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Monday Night Win Over Rio Grande Valley Breaks Ice For Bossier

May 3, 2005 - arenafootball2 (af2)
Bossier-Shreveport Battle Wings News Release


BOSSIER CITY - Battle Wings' head coach Keith Barefield said simply, "a W is a W."

Monday night's 77-69 victory on the road against the Rio Grande Valley Dorados may have been a little more than that.

Bossier spotted the Dorados a 14-0 lead in the first quarter, then stormed back to out-score Rio Grande Valley 77-55 the rest of the way to claim the 'Wings first victory of the year. A number of significant moments during the game were key:

• Defense - The 'Wings made a few stops against the Dorados. Newly-promoted defensive coordinator Mike Green had his charges make adjustments throughout the game and primarily forced RGV to work the short game. Pressure up front - particularly from the likes of ADT Defensive Player of the Game Kendal Shello - forced Dorado milker Josh Kellett into hurried throws that were batted or thrown away. Bossier came up with a pair of sacks - both by Kello - six batted passes and four quarterback hurries, but most importantly finished in a plus-one on turnovers. The biggest play may have been a Dorados fumble forced and recovered by Bossier one play after Hicks was intercepted at the Battle Wings' five yard line.

• A focused Bo Smith - "The BOssier Bullet" was named the league's Offensive Player of the Week after hauling in six passes for 116 yards and five TD's to go along with six kick-off returns for 162 yards and another score. Smith simply returned to his bench after each touchdown, avoiding the attention of game officials and refraining from celebrations that served as impetus for the opposing ballclubs.

• Special Teams - McKinley Bowie covered up three on-side kick-off attempts by his former team and added a fumble recovery that set up another Battle Wings' score. Fittingly, Bowie's number was called for the ensuing 1-yard TD pass from Tim Hicks. Kicker Brian Hazelwood missed only one PAT attempt in 11 attempts, the made up for the missed point with a two-point drop-kick conversion late in the game.

"I was drained after that game," Barefield said. "I told the players before the game that we were going all out, that we were going to do everything possible to win that game. Certainly we didn't play anything close to a perfect game, but we had a total effort from the guys for the entire game and they just would not lose."

Hicks kept the offense on an even keel the entire evening and went to Smith for one scoring strike after another. On one scoring play, Smith eluded a flying tackle attempt near the goal line then turned around to see the defender slide head-first into the padded sideboard. Following his kick-off return for a score, a Dorado tried to hit him late in the end zone - Bo simply stepped out of the way while the RGV defender went sailing over the boards and into the crowd.

"The changes we made here were for a reason," Barefield added. "I think we're seeing a welcomed new maturity level from Bo. He's becoming more and more a professional. Shello did the same thing and had his biggest game in a Battle Wings' uniform."

Bowie's TD pass from Hicks with 00:09 remaining in the first half gave the 'Wings their first lead in a game since halftime of the Quad City loss two weeks ago. Signs of a return to form though reared up when Rio Grande Valley scored with no time remaining on a 34-yard pass from Kellett to Dwight Counter that restored a 46-41 Dorados lead at the break.

Once the two teams traded turnovers to start the second half, Clint Schexnayder sneaked down the right sideline and hauled in a Hicks' heave for 33 yards and a touchdown - his first in the af2. "Schexy" dove across the goal line, arms outstretched, with a defender on his back.

Bossier found its first real advantage when the defense forced RGV to settle for an Eric Houle 28-yard field goal with 7:38 remaining in the third quarter. After that, the two teams traded scoring punches. The 'Wings earned some of their margin of safety by watching Houle struggle with PAT's all night - the Dorado kicker missed three extra point attempts, including one that would have tied the game at 70-70, and saw two others botched by bad snaps.

Hicks failed to run out the clock on the 'Wings final drive but added six to the scoreboard instead with 00:24 remaining in the game. After Hazelwood converted the PAT for a 77-69 Bossier lead, Rio Grande Valley was able to move downfield until Shello ended the night by sacking Kellett on the game's final play.

"We got a bunch of big plays out there from some guys we've always felt could make big plays," Barefield added. "We have a short week to get ready for Saturday's game against Bakersfield, but it's infinitely easier to get ready after having won this game."

The Battle Wings returned home early Tuesday morning from Hidalgo, Texas and had the rest of the day off. The players will practice Wednesday and Thursday evenings, then have Friday off before the 7 p.m. Saturday game against the Blitz (1-3) at the Century Tel Center. Tickets for the game may be purchased in advance at the Battle Wings' headquarters (4400 Barksdale Blvd.) or by calling (318) 746-8755.



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