Dorados Weekly Notes
April 4, 2005 - arenafootball2 (af2)
Rio Grande Valley Dorados News Release
FIRE PREVENTION WEEK BEGINS, AS DORADOS OPEN SEASON SATURDAY HOSTING LOUISVILLE FIRE
GAME #1 SATURDAY CHASE FIELD AT DODGE ARENA 7:30 PM VS LOUISVILLE FIRE (0-0)
BROADCASTS: RADIO: ESPN RADIO 1240 AM TV: TELEVISA XERV (CH.9/19) WEBCAST VIDEO: af2TV.com
The Rio Grande Valley Dorados open up their second season Saturday night at Chase Field inside the Dodge Arena, hosting the Louisville Fire. It is the first ever meeting between the two teams and the third ever meeting for Dorados Head Coach Kevin Guy against the Fire. Guy, who brings three seasons of af2 head coaching experience from Tennessee Valley, makes his debut as the Dorados head coach with a 2-0 all-time personal record against the Fire. Rio Grande Valley is 1-0 all-time in season openers, while the Fire are 2-2 in home openers after winning their previous two (Guy is 3-0 over his career in season openers). The Fire are coming off a 9-7 season and their first playoff season in the club's four-year history. Their roster features quarterback Matt Sauk, who played under Coach Guy in Tennessee Valley and tossed for 4,098 yards and 84 touchdowns in 2003 under his guidance. On the defensive side, Arkee Thompson recently joined the Fire and is looking to extend his career af2 record mark for interceptions. Thompson, who began this season as a teammate of former Dorado Eddie Moten with the Arena Football League's Philadelphia Soul, currently has 27 interceptions over his af2 career and in his last season with the Fire (2003), he set the Fire's singles-season record with 10.
FINAL ROSTER MOVES MADE
The Dorados made their final training camp roster moves to comply with league roster rules over the weekend by placing wide receiver / defensive backs Mario Butler, Jimmy Landrom, Moses Lewis and kicker Jonathan Feig on re-assignment. The club also placed defensive specialist Pierre Thomas and lineman Gathan McGinnis on Short-Term IR. The moves gave the Dorados 22 active players. af2 rules state teams are not permitted to have more than 21 active players and that international players do not count against the number. Quarterback J.R. Davies is a native of Port Moody, British Columbia (Canada), qualifying him as an international player on the Dorados roster.
THE E-WATCH
Former Dorados defensive specialist Eddie Moten is the first and only player to advance his playing career from the Dorados to the higher level and is currently the youngest member of the Arena Football League âs (AFL) Philadelphia Soul. Moten, who was a rookie last season for the Dorados out of Texas A&M-Kingsville, co-led the af2 last season in interceptions with 10 and led the af2 in interception return yards with 124 yards. Each week we will keep tabs on his progress in AFL action:
Sun. April 3rd vs. Columbus Destroyers
The Philadelphia Soul set a franchise high with their third consecutive win, as the destroyed the Columbus Destroyers 62-45. Moten had a third consecutive solid outing and earned his second ADT Defensive Player of the Game honor of the season (second in the past three games). He collected his third interception of the season and also registered 8 tackles (all solo). His game totals place him with 40.0 tackles (35-solo, 10-assisted) on the year (ranks tied for 19th in the league and co-leads the team) and his team leading 15 passes defended (break-ups and interceptions) ranks tied for fourth in the AFL, leaving him four back from leader Jonathan Ordway of Tampa Bay. Moten also has 3 interceptions, which ranks tied for 12th in the league.
Next for Moten: The Soul (5-5) will hit the road Sunday, as they head to Denver to face the red hot American Central Division leading Colorado Crush (7-2 and winners of 6 straight) at noon, in a contest to be carried on NBC. (NBC determines which games are televised in each of their markets and KVEO Channel 23 could air the Soul contest or the San Jose at Chicago contest).
af2 WEEK 1 REVIEW
Friday, April 1
W-B/SCRAN. 59, Oklahoma City 47 (5,105)
Florida 35, MACON 32 (3,484)
AMARILLO 62, Tulsa 55 (3,704)
Saturday, April 2
Central Valley 33, BAKERSFIELD 20
Sunday, April 3
Memphis 63, BOS.-SHREVEPORT 24 (1,301)
Bye: Rio Grande Valley, San Diego, Quad City, Albany, Green Bay, Louisville, Manchester, Arkansas, Birmingham, South Georgia Home team in CAPS
af2 WEEK 2 PREVIEW
Friday, April 8
Florida at Manchester 6:30 p.m.
Albany at Green Bay 7:00 p.m.
Memphis at Amarillo 7:00 p.m.
Saturday, April 9
Macon at South Georgia 6:30 p.m.
San Diego at Birmingham 7:00 p.m.
Tulsa at Bossier-Shreveport 7:00 p.m.
Oklahoma City at Arkansas 7:00 p.m.
Louisville at Rio Grande Valley 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, April 10
Quad City at Wilkes-Barre/Scranton 3:00 p.m.
Bye: Bakersfield, Central Valley
NATIONAL CONFERENCE / WEST DIVISION STANDINGS
Team W L Pct. PF PA Div. Home Away Streak
Central Valley 1 0 1.000 33 20 1-0 0-0 1-0 Won 1
Rio Grande Val 0 0 .000 0 0 0-0 0-0 0-0 -
San Diego 0 0 .000 0 0 0-0 0-0 0-0 -
Tulsa 0 1 .000 0 0 0-0 0-0 0-1 Lost 1
Bakersfield 0 1 .000 20 33 0-1 0-1 0-0 Lost 1
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 beef fajitas and the best homemade salsa for judging.
WHEN DOES IT START
The Dorados kick-off their 2005 campaign April 9th at the Dodge Arena, as they host the Louisville Fire. 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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