 6th at 7 PM against the #4 seed (Oklahoma City at the Cox Center and not the Ford Center in OKC).

What if Oklahoma City, Quad City and Amarillo each wins and Rio Grande Valley loses this weekend?: The Dorados would end up as the #6 seed and would spend the first round on the road with a game on Saturday, August 6th at 7:30 PM against the #3 seed (Quad City).

What if Amarillo and Oklahoma City each win and Quad City and Rio Grande Valley each lose this weekend?: The Dorados would end up as the #6 seed and would spend the first round on the road with a game on Saturday, August 6th at 7 PM against the #3 seed (Oklahoma City at the Cox Center and not the Ford Center in OKC).

What if Amarillo and Quad City each win and Oklahoma City and Rio Grande Valley each lose this weekend?: The Dorados would end up as the #6 seed and would spend the first round on the road with a game on Saturday, August 6th at 7:30 PM against the #3 seed (Quad City).

What if Oklahoma City wins this weekend, but Amarillo, Rio Grande Valley and Quad City each lose?: The Dorados would end up as the #5 seed and would spend the first round on the road with a game on Saturday, August 6th at 7:30 PM against the #4 seed (Quad City).

What if Oklahoma City and Quad City each win this weekend, but Rio Grande Valley and Amarillo lose?: The Dorados would end up as the #6 seed and would spend the first round on the road with a game on Saturday, August 6th at 7:30 PM against the #3 seed (Quad City).

What if Quad City wins this weekend, but Oklahoma City, Rio Grande Valley and Amarillo lose?: The Dorados would end up as the #5 seed and would spend the first round on the road with a game on Saturday, August 6th at 7:30 PM against the #4 seed (Oklahoma City at the Cox Center and not the Ford Center in OKC).

ON THE MENU

At each home game, the Rio Grande Valley Dorados will have tailgating outside the Dodge Arena sponsored by Budweiser, Clear Channel, and Dodge beginning at 4PM on game-days. Each tailgate event will feature live musical acts and will feature a marquee food item for grillers and tailgaters to cook. Judges will give out prizes for the best of the selected food item prepared by fans. For Saturday, fans are encouraged to prepare the best beef ribs for judging.

NEXT HOME GAME

The Dorados next home game is Saturday, July 30, as the Dorados host the Bakersfield Blitz at Chase Field inside the Dodge Arena. Individual tickets for the game and all other home games are already on sale. Season ticket packages and advertising opportunities are still available by contacting the Dorados offices at 956-843-7825. Additional info can also be found by visiting the Dorados online at www.doradosfootball.com.



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