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Talons Defeat Riptide, 65-48

May 25, 2003 - Arena Football League (AFL)
Tulsa Talons News Release


San Diego, Calif. - The Tulsa Talons defeated the San Diego Riptide 65-48 and improved their record to a National Conference best 7-1 in front of 5,135 fans at the San Diego Sports Arena Saturday night. With the loss, the Riptide fell to 4-4 in the Western Division. Talons quarterback Craig Strickland was named the game's Most Valuable Player while completing 19 of 34 passes for 235 yards and tied a team record with eight touchdown passes and ran for another as Tulsa won their fourth-straight game and swept the season series with San Diego. The Talons defeated the Riptide 65-38 on May 10th at the Tulsa Convention Center.

The Talons got production from a couple of new faces, and a few familiar ones as wide receiver / defensive back Aleric Clark scored on a nine-yard touchdown run in the second quarter and wide receiver / defensive back Shon King scored his first touchdown in a Talons uniform during the third quarter. Al Hunt caught three passes, all for touchdowns and Tacoma Fontaine caught five passes for 71 yards and two touchdowns. Mitch Allner led the Talons with eight catches for 64 yards and two touchdowns. Defensive specialist Pee Wee Woods was named the ADT Defensive Player of the game while totaling seven tackles and a forced fumble.

San Diego held a 14-13 lead after one period of play as Riptide quarterback Kane Claunch threw two first-period touchdowns. However, the Talons outscored the Riptide 13-7 in the second period to take a 26-20 lead into the halftime locker room. San Diego had a golden opportunity to take the halftime lead as the Riptide had a first and goal at the Talons one-yard line with 11 seconds left. But Claunch was stopped for no gain by Woods and the clock ran out on the Riptide, as they had no timeouts remaining.

San Diego received the second-half kickoff but fumbled on their first play and Allner recovered, giving the Talons a first and ten at their own 14-yard line. Three plays later, Strickland hit Fontaine on a 19-yard scoring strike to give the Talons a 32-21 lead. The Talons would lead 45-34 at the end of three quarters.

Talons' defensive specialist Brandon Daniels would intercept Claunch in the Endzone on the Riptide's first fourth-quarter possession to thwart a possible San Diego scoring drive. Seven plays later, Strickland passed to Hunt for a two-yard strike and gave the Talons a 51-34 lead.

San Diego would pull to within 10 points following a 45-yard touchdown catch by Altie Parker from Claunch with 28 seconds left, but that was as close as they would come as the Talons recovered the ensuing onsides kick and tacked on a Strickland touchdown run to round out the scoring.

San Diego's Dwight Carter was named the game's Ironman and led the Riptide with seven catches for 107 yards and two touchdowns. Altie Parker also turned in a solid effort for the Riptide, catching five passes for 93 yards and two touchdowns. Former Talons lineman Henry Stephens also caught a touchdown for San Diego.

The Talons will return home to the Tulsa Convention Center this Saturday night as they host their Central Division rivals, the Arkansas Twisters (4-3). San Diego will travel to Bakersfield this Saturday to take on their Western Division rivals, the Blitz (2-6). Tickets to this Saturday's Talons - Twisters showdown are available at local Drug Marts, the Tulsa Convention Center Box Office, the Talons office or by phone at 584-2000.

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