Friday's Dorados Game Preview
August 8, 2007 - arenafootball2 (af2)
Rio Grande Valley Dorados News Release
THE GAME: Talk about a grudge match. The Dorados and Battle Wings split their two regular season games, each at on visiting turf, in games that came down to last minute plays and plenty of back and forth trash talk.
Quincy Carter's 24-yard TD pass to PJ Winston with 2.9 seconds left on the clock game the Wings a 52-48 victory at Dodge Arena on April 21.
On July 14, the Dorados traveled to the Century Tel Center and came away with a 42-39 win. George Williams had the difference-making TD catch, a 23-yard reception with 1:23 left in the game.
Expect emotions to run high in this game. The Dorados were flagged for 14 penalties and 101 yards the last time the teams met and had three players (Chris Canty, Quinton Staton, Nate Bell) ejected in the first quarter). Rio countered that they were penalized for retaliating on Bossier players. At any rate, the Wings had one player ejected and were assessed just 37 yards on six penalties in the game.
Tempers flared before the game, with Rio players responding to Bossier management's attempts to distract them with children's music during warm-ups. That led to an on-field verbal confrontation between several Dorados and Wings owner Dan Newman.
The game will take on special attention in South Texas because of Carter's presence. The former Dallas Cowboys QB is in his first season of the af2 game. Despite missing four games, he finished with the sixth-best total offense per game average (274.8) and the best offensive average per play total at 8.3 yards.
The Dorados and Battle Wings were ranked 1 and 2, respectively, in af2 sacks this season. But the Dorados had the advantage in the regular season series, sacking Carter four times for 19 yards while the Wings couldn't get at Rio QB Josh Kellett. That includes three sacks in the last meeting, with the defense also stepping up for a 38-yard fumble return TD (Canty) and a 22-yard interception return TD (Andre Goines).
Bossier's Elex Reed was last week's co-ADT Defensive Player of the Week after setting a new league postseason record 3.5 sacks against the Arkansas Twisters. Reed also forced two fumbles and recovered one fumble in the team's first-ever postseason contest. He finished sandwiched between Rio's Quinton Staton and Keenan Washington in the af2 regular season sack category.
Both Kellett and Carter matched up with close to identical numbers over the two games, with Carter holding a slight edge.
If the rushing game becomes a factor, keep an eye on Bossier's Jason Schule. He ran for 54 yards on 14 carries in the regular season series, and rushed for four TDs in last week's playoff win.
Regular season leaders, RGV vs. BOS
RGV
Passing
Kellett 87-50-5, 564 yards, 10 TD
Receiving
Williams 15/174, 7TD
BOS
Passing
Carter 80-46-3, 566 yards, 12 TD
Receiving
Williams 17/129, 5TD
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