Dorados Weekly Notes
July 11, 2005 - arenafootball2 (af2)
Rio Grande Valley Dorados News Release
DORADOS PREPARE FOR CLASH WITH THE TALONS... FIRST PLACE ON THE LINE
The Rio Grande Valley Dorados have won eight of their last nine games and face their biggest challenge of the season this Saturday night as they battle the Tulsa Talons for a battle of first place in the National Conference's West Division. Both teams are bringing in 9-4 records and a win by the Dorados would not only keep them in first place of the division, which they currently hold due to a one-point 65-64 victory over Tulsa on June 11, but it would also clinch a playoff spot for the second-year franchise. A loss would place the Dorados in second place of the division with two games remaining. They would not be able to clinch if they lose. The Dorados are 0-4 all-time in games played in Oklahoma and are 0-2 all-time in Tulsa.
DORADOS DROPBACK
The Rio Grande Valley Dorados went into the French influenced state of Louisiana and registered a 66-52 win in Canadian fashion, as Canadian born quarterback J.R. Davies drove the Dorados to a victory over the Bossier-Shreveport Battle in his first professional start. The win improves the Dorados record to 9-4, keeping them in first place in the West Division, and places the Dorados one step closer in their goal of a return trip to Bossier City's CenturyTel Center, which is the host location of The 2005 ArenaCup.
Davies, a rookie out of Canada's Simon Fraser University, wears a special af2 label as an International Player since he is from Port Moody, British Columbia. His performance tonight was a special one for him and the Dorados as well, as he earned Offensive Player of the Game honors by completing 23 of 34 passes for 263 yards and 5 touchdowns. He opened the contest completing his first five passes and helped the Dorados bust out a 21-3 first quarter lead with a pair of touchdown tosses to Dwight Counter and a game high 40-yard scoring pass to Deorrick Henry.
Rio Grande Valley received a franchise best 26-yard touchdown run by Chris Robinson in the second quarter and eventually built a 35-15 lead in quarter, but then the tide turned in favor of the Battle Wings. After a four-yard touchdown pass from Brent Rawls to Adrian Burnette with 20-seconds remaining in the half, the Battle Wings ensuing kickoff hit off the netting-iron and was recovered by the 'Wings at the one-yard line. Rawls rushing score from a yard out placed the Battle Wings deficit to 35-29 with 14-seconds remaining in the half. Eric Houle ended up closing the half with a franchise high 50-yard field goal as time expired to place the halftime lead to 38-29.
The halftime lead, which was only the fourth halftime lead for the Dorados this season, would end up evaporating in the third quarter by Brian Hazelwood 21-yard field goal and a Reggie Perkins 10-yard touchdown catch that tied the score 38-38. The Dorados came right back with a 14-yard touchdown pass to Marquis Floyd, but Eric Houle missed the PAT, which ended his career high streak of consecutive PATs at 30, to hold the Dorados lead to 44-38. That allowed the Battle Wings to take a 45-44 lead after a 38-yard touchdown pass to Chris Highshaw with 9:28 remaining.
The Dorados picked up some key defensive plays the rest of the way and three rushing touchdowns to pull the game out. Robinson, who was named US Army Ironman of the Game, had two of the rushing touchdowns while Darvell Bivens picked up his first of the season. The Dorados registered a franchise high four as a team. Curtis Jeter collected his first interception of his 64-game career on the game's final play to clinch the victory.
Rio Grande Valley's defense forced three interceptions in the game and held the Bossier-Shreveport 0 for 6 on third down conversions. They held Rawls to 15 completions on 37 attempts.
THE af2's NEW "GUY"
With the Dorados win Saturday, combined by the loss of Birmingham's game to Macon, Dorados Head Coach Kevin Guy has tied Birmingham Steeldogs Head Coach Bobby Humphrey with 48 af2 coaching wins during the regular season to now co-leads the af2 in all-time regular season coaching wins. Guy, who adds a current 9-4 record with Rio Grande Valley to a 39-9 mark over three seasons with the Tennessee Valley Vipers, can be in sole possession of first place in the category for the first time ever if the Dorados defeat Tulsa and Birmingham loses on the road in South Georgia. A win by the Dorados this week would also be Coach Guy's 50th all-time af2 coaching victory if postseason coaching records are included (categorized as overall af2 coaching wins). Bobby Humphrey is the current overall leader with 50 wins.
Dorados Playoff Scenarios -
The Dorados can claim a Playoff Spot if: They win over Tulsa
What if the Dorados and Tulsa have an even record at the end of the regular season?: If Tulsa and Rio Grande Valley both have even records at the end of the regular season, here is the tiebreaker to determine conference positioning... 1) Head to Head Record (Dorados currently lead 1-0)... 2) If tied in head to head record, then the points for/points allowed differential is used (Dorados currently lead by 1 point)... 3) If tied, then the winning percentage of common opponents is used (Currently led by Tulsa, who holds a 7-1 record while the Dorados hold a 6-2 record. Tulsa has one remaining game against Oklahoma City remaining while the Dorados still play Oklahoma City and Bakersfield, who are each common opponents of Tulsa).
What if a team has a better record than the Dorados, but the Dorados are first in the division?: They still receive a bye week and would serve as the number 2 seed in the conference.
What if the Dorados and Memphis have an even record at the end of the regular season (this scenario would also depend on the Dorados division leading status)?: Since the two clubs do not play each other, the tiebreaker of record verses common opponent will be used. Currently each team is 2-2 against common opponents, with Memphis having Central Valley and Bossier-Shreveport remaining on their schedule, while the Dorados still have common opponents Tulsa and Oklahoma City left on theirs.
What if the Dorados and Oklahoma City have an even record at the end of the regular season (and the Dorados are not division champs)?: With one game remaining between the two clubs, the Rio Grande Valley Dorados would have to win the game and defeat the Yard Dawgz by 24 points. If they win by 25 or more, then they claim the tiebreaker, but if they win by 24, refer to tiebreaker #3 in the Tulsa scenario. What if the Dorados and Central Valley have an even record at the end of the regular season?: Rio Grande Valley owns the advantage of the tiebreaker with a 2-0 head to head record against Central Valley
What if the Dorados and Amarillo have an even record at the end of the regular season (this scenario would also depend on the Dorados division leading status?: The only two Texas teams do not meet in the regular season so in records against common opponents, the Dorados hold an 8-3 record (72.7%) advantage over Amarillo's 7-3 (70%) record, but the Dorados three remaining games (Tulsa, Oklahoma City and Bakersfield) are all against common opponents while Amarillo has one remaining game (Tulsa) against a common opponent.
What if the Dorados and Quad City have an even record at the end of the regular season? Since these two teams do not play each other, the winning percentage against common opponents is used as the tiebreaker. Currently, Quad City is 3-3 (50%) against common opponents with two games remaining (Louisville and Bossier-Shreveport) and the Dorados are 2-3 (40%) against common opponents with one game remaining against a common opponent (Oklahoma City).
What if the Dorados, Central Valley and Quad City have a three way tie at the end of the regular season?: This is the fun one, as Quad City and Rio Grande Valley both have the current tiebreaker advantage over Central Valley. Central Valley can not gain an advantage but has a slight glimmer of hope against Quad City. They need to have a win over Memphis and must have Quad City lose this weekend to Amarillo to even up their winning percentage against common opponents with Quad City to force an additional tiebreaker, which is point for/points allowed differential.
NEXT HOME GAME
The Dorados next home game is Saturday, July 23, as the Dorados host the Oklahoma City Yard Dawgz at Chase Field inside the Dodge Arena. 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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