Dorados Have Bye-Week To Shake Off Hard Loss
June 1, 2004 - arenafootball2 (af2)
Rio Grande Valley Dorados News Release
ANOTHER HEARTBREAKING LOSS FOR DORADOS
DORADOS HAVE BYE WEEK BEFORE HOSTING TULSA
HIDALGO, TX: June 1, 2004 â The Rio Grande Valley Dorados will not have to wait too long to seek revenge for their 51-38 Friday night loss to the Tulsa Talons, as the Dorados will host the Tulsa Talons following this week's "bye week" in their next game scheduled for Saturday, June 12th at the Dodge Arena.
The loss was the fourth consecutive loss for the 3-5 Dorados and it was another contest lost in the final seconds. Trailing 45-38 in the fourth quarter, Rio Grande Valley started their offensive drive from their own one yard line. Eight plays and four Tulsa penalties later, the Dorados faced first down and goal from the two yard line with less than 30-seconds remaining in the game. McKinley Bowie took the Abel Gonzalez handoff for a rush up the left side and tried to power his way through several Talon defenders, but was held up at the goal line and had the ball stripped away by Bjorn Barre on his way down. Barre ended up recovering the fumble and returning it 49 yards the other direction to increase the Talons lead to 51-38 and seal the win.
It was the second fumble returned for a touchdown by the Talons in the game. In the opening quarter, Tulsa scored all 12 points off of Dorados fumbles. Tulsa's Tony Agee hit Gonzalez from behind in the backfield to record the sack and fumble, which was jumped on by Tulsa's Robert Reed at the Dorados three yard line. That led to a Talons two-play three yard touchdown drive for their first points in the game. On the following Dorados offensive drive, Tulsa's Ahmad Willis blindsided Gonzalez in the offensive backfield forcing a fumble, which was recovered by Rashan Hall and ran back 9 yards for a touchdown, giving the Talons their first lead 12-7.
The Dorados eventually got their offense going in the first half and received 10-yard touchdown receptions from Bowie and Manwell Talbert, and a professional best 46-yard field goal from Eric Houle to give the Dorados their first road halftime lead of the season 23-19. Tulsa responded in the second half and went 4-for-4 grabbing touchdown results on their offensive drives. Their possessions were aided by great kickoff returns by Barre, which placed their average starting offensive field position at midfield. Lawrence Pullen had a huge debut in his first game as a Dorados member. The offensive specialist from Waco and Stephen F. Austin St. returned the opening kickoff 49-yards for his af2 all-time leading 12th kickoff return for a touchdown. Pullen was a free agent acquisition that was added to the roster on Wednesday and the kickoff return was the first time he touched the ball in a Dorados uniform. He tallied 256 of the 332 all-purpose yards for the Dorados, including a game-high 81 receiving yards off of 7 receptions. Pullen had 2 second half touchdown receptions for the Dorados.
Rio Grande City native Abel Gonzalez received the start at quarterback, but unfortunately is still seeking his first victory at the helm. Gonzalez was 15 of 32 passing for 148 yards and 4 touchdowns. He is 32 of 61 for 316 yards passing with 9 touchdowns and no interceptions in two games as the starting quarterback for the Dorados.
The Dorados now relax this week before reuniting next week and preparing to battle Tulsa, who plays Wichita this week. The Talons come to the Dodge Arena on June 12th to battle the Dorados and individual tickets are currently on sale and may be purchased by stopping by the Dodge Arena offices (2600 N. 10th St. in Hidalgo, Tx) or contacting them by phone at 956-843-7825. Additional ticket information and corporate opportunities are available by contacting the Dorados offices at 956-843-7825 or visit the Dorados online at www.doradosfootball.com.
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