Stealth Grounded by Talons
April 13, 2003 - arenafootball2 (af2)
Wichita Stealth News Release
Tulsa, Okla. - The Stealth started deep in their own territory the majority of the night and couldn't get the offense going until the second half, but it was too little to late against the Tulsa Talons who improved to 2-0 on the young season. The Talons put up 27 first half points and withstood the second half push by the Stealth, who fall to 1-1 to take a 43-25 victory over the Stealth in front of 5,292 fans at the Tulsa Convention Center. Tulsa offensive specialist Tacoma Fontaine, who was filling in for the injured Mitch Allner, was named Game MVP for his five touchdown performance.
In the first quarter, the Stealth started both offensive drives at their own 1-yard line and could only gain 8 yards in total offense. Both drives were capped off by long field goal attempts of 52 and 54 yards by Stealth kicker, Jason Corse which were returned to near midfield by Fontaine, giving the Talons a short field to work with each time.
Things got worse in the second quarter for the Stealth. Wichita's first offensive drive was halted when offensive specialist Michael Dritlein was stripped of the ball at the Tulsa 4-yard line at the end of a 43-yard completion to Dritlein from Stealth quarterback Anthony Buich. On the next Stealth drive, they had to attempt a 53-yard field goal when the offense stalled and Fontaine returned the miss for a touchdown making the score 20-0. Tulsa would tack on another touchdown before the half leaving the score 27-0. At the half the Stealth only had 67 yards of total offense.
Wichita outscored Tulsa 25 to 16 in the second half, but the first half deficit was too much to overcome. The Stealth started the second half by scoring on a 14-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver/linebacker Greg Kyler from Buich on their first offensive series of the second half. The defense seemed to come alive after that, holding the Talons' offense scoreless in the third quarter. Late in the third quarter, Stealth offensive/defensive lineman Dustin Fish recorded his first sack of the season, which forced the Talons to turnover the ball on downs. On the very first play of the drive, Buich found wide receiver/linebacker Shomari Buchanan for a 36-yard touchdown pass. Corse's point after try was missed, making the score 27-12 at the end of the third quarter.
The two scores in the fourth quarter for the Stealth came on touchdown passes from Buich to Dritlein of 6 and 12 yards. Dritlein led all Stealth receivers with 9 catches for 115 yards and two touchdowns. In his Tulsa return, Buich was only 14-of-31 for 220 yards and four touchdowns.
Up next for the Stealth is a trip to Green Bay, Wisconsin to take on the expansion Green Bay Blizzard. The game can be heard live on Z-FM (90.7) or on the internet at www.wichitastealth.com. The Stealth will return home to take on the Tulsa Talons April 26th at the Kansas Coliseum. Tickets are available by calling the Stealth office at 316.755.3307.
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