Riptide Drop Opener in Arkansas, 48-38
April 3, 2004 - arenafootball2 (af2)
San Diego Riptide News Release
NORTH LITTLE ROCK, Ark. â The San Diego Riptide dropped their season opener to the Arkansas Twisters, 48-38 in the debut of new head coach, Mouse Davis. Twisters Rookie quarterback threw three touchdowns and ran in two more, while San Diego's starting QB, Kane Claunch, was benched for most of the second half.
Williams was among Arkansas' top receivers last season, but with the retirement of the Twisters' long-time QB, Ricky Hebert, during the off-season, he was moved under center. He responded by tormenting the Riptide defense, through the air and with his legs. Claunch, on the other hand, was ineffective for much of the first period, and after another unsuccessful drive to start the second half, he was benched in favor of Kevin Feterik. Feterik mounted a comeback, tossing two late scores, but it was too little, too late.
After exchanging early touchdowns, Arkansas (1-0) grabbed the lead on a Darnell Small touchdown run. The score was set up by a 44-yard Kevin Williams bomb that gave Arkansas a first down at the Riptide four yard line. Small took the handoff on the next play and put six points on the scoreboard that, with the extra point, handed the Twisters a 14-7 lead.
On the ensuing Riptide drive, a fumbled exchange gave the ball right back to Arkansas. After some initial troubles moving the football, the Twisters finally cashed in for another score â again by Small. Twisters kicker Ton Ton Luzaydio missed the extra point, leaving Arkansas with a 20-7 lead.
San Diego (0-1) came storming back with just 55 seconds remaining in the first half. The Twisters failed to convert a fourth and ten deep in their own territory, leaving the Riptide with the ball at the Arkansas 11-yard line. Three plays into the drive, Claunch connected with Ryan Smith for a 15-yard score to pull the Riptide to within six, 20-14.
The turnover bug bit Arkansas in the waning moments of the first half, as the Twisters fumbled the exchange on the first play of their next drive to give San Diego the football. Two plays later, Claunch hooked up with Smith once again, this time for a 20-yard score. Scott Collins then booted the extra point to give San Diego its first lead of the game, 21-20 with just 12 seconds remaining in the first half.
On the ensuing kickoff, Ted Alford was hit during the return, fumbling the football and giving the Riptide another scoring chance to close out the first half. After Claunch failed to connect with Jesus Reyes with 5 seconds remaining, Collins came out to boot a 25-yard field goal as time expired to put San Diego up, 24-20.
The Twisters regained the lead to start the second half, scoring 14 unanswered points. The first touchdown came on a Williams-to-Alford pitch-and-catch with 8:02 remaining in the third quarter. Williams and the Twisters continued to pile it on with just over a minute left in the third, scoring again on a quarterback scramble to go up by 10.
On the ensuing San Diego drive, Head Coach Mouse Davis replaced Claunch under center with Feterik, but the Riptide offense continued to struggle, failing to find the end zone on their next two drives. The Twisters put another seven points on the scoreboard before San Diego scored their first points of the second half on a Feterik to Dwight Carter touchdown throw.
The âTide continued to roll in the fourth quarter, drawing to within three on another touchdown reception by Smith. Arkansas turned the ball over on downs, deep in their own territory and Feterik connected with Smith on the first play of San Diego's ensuing drive, running the score to 41-38 with just 2:24 remaining in the game.
The Twisters mounted a time-consuming drive on their next possession, however, and Kevin Williams ran in another score with just 11 seconds remaining to end the Riptide comeback.
SHARK BITES: The Riptide are now 1-2 in season openers, losing in 2002 and winning last season... Claunch has been benched in each of his last two meetings with the Twisters... Feterik's fourth-quarter TD throw to Carter was his first in af2... Smith's three touchdowns mark a new career high... Nakou McElrath and Mike Wessell were placed on the injured reserve before the game... The game was Kevin Williams first start at quarterback for the Twisters, after being the team's top receiver in 2003...
NEXT GAME: The Riptide will play their first home game of the 2004 season next week against the Green Bay Blizzard, Friday, April 9 at 7 p.m. at the Sports Arena. Charger great Junior Seau will be on hand to receive an honorary Riptide jersey before the game in honor of his numerous contributions to the San Diego community, both on and off the field. The first 5,000 fans in attendance will receive free Junior Seau Riptide t-shirts, featuring the Riptide logo with Seau's name and number â55' emblazoned on the back, courtesy of Wells Fargo. Fans can catch all the action for all 16 Riptide regular season games at www.WorldTalkRadio.com.
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