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Twisters Topple Talons, 45-29

June 28, 2003 - Arena Football League (AFL)
Tulsa Talons News Release


Tulsa, OK- The Tulsa Talons' march towards a second straight National Conference Central Division championship took a detour Saturday night with a 45-29 loss to the Arkansas Twisters at Alltel Arena in North Little Rock, Arkansas. Arkansas scored four unanswered touchdowns spanning the first through third quarters. Two of those touchdowns came on drives following Tulsa turnovers. That effort turned a 7-7 tie into a 35-7 lead with 7:24 left in the third quarter and was too much for a furious Talons rally to overcome.

The Twisters' defense, ranked second in the league, finished with two interceptions and a fumble recovery.

Fullback Darnell Small was the game's offensive star, scoring on runs of 37, four and three yards.

The Talons (10-3) have lost two consecutive road games for the first time since midway through the 2001 season. They can still wrap up their second straight Central Division crown by winning one of their final three games coupled with any Arkansas loss.

The Talons are off this Saturday before hosting the Hawaiian Islanders on July 5th in their final home game of the 2003 season. Tulsa owns the af2 record for most consecutive regular season home victories, 25.

Tulsa's brightest spots were receivers Aleric Clark and Mitch Allner. Clark scored on two-yard end-around runs in the first and third quarters. He also caught three passes for 62 yards.

Mitch Allner became the leading scorer in af2 history with 43 seconds left in the game, catching a 35-yard pass from Craig Strickland that pulled the Talons within 38-29. Allner has scored 610 points in his four-year af2 career, breaking the record of 606 points set by Wayne Thomas with the 2000-02 Birmingham Steeldogs.

The Twisters (7-5) earned their second straight home victory over the Talons (10-3) and have won three of four meetings in Alltel Arena. The Talons lead the all-time series, 6-3.

Linebacker Darron Collins returned a Strickland fumble 37 yards to the Talons' one-yard line early in the second quarter. Quarterback Ricky Hebert scored on a one-yard run two plays later for a 21-7 lead.

Tulsa moved to the Arkansas five on the next possession but Khalil Carter intercepted a Strickland pass in the end zone. Following Hebert's 41-yard pass to Kevin Williams, Small's four-yard run gave Arkansas a 28-7 with 7:22 left in the second quarter.

Strickland was under constant pressure from the Arkansas defense and finished 15-of-40 passing with two interceptions for 228 yards and two touchdowns. Strickland needs 63 passing yards to become the second af2 quarterback with 10,000 passing yards in his career.

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