Riptide-Dorados preview
June 21, 2005 - arenafootball2 (af2)
San Diego Riptide News Release
Date: Saturday, June 25, 2005 Kickoff: 7:00 p.m. PST Series Record : SDG 0- RGV 1 Game Preview: The Riptide take on the Rio Grande Valley Dorados this Saturday at the ipayOne Center. The teams met in Week Six with the Dorados winning 51-45.
Quarterback Kane Claunch leads the Riptide aerial assault. Since returning to San Diego in Week Six, he has averaged six touchdowns and 259 passing yards a game. Claunch's 111.1 passer rating places him among the top ten passers in the league.
Receivers Nian Taylor and Steve Gonzalez pose a threat from anywhere on the field. Taylor leads the team with 67 receptions and is four touchdowns away from setting a new Riptide single-season TD reception record (current record 23, set by Dwight Carter in 2004). Gonzalez averages 73 yards receiving per game, best on the team.
Gonzalez has emerged as a dangerous kick return specialist. His 715 kickoff return yards are just 19 yards shy of the Riptide single season record.
San Diego's defense, led by versatile lineman Asi Faoa, has logged 22 sacks and a +4 turnover ratio. Ryan Smith and Anthony Griffin lead the team's secondary with 13 pass breakups apiece. Smith also leads the team with four interceptions.
The Riptide are battling for playoff contention and face a very tough Rio Grande Valley team. With six wins in their last seven games, the Dorados have battled back from a 1-3 start to contend for the National West Division lead.
No Dorado opponent should make the mistake of relaxing with a lead. In six of Rio Grande Valley's seven victories, they have come from behind in the second half.
Multitalented Chris Robinson leads the running game. The 270-pounder, currently fifth in the league with 155 yards, was the Week 4 af2 Ironman of the week after racking up two sacks, 45 yards on the ground, a rushing TD, and a safety.
The Dorado passing game features Josh Kellet (11th in the league in offensive TD's), Marquis Floyd, (with team-highs of 69 receptions and 17 TD catches), and Dwight Counter. Counter hauled in a league-high 18 receptions to earn Week 11 af2 Offensive Player of the Week honors.
Defensive specialists Kevin Brown (a team-leading 52.5 tackles and 16 breakups) and Norman Mason (twice af2 Defensive Player of the Week), as well as Floyd (#2 in the league with eight interceptions), will look to stop the Riptide passing game.
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