Dorados Go Xploring
Published on January 30, 2004 under arenafootball2 (af2)
Rio Grande Valley Dorados News Release
DORADOS ASSIGNED TWO PLAYERS FROM MEMPHIS
HIDALGO, TX: January 30, 2004 â The Rio Grande Valley Dorados of arenafootball2 (af2) made their first trade in franchise history Monday, acquiring lineman Spencer Conley from the Memphis Xplorers in return for future considerations. The af2 also assigned quarterback Will Burch, who played with the Xplorers last season, to the Dorados for the 2004 season.
"Will is a veteran in the af2 and he brings knowledge and experience, which is a big factor," said Dorados Head Coach Gary Gussman. "Spencer is another player that brings a wealth of knowledge of this game and he was recommended to me by Defensive Coordinator Tony Missick, who coached Spencer in Norfolk."
Conley, a 6'3" 290-pound offensive and defensive lineman comes to the Dorados after spending last season with the af2's Albany Conquest. In Albany, Conley played in 11 games and racked up 20 tackles and a team leading 8 sacks, which tied for sixth in the league. He also led the Conquest in tackles for a loss with 6 to rank tied for 11th in the league. Conley earned ADT Defensive Player of the Week honors by the af2 during the ninth week of last season. Albany had sent Conley's rights to Memphis in December to complete a trade between Memphis and Albany, and now the Dorados will owe Memphis future considerations to complete trade between the Xplorers and the Dorados. He began his af2 career in 2001 with the Norfolk Nighthawks and became acquainted with Nighthawks Defensive Coordinator Tony Missick, who now serves as the Dorados Defensive Coordinator. Conley grabbed 6.5 sacks in 8 games with Norfolk and set the af2 single-game record for sacks with 4.5, which stood until this past season. During the 2002 season, Conley appeared in 2 playoff games with the Cape Fear Wildcats. The 31 year-old Conley attended Trinity Valley Community College in Athens, Texas, but left early to take his game to the pro level. He turned pro in the Canadian Football League (CFL), but did not have to report to Canada, as he signed with the San Antonio Texans in 1998 season, which was their only season in the CFL. Conley also appeared in one game in the Arena Football League during the 1994 season with the Fort Worth Cavalry. Over his af2 career, Conley has 32 tackles, 14.5 sacks and 2 forced safeties in 19 games.
Burch, a 27 year-old native of Centreville, Virginia, brings four years of af2 experience to the Dorados. His most recent stop was with Memphis, where he appeared in three games last season and threw for 399 yards and 7 touchdowns. Like Conley, Burch had a previous working relationship with Dorados Defensive Coordinator Missick, but it was during the 2002 season while Missick was serving as Norfolk's Head Coach. During the 2001 season, Burch played with Macon, Columbus and with the af2 Champion Quad City Steamwheelers, where he backed up af2 Player of the Year Jay McDonagh. Burch had a brilliant career during his rookie season (2001), playing in 15 games with the Roanoke Steam and threw for 3,124 yards and 65 touchdowns. He established himself a 97.14 quarterback rating to rank eighth in the af2. He also set the af2 single-game record for touchdown passes with 10 against Charleston, but the record would only hold for one week. Over his af2 career, Burch has included 5,600 passing yards off of 447 completions (in 822 attempts) and 102 passing touchdowns. Burch was a two-sport star (baseball, football) at East Stroudsburg University (PA) and played three seasons (96-98) with the Warriors football squad. He earned the starting role his senior season (1998) and threw for 1,764 yards and 20 touchdowns. Burch tossed for 1,980 yards and 23 touchdowns in his college career.
arenafootball2 Stories from January 30, 2004
- Dorados Go Xploring - Rio Grande Valley Dorados
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