Mistakes Cost Desperados in 53-51 Loss
March 6, 2005 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Dallas Desperados News Release
DALLAS - Last Sunday, the Dallas Desperados made up for their rash of penalties with an offensive onslaught against Philadelphia that resulted in a 29-point victory.
Dallas lived dangerously again Saturday night but got burned this time by arguably their toughest - and most opportunistic - opponent to date.
The Desperados (4-2) turned the ball over three times and committed 10 penalties for 63 yards in a 53-51 loss to the New Orleans VooDoo (5-1) at American Airlines Center.
"It's a good football team," Desperados head coach Will McClay said of the VooDoo, who entered Saturday's game in a four-way tie with Dallas and two other teams for the AFL's best record. "You can't turn the ball over, you can't commit stupid penalties, you can't do dumb stuff. And we did."
Despite their sloppy performance, the Desperados trailed 46-43 with a chance to take the lead late in the fourth quarter. But quarterback Clint Stoerner threw his second interception of the game, giving New Orleans the ball back with 2:18 remaining.
The Desperados defense forced New Orleans into a fourth-and-13 situation from its own 8-yard line. But VooDoo quarterback Andy Kelly, scrambling to avoid a swarm of defenders, connected with WR/LB Thabiti Davis for a crucial first down with 43.2 seconds left.
Three plays after the big conversion, Kelly put the game away with a 28-yard touchdown strike to Davis.
"We pretty much had to go for it," Kelly said of the fourth-down call. "If we tried to kick a long field goal, we'd have only been up by six if we made it. It would have given them the ball with the chance to run the clock out and win the game. We didn't want to do that. We'd rather have the ball in our hands."
The Desperados entered Saturday's game with the league's best pass defense (200.8 yards/game), but were shredded by the VooDoo's receiving duo of Davis (nine catches, 98 yards, three touchdowns) and Aaron Bailey (eight catches, 120 yards, two touchdowns).
Kelly, who led the Desperados to the playoffs in their inaugural 2002 season, completed 21-of-38 passes for 230 yards, six touchdowns and one interception. Stoerner, meanwhile, turned in arguably his worst performance of the season. One week after throwing for a career-high eight touchdowns against Philadelphia, Stoerner's three turnovers - two interceptions and a fumble - led to 17 New Orleans points.
"We lost as a football team," said McClay, visibly disgusted over his club's recurring mental mistakes. "It doesn't matter what (No.) 12 does or whatever. We lost as a football team."
After managing only three points in the first quarter, the Desperados finally gained some momentum midway through the second period after tying the game at 10-10. On the ensuing kickoff, rookie defensive specialist Bobby Perry recovered the live ball off the net in the end zone for a touchdown to give the Desperados a 17-10 lead.
Perry, who also intercepted Kelly in the third quarter to set up a Desperados touchdown, was named the U.S. Army Ironman of the Game. Desperados offensive specialist Jason Shelley (nine catches, 81 yards, one touchdown) was named Offensive Player of the Game, while VooDoo defensive specialist Alvin Porter (one interception) took home ADT Defensive Player of the Game honors.
Both teams traded scores throughout the second half, but the Desperados made a critical error at their own 11-yard line leading 43-38 in the fourth quarter. A botched snap on Carlos Martinez's attempted field goal led to a turnover on downs and gave New Orleans the ball deep in Dallas territory. Kelly eventually found Bailey for a touchdown, and a two point conversion game the VooDoo a 46-43 lead it never relinquished.
It doesn't get any easier for the Desperados, who start a two-game road trip next Sunday against the Austin Wranglers (1-4). McClay knows his team must take advantage of its opportunities - and clean up the turnovers - to prevent a potential losing streak.
"We didn't make plays when we had the opportunity to make plays," McClay said. "In Arena Football it's gonna be a close game. You don't try and do too much, you do your job and let the chips fall where they may. We didn't do our job."
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Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from March 6, 2005
- Storm blast Rampage, 70-50, to pick up third win - Tampa Bay Storm
- Kats roar back, but fall by seven - Nashville Kats
- Rampage engulfed by Storm, 70-50 - Grand Rapids Rampage
- Soul fall 61-54 in Fuller's head coaching debut - Philadelphia Soul
- Rush hold off Kats, 45-38 - Chicago Rush
- SaberCats Stop Skid With Win Over Orlando - San Jose SaberCats
- Mistakes Cost Desperados in 53-51 Loss - Dallas Desperados
- VooDoo beat Desperados, 53-51 - New Orleans VooDoo
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