Sports stats



Talons Fall to Bakersfield

June 15, 2003 - Arena Football League (AFL)
Tulsa Talons News Release


The Bakersfield Blitz scored 17 points in the game's final 1:47, and then withstood a furious rally by the Tulsa Talons for a 45-40 victory Saturday night at Centennial Garden in Bakersfield, California.

Bakersfield (5-6) earned its fourth straight victory overall and its first triumph in three meetings with Tulsa. The Talons (9-2) saw their six-game overall win streak snapped by the loss but they can extend their af2 record of consecutive regular season home victories to 25 games by defeating the Blitz in a rematch this Saturday night at the Tulsa Convention Center.

The nail-biting contest saw two ties, five lead changes and Tulsa having three chances to win the game in the game's final 10 seconds. Tacoma Fontaine broke free on a long kickoff return to the Bakersfield 20-yard line. Craig Strickland's 20-yard pass to Fontaine was incomplete, and then former Oklahoma State Cowboy defensive back Delvin Myles ended the game with his second interception of the contest.

The game was a battle between Strickland, the af2's leader in touchdown passes, and a Bakersfield defense that is the league's best. Strickland passed for 219 yards and five touchdowns, but was 15-of-37 and suffered three interceptions. By comparison, Strickland had thrown four interceptions over the Talons' first 10 games this year.

Tony Dodson and Fontaine were the offensive stars for the Talons. Dodson drilled a 50-yard field goal in the first quarter that gave Tulsa a 10-3 lead, then struck again from the same distance to open the fourth quarter and pulled the Talons within 30-26.

Fontaine caught touchdown passes of 25 and 34 yards from Strickland during the game's final 4:00. Fontaine finished with seven receptions for 125 yards in addition to his two touchdowns.

Blitz quarterback Chad Elliott threw two of his four TD passes to wide receiver Eric Mahanke, who was named the game's Most Valuable Player. The biggest play was Mahanke's 22-yard touchdown catch with 1:47 left in the game that put Bakersfield ahead for good, 36-33.

Myles gave the Blitz a 42-33 lead with 0:47 left in the game, scoring on a six-yard interception return after a lateral from Ryan Sloth.

Tulsa cut the lead to 42-40 on Strickland's 34-yard bomb to Fontaine just six seconds later.

Bakersfield boosted its lead to 45-40 on Jon Baker's second field goal of the game from 19 yards out with 0:12 remaining, just prior to Tulsa's frenzied rally.

Strickland and Dodson gave Tulsa a 10-3 lead after the first quarter.

Strickland hit Mitch Allner with a 30-yard touchdown pass on the game's second play and Dodson's point-after conversion made it 7-0, Talons.

Allner has scored 598 points in his af2 career and needs nine points to break the league record of 606 held by Wayne Thomas of the 2000-02 Birmingham Steeldogs.

The Blitz took a 16-10 lead in the second quarter, aided by two touchdown passes by Elliott and the interception of a Strickland pass. Elliott connected with Sloth on a 10-yard pass and later found McCorley Collins with a 23-yard scoring strike.

Tulsa rallied and took a 17-16 into the halftime locker room, thanks to a Strickland's second touchdown pass and a Talon defensive stand in the final minute of the first half.

Strickland threw the first of his two touchdown passes to Aleric Clark, a five-yard toss with 5:27 left in the second quarter. Bakersfield moved to the Tulsa eight-yard line but Elliott threw three incomplete passes and Baker missed a 24-yard field goal.

Elliott gave the Blitz a 30-23 lead at the end of the third quarter. Elliott scored on a eight-yard run then threw a 24-yard touchdown pass to Mahenke.

Those touchdowns were sandwiched around Strickland's second touchdown pass to Clark, a 10-yard bullet.

• Discuss this story on the Arena Football League message board...

Arena Football League Stories from June 15, 2003


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

Other Recent Tulsa Talons Stories



Sports Statistics from the Stats Crew
OurSports Central