Sports stats



Talons to Host Arkansas in National Conference Title Game

August 10, 2003 - Arena Football League (AFL)
Tulsa Talons News Release


Tulsa, OK – Three touchdowns in the game's final 3:06 lifted the Tulsa Talons to a 58-38 victory over the Hawaiian Islanders victory before 3,133 fans in the af2 National Conference semifinals Saturday night at the Tulsa Convention Center.

Tulsa (14-3) will host the Arkansas Twisters next Saturday night in the National Conference championship game. The Twisters advanced to the title game with a 63-61 upset road victory over the Quad City Steamwheelers. Hawaii ends its season with an 11-7 record, losing to Tulsa twice in its last four games.

Mitch Allner and Craig Strickland fueled the Tulsa rally after Hawaii took a 38-37 lead on Morrie Roe's net recovery touchdown following a missed field goal.

Allner caught a 10-yard touchdown pass from Strickland and Johnny Balous ran for a two-point conversion, giving the Talons a 45-38 lead with 3:06 left in the game.

Gladston Taylor's fourth-down sack of Hawaii quarterback Darrell Arceneaux at the four-yard line set up Strickland's four-yard TD scramble with 33 seconds left in the game. Talons defensive end Ramon Richardson capped the scoring with his first professional TD, a 30-yard fumble return as time expired.

Strickland was named Offensive Player of the Game for the eighth time this year. He was 17-of-33 passing with no interception and no sacks for 196 yards and five TDs in addition to his TD run.

Allner earned his sixth Ironman of the Game honor with three of his four receptions resulting in touchdowns along with 80 yards on two kickoff returns plus 2.5 tackles, a tackle for loss and a pass breakup.

Al Hunt was the ADT Defensive Player of the Game, leading Tulsa with 4.5 tackles, four of those unassisted, a 17-yard interception and a pass breakup.

Two of Allner's three TDs came in the second quarter on receptions of eight and six yards as the Talons built a 20-10 halftime lead.

Hawaii quarterback Darnell Arceneaux kept Hawaii close in the third quarter, scoring on a four-yard run, then hitting Darrick Branch on a 42-yard scoring strike. Arceneaux was 16-of-35 passing for 211 yards with two TDs but was sacked three times.

Branch caught five passes for a game-high 94 yards with two TDs before leaving in the fourth quarter with a leg injury.

Eddie Klaneski was the Islanders' Ironman standout with 173 yards in kick returns, 146 of those on eight kickoffs, along with three tackles and also forced two fumbles.

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

Arena Football League Stories from August 10, 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