Dorados To Host Alabama In First Round
Published on July 29, 2007 under arenafootball2 (af2)
Rio Grande Valley Dorados News Release
HOUSTON, TX - The Rio Grande Valley Dorados wrapped up the No. 1 seed in the National Conference, as well as the best record in arenafootball2 at 15-1, with a 40-19 victory over the Texas Copperheads Saturday night at the Richard E. Berry Center. The Dorados also became just the third team in af2 history to go a perfect 8-0 on the road while winning their 13th overall game in a row.
The Dorados racked up 219 yards and scored five touchdowns. They also added to their af2 record sack with three in the game to give them 64 overall.
Quarterback Josh Kellett, who finished the game 23-of-47 for 200 yards and four TDs, connected with Coco Blalock in the end zone twice in the first half and hit Dwight Counter to open up a 14-point lead with 2:29 left in the third quarter.
The Copperheads, though, showed some promise for their 2008 campaign through the leg of Nick Gatto. Gatto captured the af2 title in field goals made (20) and attempted (53) by hitting from 40 and 42 yards. He once again picked up for an offense that struggled the entire season, which included being shutout by Bossier-Shreveport in the first month of the season and a 10-yard offensive output late in the year.
Texas' season finale was no different as it recorded only 93 total offensive yards. Quarterback Tony Eckert was 10-of-27 for 103 yards and one rushing touchdown. He was also picked off three times. A fumble by Eckert late in the game cost the Copperheads an opportunity to tie the game late in the loss.
After Gatto's two field goals, the Copperheads broke a touchdown-drought of 160 minutes and 18 seconds with a one-yard push with 42 seconds left in the first half.
A 14-yard screen pass to Booker Jenkins gave the fullback his first touchdown of the year and helped Texas pull back to within one possession early in the fourth, but Jermaine Carpenter took away all of the Copperheads' momentum with a 50-yard return of the ensuing kickoff for a touchdown.
With the win, Rio Grande Valley clinched the top seed in the National Conference playoffs and will host the Alabama Steeldogs next Sunday at 4:05 PM.
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