Dorados Weekly
April 18, 2005 - arenafootball2 (af2)
Rio Grande Valley Dorados News Release
SHORT WEEK BLITZES DORADOS TO CALIFORNIA SEEKING FIRST WIN
GAME #3 FRIDAY RABOBANK ARENA (Bakersfield, CA)
9:00 PM AT BAKERSFIELD BLITZ (1-1)
BROADCASTS: RADIO: ESPN RADIO 1240 AM
The Rio Grande Valley Dorados will once again seek their first win of the season as they remain on the road this week traveling to California to battle the Bakersfield Blitz for their first divisional match-up of the season. The Dorados, making their first trip back to California since a 42-31 loss on May 15, 2004 to the Central Valley Coyotes (Fresno, CA), are trying to keep from falling to an 0-3 mark and shake off a two-game winless streak. Bakersfield is hosting their third consecutive game of the season and split their previous two games against divisional inter-state rivals. They bounced back from a 33-20 loss to Central Valley last Friday night with a 57-30 win over San Diego. The Dorados offense will have another defense test, as Bakersfield comes in ranking second in the af2 in pass defense (69.4 rating allowed) and a red zone defense that ranks among the best in the league allowing teams to score 60% of the time they enter the zone. Rookie defensive specialist Kharee Shorter leads the defensive success for the Blitz, ranking second in the af2 with 20.5 tackles and leading the league with 5 tackles for a loss. Offensively, the Blitzs red zone offense leads the af2 with a 91.7% conversion percentage (11/12). Rio Grande Valley would need a win to remain one win from the top spot in the West Division, as San Diego (1-1) and Tulsa (1-1) collide, meaning at least one team will have two wins on the season.
DORADOS DROP BACK
The Rio Grande Valley Dorados made their first road venture of the season and their first trip ever to Florida, seeking a different result from their season opening loss at home, but the result was worse as the Dorados suffered a 63-30 loss to the defending af2 champion Florida Firecats.
The Dorados thought things couldn't get much worse after limiting themselves to 18 first-half points, but they produced only 12 in the second half. The team was never in sync and that was even after opening the game with a 8-0 lead after a batted ball at the line of scrimmage inside the Firecats own five yard line ended up in the hands of Travis McAlpine, who walked into the endzone. A 'Cats penalty on the extra point set up a Chris Robinson rush to convert the two-point conversion.
Rio Grande Valley's first defensive touchdown of the season opened the door for the Dorados to take control of the game early, but Dorados offense couldn't take advantage of the situation. They were unable to get any points on their first three drives and were unable to gain a first down until their fourth offensive drive, which ended up being their first offensive scoring drive with a nine-yard pass from Josh Kellett to rookie Dwight Counter. By that time, Florida had already posted 23 points, including a safety after tackling kicker Eric Houle in his own endzone once he recovered his own blocked kick.
Houle booted his first field goal of the season, with a 23 yard conversion, with 14-seconds remaining in the half to cut the halftime deficit to 11, trailing 29-18.
The second half started out similar to the first, but the Dorados started the half out with a little trickery. Houle attempted an onside kick, but the Firecats batted the ball into the stands to maintain possession. The Dorados defense made the stand, keeping the Firecats from scoring, but once again could not move the ball offensively. The Dorados, like the first half, were unable to score on their first three drives of the half. Rio Grande Valley tried to change things up in their second drive, placing rookie quarterback J.R. Davies under center, but a pass to Marquis Floyd was ripped away from Floyd's grasp by Brent Burnside for the interception to kill the drive.
Florida went on to register touchdowns on their final four possessions, two of which were scored in three plays combined. The Dorados only highlight came off a 45-yard strike from Kellet to Floyd with five minutes remaining in regulation. It was a one-play drive and the Dorados next possession ended up being a one-play drive as well, but the touchdown was awarded to Florida after Davies re-entered the contest at quarterback and had the ball jarred free in the endzone and was recovered by Florida. The touchdown for Florida gave the 'Cats a 39-point lead (63-24). McAlpine scored a meaningless 16-yard catch in the endzone from Kellett as time expired to end the game with a 63-30 final.
Florida quarterback was near flawless, pleasing the 5,978 fans at Germain Arena with a 20 for 29 passing performance for 6 touchdowns and 249 yards. Three of the touchdowns were to Magic Benton, who claimed Baby Ruth Offensive Player of the Game honors. Lineman Comone Fisher tallied two receptions for 28 yards as an eligible receiver, including a ten-yard touchdown, to claim US Army Ironman of the Game accolades. Fullback Steve Gorrie, an All-af2 fullback, broke the Dorados single-game record for opposing players with 41 rushing yards off 9 carries. Defensive specialist Roy Stabler for Florida earned the game's ADT Defensive Player of the Game.
The Dorados were without receiver Craig Cole, who missed the trip due to injury, and relied on Floyd to produce most of the offensive production. Floyd registered nine catches for 121 yards to lead the Dorados.
BLITZ REPORT (a look at the opponents previous game)
Courtesy of Bakersfield Blitz
Chad Elliott threw five touchdowns and ran in for another to lead the Bakersfield Blitz to a 57-30 win over the San Diego Riptide at the Rabobank Arena on Friday night. Bakersfield improved to 1-1 with the win while San Diego fell to 1-1.
Bakersfields offense came alive early with some help from their fullbacks. Nick Onaindia plunged in from two yards out on the fourth play of the game, and Jabari Jackson rumbled in later in the first quarter to give the Blitz a 13-0 lead. San Diego got on the board with a one-yard touchdown run to cut the lead to 13-6.
Bakersfield added two more scores in the second quarter, with Elliott hitting Eric Mahanke for his first touchdown of the season on their first drive. Anthony Buich scored for San Diego on a quarterback keeper, but the two-point conversion was blocked and returned by the Blitz to cash in for the two points. Nathan Munson added a TD grab to make it 29-12 at the half.
The Blitz ran just five plays in the third quarter but were able to put the game out of reach. Elliott hooked up with Mahanke and Mel Long for a pair of touchdowns to extend their lead to 41-18 with just 15 minutes remaining in the game. Both teams added scores in the fourth, with San Diego getting two more touchdown throws from Buich before his night ended. The Blitz held him to 23-for-44 and 185 yards. Elliott provided the final score by taking a one-yard plunge for his sixth touchdown of the night five through the air and one on the ground. Elliott finished 23-of-33 for 296 yards.
HOW BAD WAS IT?
The 33-point deficit suffered by the Dorados in Florida might not have been the biggest in team history, but it was for Coach Kevin Guy. Of the 50 games Coach Guy has served as a head coach in the af2, the 33-point loss was the worse of his coaching career, topping a 29-point loss to Quad City on 7/19/03. The 0-2 record is also the worse start of his coaching career.
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 s (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 17th vs. Las Vegas Gladiators
The Philadelphia Soul suffered their second consecutive loss, returning home to a 56-49 loss to the Las Vegas Gladiators, as Joe Douglass 27-yard reception from Clint Dolezel with one second remaining won the game. Each team had Dorados ties, as Vegas featured former Dorados head coach Gary Gussman and the Soul have Eddie Moten. Gussman was probably having flashbacks of having Moten on his own team, as Moten led the game in tackles with 8.5 and led the Soul in pass breakups with two. His game totals place him with 54.0 tackles (48-solo, 12-assisted) on the year (ranks tied for 13th in the league and co-leads the team) and his team leading 17 passes defended (break-ups and interceptions) ranks tied for fourth in the AFL, leaving him eight back from leader Jonathan Ordway of Tampa Bay. Moten also has 4 interceptions, which ranks tied for 9th in the league.
Next for Moten: The Soul (5-7) will definitely need a win this week to keep their post season hopes alive, as they face the New York Dragons this Sunday. The contest is scheduled to air on NBC with a noon kickoff. (NBC determines which games are televised in each of their markets and KVEO Channel 23 could air the Soul contest or the Tampa Bay at Nashville tilt).
af2 WEEK 3 REVIEW
Thursday, April 14
MACON 67, Birmingham 50 (2,327)
Friday, April 15
W-B/Scranton 55, ALBANY 37 (5,588)
LOUISVILLE 48, South Georgia 46 (7,079)
MEMPHIS 54, Arkansas 13 (3,570)
BAKERSFIELD 57, San Diego 30 (3,024)
Saturday, April 16
FLORIDA 63, Rio Grande Valley 30 (5,978)
MANCHESTER 59, Green Bay 47 (7,432)
OKC 48, Central Valley 41 (6,527)
QUAD CITY 36, Bossier-Shrev. 29 (5,216)
Bye: Tulsa, Amarillo
Home team in CAPS
af2 WEEK 4 PREVIEW
Friday, April 22
Louisville at Wilkes-Barre/Scranton 6:30 p.m.
Rio Grande Valley at Bakersfield 9:00 p.m.
Saturday, April 23
Manchester at Albany 6:30 p.m.
South Georgia at Florida 6:30 p.m.
Macon at Green Bay 7:00 p.m.
Amarillo at Bossier-Shreveport 7:00 p.m.
Memphis at Birmingham 7:00 p.m.
Quad City at Oklahoma City 7:30 p.m.
Tulsa at San Diego 9:00 p.m.
Arkansas at Central Valley 9:30 p.m.
NATIONAL CONFERENCE / WEST DIVISION STANDINGS
Team W L Pct. PF PA Div. Home Away Streak
Tulsa 1 1 .500 116 113 0-0 0-0 1-1 Won 1
Bakersfield 1 1 .500 77 63 1-1 1-1 0-0 Won 1
Central Valley 1 1 .500 74 68 1-0 0-0 1-1 Lost 1
San Diego 1 1 .500 88 114 0-1 0-0 1-1 Lost 1
Rio Grande Val 0 2 .000 72 119 0-0 0-1 0-1 Lost 2
NEXT HOME GAME
The Dorados next home game will be May 2nd, as the Dorados host the Bossier-Shreveport Battle Wings for some Monday night football 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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