Desperados Roll Past Predators, 87-62
March 19, 2006 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Dallas Desperados News Release
The Desperados breezed through the first two legs of this three-game road trip on the shoulders of their powerful defense. Quarterback Clint Dolezel and OS Terrill Shaw broke that two-game trend Sunday with arguably the best performances of their careers.
Dolezel matched his own AFL record with 11 touchdown passes, and Shaw broke the franchise's single-game mark with six touchdown catches as the Desperados held off the resilient Orlando Predators, 87-62, at TD Waterhouse Centre.
"We've been kind of spoiled with all the stops our defense has been giving us," Dolezel said. "But this is one of those Arena Football games that's typical. You've just got to score every time you get it and hopefully they don't score late on you."
Sunday's win kept the Desperados' perfect road record (5-0) intact and extended their Eastern Division lead to three games. Columbus, Philadelphia and New York (4-4) are in a three-way tie for second place.
The Desperados (7-1) also assured themselves of maintaining pace with Colorado (6-1) for the league's best record.
"It's been a couple weeks since we've been in a dogfight," Desperados head coach Will McClay said. "It was good to see us make the plays that it takes to overcome these hostile environments."
Dolezel finished 24-of-30 for 353 yards with no interceptions. He also threw three touchdown passes to WR/DB Will Pettis.
Dolezel set a single-game league record for touchdowns (11) last season when he played for Las Vegas.
"This one's a lot better. We actually won this one," he said.
Neither team produced a stop until the final seconds of the first half, when Pettis picked off Predators quarterback Joe Hamilton in the end zone. Carlos Martinez drilled a 55-yard field goal as time expired to give Dallas its first lead of the game, 38-35.
Before Pettis' interception, the Desperados were on the verge of breaking the club record for most points allowed in a half (41).
The Desperados had a chance to extend their lead at the start of the third quarter, but FB/LB Duke Pettijohn fumbled a pitch on fourth-and-goal and Orlando (4-4) recovered. On the next play, Hamilton hit Javarus Dudley downfield for a 46-yard touchdown, and the Predators regained a 42-38 lead.
The Desperados built a 66-55 lead at the start of the fourth quarter after Dolezel's ninth touchdown, his third to Pettis. Dallas capitalized on a Predators fumble and failed onside kick in the third quarter.
The Desperados outscored Orlando 28-7 in the fourth quarter thanks to their ball-hawking defense, which finished with four takeaways (two interceptions, two fumble recoveries).
Dallas will return to American Airlines Center next Saturday for a division match-up against Philadelphia.
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Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from March 19, 2006
- Desperados Roll Past Predators, 87-62 - Dallas Desperados
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- Soul shut down by Destroyers, 53-20 - Philadelphia Soul
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