Twisters Beat The Xplorers, 50-42
May 10, 2003 - arenafootball2 (af2)
Memphis Xplorers News Release
N. LITTLE ROCK, Ark â The Memphis Xplorers suffered another heartbreaking loss as they dropped a 50-42 decision to the Arkansas Twisters. Memphis had a two point try to win the game with less than a minute to go, but came up empty. The Twisters tacked on a late TD after an unsuccessful onside kick by the Xplorers. Memphis falls to 1-5 for the year and have lost four straight games. The Xplorers return home this Saturday to tangle with the Louisville Fire at the DeSoto Civic Center. For tickets call 662-280-3737 or go online at www.xplorers af2.com and use the ticketmaster link.
FIRST HALF
The Twisters took the opening kickoff and marched 45 yards on 11 plays, helped out by a pair of crucial penalties on the Xplorers, the final four yards of the drive came on a Ricky Hebert pass to Anthony Eubanks. The Xplorers answered with a four play 26 yard drive with Rod Robinson connecting with Kevin Prentiss for a 21 yard TD pass. The Twister then came back with a seven play 37 yard drive with a four yard pass from Hebert to Ted Alford finishing the drive. With the PAT the Twisters led 14-6. Robinson was picked off on the next Memphis drive by Kahlil Carter and the Twisters promptly marched into the Xplorers end. Memphis stiffened and forced a turnover on downs and then rallied to tie the game with a three play 35 yard drive that Robinson finished off with a six yard QB keeper. Steven Green's drop kick tied the game at 14-14. The Xplorers then surged ahead for the first time with a seven play 30 yard drive in the final minute of the half that was finished off by a four yard pass from Robinson to Adrian Burnette, the drop kick PAT made it 22-14. The Twister had the last gasp in the half as Matt Norris connected from 39 yards out for a field goal as time expired to make it a 22-17 Memphis lead.
SECOND HALF
The Xplorers got off to a disastrous start in the second half as Reggie Cooley sacked Robinson for a safety to cut the Xplorers lead to 22-19. The Twister then took the free kick and marched 45 yards on four plays and went ahead 26-22 on a five yard run by Reggie Cooley. On the next Xplorers possession Robinson was intercepted by Bruce Bailey who returned the ball inside the Xplorers one yard line. Cooley cashed in up the middle and with the PAT it was 33-22 Twisters. The Xplorers then turned it over on downs and the Twisters capitalized again. Hebert found Eubanks for a 20 yard TD pass to make it 40-22 Arkansas. The Xplorers fought back as Prentiss returned a kickoff to the Arkansas three yard line and then Robinson ran the ball into the end zone to cut the lead to 40-30 with the drop kick PAT by Green. The Xplorers then mounted a drive that worked deep into Arkansas territory, but Memphis came up empty after losing 27 yards on a fumble that took them out of scoring range. A Norris 30 yard field goal made it 43-30, but Memphis would not go away. Robinson found Kevin Prentiss for a 16 yard TD catch to make it 43-36 with the drop kick try no good. Johnny Loper then intercepted Hebert with 90 seconds to go in the game to keep Memphis' hopes alive. With 45.3 seconds to go Robinson found Prentiss from 16 yards out to make it a 43-42 game. The Xplorers drop kick attempt for the lead was wide to the right and Arkansas added a late TD by Cooley to seal the game.
FINAL SCORE Arkansas 50, Memphis 42.
Score 1 2 3 4 F
Memphis 6 16 8 12 42
Arkansas 7 10 23 10 50
Records
Memphis 1-5
Arkansas 3-3
NOTABLES
* The Xplorers are now 0-5 all-time against Arkansas.
* Memphis has lost five games by 26 points.
XPLORERS TICKETS
For ticket information and purchases call (662) 280-3737 or go online to www.xplorersaf2.com .
ON THE AIR
Catch the Xplorers on the air this Saturday against the Louisville Fire on Y96.1 FM. The game will be broadcast tape delayed and begin at 10 p.m.
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