Whats Going On At The Dodge?

July 19, 2004 - arenafootball2 (af2)
Rio Grande Valley Dorados News Release


HIDALGO, TX: July 19, 2004 – Things will be a little different at the Dodge Arena this Saturday night, as the Rio Grande Valley Dorados battle the Arkansas Twisters in arenafootball2 (af2) action Saturday night, but it will have nothing to do with the gameplay between the two teams. It will be a "Hillbilly Hoedown" sponsored by McAllen North Imaging, so game promotions and ticket discounts will have a hillbilly twist to them. Fans can receive tickets as low as $11 on Saturday only and at the Dodge Arena ticket office if they show their Lone Star Card, or if they can show missing teeth or wear bubba teeth. The Dorados will even grant season tickets for the 2005 season for fans that can show legal documentation that they are married to their first cousin. Those possibly will not be the only season tickets given away. Tailgating begins at 4PM at the BudZone FanZone outside the Dodge Arena and will feature the band Concrete Boots along with a tailgating cook-off for the best roadkill (basically bring your best cookout item and the judges will choose the best). Dorados staff members will be searching through the area not only for the best roadkill, but also for one lucky contestant by random choice to participate in a contest for two Dorados season tickets for 2005 if they are up to the challenge. The challenge is to sit inside an "A Clean Portoco" port-a-potty for the entire game. The port-a-potty will be positioned outside the west endzone and the contestant will have no knowledge of the game other than crowd noise and through a provided portable radio carrying the game's broadcast on ESPN Radio 1240 AM by Josh Bogorad. During halftime, there will be a "Greased Pig Contest." Contestants that have been previous winners of promotional contests held at each of the previous Dorados games have been invited back to chase a greased pig to claim a "Big Bear" ATV sponsored by Valley Yamaha and Budweiser. A used rv/trailer junker will also be given away to a lucky contestant that can correctly stumble their way through some Arkansas trivia. Life Choices Unlimited, Inc. has put together a Tailgate Party Pack, which includes a Sunbeam BBQ Pit, a 24-quart Igloo ice chest, a BBQ grilling set, 20-pound bag of charcoal and cooking apparel (apron, mittens) to giveaway to one of 10 contests that will randomly receive a numbered t-shirt between 0-9. The fan that has the number on their shirt, which coincides with the last digit of the Dorados final score will claim the prize. Their will be other various hillbilly oriented events during the game, including a tobacco spitting contest for women and a gizzard eating contest. The first 3,000 fans will receive McAllen North Imaging Thundersticks.

The contest will be the final home game for the inaugural Dorados campaign, as they look to close out their home record to 5-3 and their overall record to 6-9. The 2-12 Arkansas Twisters are in the bottom of the Mid-South Division and look to end a two-game winless streak. This game has no playoff implications, as the Dorados playoff hopes disappeared Saturday with a 66-60 loss to the af2 defending champion and Southwest Division leading Tulsa Talons.

In Tulsa, the Dorados posted a season high 493 all-purpose yards in regulation and Abel Gonzalez had his best single-game performance despite a slow start. Tulsa scored the game's first 21 points, as they scored on their opening drive and forced a Gonzalez interception and a recovered fumble on a bad snap, which they converted into points. The interception was the first thrown by Gonzalez since April 10th. The Dorados finally got on the board, closing out the 1st quarter with a 20-yard pass completion to Eric Spencer for his first professional touchdown and placing Gonzalez with over 1,000 yards in passing for the season. The scoring possession turned out being the first of nine consecutive scoring possessions, which is a streak that will continue into this Saturday. Gonzalez also began a streak during the Dorados first scoring drive of throwing 11 consecutive completions, which eventually came to an end in the third quarter. During the streak, Gonzlaez hit a 24-yard touchdown pass to McKinley Bowie, a 29-yard touchdown pass to Eric Spencer for his second touchdown of the game, a second quarter 20-yard touchdown pass to Manwell Talbert to close the Talons lead to 38-26 at halftime, a 27-yard touchdown pass to Craig Cole on the first second half drive, and wrapped it up with an impressive two-play drive that covered 49-yards and was capped off by a 41-yard touchdown pass to Cole.

Tulsa's Bob Bees was impressive as well, throwing for 259 yards in the game and completing 15 of 27 passes. He was also aided by some great rushing. The Dorados, who were leading the af2 in rush defense, surrendered a season high allowance of 5 rushing touchdowns, including a 27-yard rushing touchdown by Corky Martin that put Tulsa up 60-47 with just under 12 minutes remaining. The Dorados answered the touchdown on the ensuing kickoff with a franchise and career high 56-yard kickoff return by Ronshay Jenkins for his second kickoff touchdown return for the season. The Dorados needed a big goalline stand on fourth down trialing 60-54 with just over a minute remaining, but Shan Jordan was able to slide through the Dorados defense on a screen pass to the flats to give the Talons a 66-54 lead. The Dorados rebounded with a 32-second two-play drive that covered 27 yards and ended with a Craig Cole 1-yard rushing touchdown to place the score at 66-60 after a failed missed extra point, but the Dorados were not able to recover the onside kick and the Talons held onto the six-point victory to extend their winning streak to 8 games.

Gonzalez earned the Baby Ruth Real Deal Offensive Player of the Game with a 15 for 20 passing performance for 6 passing touchdowns and 257 yards. Craig Cole led the team in all-purpose yardage with 102 receiving yards and 74 kickoff return yards. Jenkins also had a big night in the special team's department with 7 kickoff returns for 161 yards and 1 touchdown.

Individual tickets are currently on sale for their contest with Arkansas and may be purchased by stopping by the Dodge Arena offices (2600 N. 10th St. in Hidalgo, Tx) or ordering by phone at 956-843-7825. Additional ticket information and corporate opportunities are available by contacting the Dorados offices at 956-843-7825 or visit the Dorados online at www.doradosfootball.com.



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