Dorados' surge no match for Talons
June 21, 2008 - arenafootball2 (af2)
Rio Grande Valley Dorados News Release
Hidalgo, Texas- Despite a second half surge in which they outscored their opponents 49-23, the Rio Grande Valley Dorados couldn't climb back from a 35-3 first half deficit in a 58-52 loss to the Tulsa Talons Saturday night at the Dodge Arena.
The loss, which was Rio's fourth in a row, drops the Dorados to 4-8, whileTulsa improves to a league-best 11-1.
Rio QB Tiger Lyon (5-15-1, 31 yards) made his first pro start for RGV, but was limited to first half action after he and his receivers struggled to connect. Travis Cole (24-37-0, 313 yards) led the Rio comeback, throwing five TDs and running one of his own.
The Talons took advantage of a Jermaine Carpenter fumble at the Tulsa 20-yard line which eventually resulted in a Jermaine Fandrum TD to make it a 14-0 game. Brian Hazelwood posted Rio's only first half points a 46-yard field goal giving the Talons a 14-3 lead going into the second quarter.
RGV took advantage of an injury to Tulsa starting QB Justin Allgood (15-24-0, 4TD, 128 yards) to spark the comeback effort.
Rio came out firing with a 24 point surge in the third quarter starting with a 57-yard kickoff return by Carpenter at 12:34. Cole then connected with Travis McAlpine on a 4-yard pass at 7:08, and then another Cole connection with Anthony Chambers on a 15-yard pass at 1:15 diminishing the Talons lead 41-27 going into the final quarter.
The Dorados continued to push through till the very end, coming within 11 points after a 34-yard touchdown pass from Cole to Carpenter. Tulsa fired back with a 20-yard pass from Derek Rasmussen to Hughley at 9:18 of the fourth and tacked another TD with 2:38 left when Jermaine Landrum returned an onside kick six yards into the end zone.
Rio was able to make it a six-point game after a 15-yard touchdown run by Cole with nine seconds left.
The Dorados have next weekend off and return to action on July 4 at Bossier-Shreveport.
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