Stealth grounded by Yard Dawgz

May 23, 2004 - arenafootball2 (af2)
Wichita Stealth News Release


OKLAHOMA CITY - In a divisional battle that pitted the Wichita Stealth against the Oklahoma City Yard Dawgz, it was a chance for the Stealth to go two games up on the Yard Dawgz in the Southwest division but this game was a one sided affair as the Yard Dawgz and their #1 ranked offense only put up 253 yards on the Stealth defense but their defense harassed the Stealth offense all night as they defeated the visiting Stealth 53-25 at the Ford Center. Yard Dawgz quarterback Craig Strickland would garner Baby Ruth Real Deal Player of the Game honors going 17-of-29 for 240 yards and seven touchdowns.

For the third week in a row, the opponents have scored first on the Stealth defense. This week it was three plays into the game for the Oklahoma City Yard Dawgz on a 29-yard pass from Craig Strickland to Kris Peters putting the Yard Dawgz up 7-0. On the ensuing Stealth drive, they were unable to convert on fourth down and turned it over to the Yard Dawgz. The Yard Dawgz would take it to the end zone on a nine-yard pass to Peters from Strickland. The conversion failed leaving the Yard Dawgz on top 13-0.

The Stealth would answer right back with a seven play, 37-yard drive which was capped off on a two-yard run by Anthony Griffin. The snap on the conversion was off the mark and the Stealth never really had an attempt at the PAT, making the score 13-6 in favor of Oklahoma City at the end of the first quarter.

The Yard Dawgz would continue their scoring in the second quarter when Strickland found Al Hunt for a 19-yard pass putting Oklahoma City up 20-6. The Stealth would come back with another long scoring drive. The would consume nine minutes and 42 seconds on a 12 play, 47 yard drive that would end on a two-yard touchdown run by Daren Williams. This was Williams' first score of the season. The Stealth would again miss the conversion, this time on a missed extra point by Dylan Pohlman, leaving the score at 20-12.

The Yard Dawgz would end the first half scoring with a Peter Martinez 20-yard field goal giving them a 23-12 halftime lead.

At the half, Stealth quarterback Aaron Sparrow was 10-of-19 for 129 yards and no touchdowns. This marked the first time of the season in which Sparrow has not thrown a first half touchdown. The Stealth offense also had their lowest scoring half of the season.

The Stealth would come out in the second half and get the first possession, but the Yard Dawgz defense were the ones that would put the first points on the board as James Landers sacked Sparrow in the end zone for a safety on the very first play of the half increasing the Yard Dawgz lead to 25-12. This is the second week in a row in which the Stealth would get sacked for a safety.

The Stealth defense would step up on the ensuing Oklahoma City offensive possession and get a big defensive stop that would allow the Stealth offense to get a chance to trim some of the Yard Dawgz lead away, but to no avail as the Yard Dawgz stopped the Stealth on a fourth down play to regain possession with their lead in tact.

The Yard Dawgz offense would again waste no time, as they would counter with a 23-yard pass from Strickland to Hunt increasing the Yard Dawgz lead to 32-12. The Stealth would fail to score in the third quarter, marking only the second time so far this season that the Stealth offense has been held scoreless in a quarter.

The fourth quarter would start on a very positive note for the Stealth and their defense. Christopher Highshaw would intercept a Strickland pass and give the Stealth a much needed lift and possession at the Wichita 13-yard line. The Stealth offense would take full advantage of the defensive stop and march down the field in six plays and gain some ground on the Yard Dawgz when Griffin would get his second rushing touchdown of the night and close the gap to 32-18.

The Yard Dawgz would waste no time in scoring on the ensuing drive as Strickland found Hunt for a 44-yard touchdown making the score 39-18. The Stealth would get a little closer on a seven yard touchdown catch by Marc Bacote making the score 39-25, but the Yard Dawgz would add two more scores to make the final margin 53-25. This is the Stealth's lowest point total of the season and the come back from their three game road swing 1-2. The Stealth are a combined 8-20 on the road in team history.

Once again the Stealth opponents would sweep the game awards. Along with Strickland, Al Hunt would be named the U.S.Army Ironman of the Game for his performance and James Landers would earn the ADT Defensive Player of the Game.

For the Stealth, quarterback Aaron Sparrow would end the night 19-of-39 for 227 yards and one touchdown.

STEALTH NOTES: The Stealth will return home next Saturday May 29th when they face the Laredo Law. Game time is set for 7:00 p.m. and tickets are available by calling the Stealth office at 316.755.3307 or Select-A-Seat at 316.755.SEAT (7328).



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