Dorados Wrap Up Season In Wichita

July 30, 2004 - arenafootball2 (af2)
Rio Grande Valley Dorados News Release


HIDALGO, TX: July 30, 2004 – It has been a season of ups and downs for the inaugural Rio Grande Valley Dorados of the arenafootball2 (af2) league, but unfortunately several heartbreaking losses has kept this season mostly on a down note. The 5-10 Dorados finish up their season Saturday in Wichita, Kansas against the 8-7 Wichita Stealth in a contest that is meaningless in the standings for the Dorados, but highly important for the Stealth.

The af2 released their National Conference playoff scenarios Tuesday and there are 30 different playoff scenarios riding into this weekend's action. Wichita is currently the seventh seed in the conference and holds the spot due to strength of schedule, because they have the same record as San Diego and Hawaii. Only the top six seeds advance into the playoffs, and Louisville, Quad City, and Peoria hold 9-6 records, placing them just ahead of Wichita. Louisville plays Quad City this weekend, so one those two teams will garner an additional win. A win for Wichita places their focus on the af2 scoreboard to see if things sort out in their favor with games elsewhere around the conference, but a loss to the Dorados ends the Stealth's season. The Dorados know that a couple of breaks in the opposite direction could have possibly placed them with the playoff contenders, but the Dorados mindset now is to end their season on a winning note and to put an end to the Stealth's season just as theirs is coming to an end. Even though the Dorados have nothing to play for in a standings sense, they do have a couple of things to play for on a team and individual level. A win would give the Dorados a 6-6 division record and give them winning series over Oklahoma City (2-1), Laredo (2-1) and Wichita (2-1), leaving the Tulsa Talons as the only division opponent the Dorados were unable to gain a winning record over. Individually, Dorados lineman and the af2's active sacks leader (23) Spencer Conley enters the contest with 8.5 sacks and co-leading the af2 in the category with Oklahoma City's James Landers. Oklahoma City has already completed the regular season, so Conley has an opportunity to jump into the league lead, while also trying to avoid a slew of defenders sitting with 8 and 7.5 sacks. It would be a tough accomplishment for Manwell Talbert to hit the 1,000 yard mark in receiving yards, but he could get to 900, as he currently has 837 receiving yards and also leads the Dorados with 22 offensive touchdowns (20 receiving). Talbert has tallied a touchdown in 9 consecutive games. Rookie quarterback and Rio Grande City native Abel Gonzalez will start at quarterback and is one touchdown shy of his 30th passing touchdown of the season. Quarterback Caleb Slover is also seeking some individual goals. Slover, who began the season in Macon, is 126 yards away from 2,000 on the season. He relieved Gonzalez late in Saturday's contest against Arkansas and threw for 150 yards in the fourth quarter, placing him 72 yards away from 1,000 yards as a Dorado. Finally, Dorados defensive specialist Eddie Moten has seven interceptions on the season and is two behind the af2 lead. Moten recorded af2 ADT Defensive Player of the Week honors after their previous meeting with Wichita, which he picked up two interceptions against the Stealth.

Kickoff for Saturday's game in Wichita is at 7PM from the Kansas Coliseum. The contest can be heard live on ESPN Radio 1240 AM with Chris Due calling the action. The broadcast will begin at 6:40 PM with the pre-game show featuring head coach Gary Gussman.

The Dorados have already wrapped up their home schedule and filled the Dodge Arena to an average of 99.2% capacity with six out of eight games sold out. To enquire about tickets and advertising packages for the 2005 season, please contact the Dorados offices at 956-843-7825 or visit the Dorados online at www.doradosfootball.com.



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