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Strickland Leads Talons to ArenaCup Title Game

August 17, 2003 - Arena Football League (AFL)
Tulsa Talons News Release


Quarterback Craig Strickland made arenafootball2 playoff history, accounting for nine touchdowns as the Tulsa Talons advanced to the ArenaCup championship game for the first time in franchise history with a 63-52 victory over the Arkansas Twisters in the National Conference championship game at the Tulsa Convention Center.

The Talons will host the American Conference champion Macon Knights at 7:30 p.m. (CDT) on Saturday, August 23rd. Tulsa scored twice in the final minute and held on for a 48-37 home win over Macon in 2001 in the only previous meeting between the two teams.

Strickland ran for five touchdowns and threw for four more, easily earning his ninth Player of the Game honor of the season. Strickland rushed eight times for 10 yards with five touchdowns and was 14-of-25 passing with no interceptions for 225 yards with four touchdowns.

Strickland's five rushing touchdowns set a Talons single-game record and tied an af2 playoff record. Strickland scored 30 points, tying another af2 playoff mark.

Tulsa (15-3) defeated Arkansas (11-8) for the seventh time in 10 meetings, including six straight victories at home. The Talons have won four in a row overall, counting their two playoff victories.

The Talons were incredibly efficient on offense. After missing a field goal attempt on their opening possession, they scored on their next nine possessions and finished the game scoring on nine of 11 drives.

Arkansas battled Tulsa on even terms for most of the first half as the lead changed hands four times. But the turning point came late in the first half with the game tied, 22-22, with 3:21 left in the first half.

Talons linebacker Corky Martin sacked Khalil Carter when the Twisters faked a field goal attempt. Strickland scored on runs of three and two yards in the final minute, giving Tulsa a 36-22 halftime lead.

Strickland threw a 27-yard TD pass to Mitch Allner in the third quarter and scored on a one-yard quarterback sneak as Tulsa took a 50-29 lead late in the third quarter.

Arkansas quarterback Ricky Hebert threw three TD passes in a fourth quarter comeback attempt but Strickland scored on a pair of one-yard runs to seal the victory.

Wide receiver/defensive back Al Hunt was the Ironman of the Game, catching four passes for 50 yards with one TD and making 2.5 tackles. Defensive specialist Brandon Daniels was the ADT Defensive Player of the Game with six tackles, five of those unassisted, and broke up a pass.

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