Preds Cowboy Up
Jason Lucas
Sunday June 4, 2006
However, while nobody took the time to give the Preds a chance to win this game, they found a way to win by beating on Dolezel and his amigos. The Predators came out shaky in the first quarter when rookie DeAndrew Rubin could not handle a pass from QB Joe Hamilton and dropped it right into the hands of Dallas WR/DB Jason Shelley. The Preds would shake off that tough start by forcing a turnover of their own when Lin-J Shell caused a fumble and recovered it. Hamilton would find rookie WR/DB Javarus Dudley for a 47-yard score on the next play from scrimmage and the Preds would tie the score.
Rubin followed a Dallas touchdown with a score of his own on the ensuing kickoff to tie the score again at 14. From this point on Dallas would only score 14 points the rest of the game. They were simply overpowered and outsmarted by a better Orlando Predators team.
Just before halftime the Desperados trailed by three and were driving for a go ahead score. Dolezel would take a dive on first down and goal when the Preds were obviously conceding the score to try and get the ball back. On second down Dolezel threw an incomplete pass, are you counting with me? That’s two. On third down Dolezel tossed the ball into the stands, THREE. Then on fourth down from the Preds 2-yard line Dolezel inexplicably lobbed the ball off the iron and into the stands again. After throwing the pass and realizing the refs had given the ball back to the Predators (making the correct call), Dolezel went on an interview with NBC’s Lewis Johnson and exclaimed that his team was just "hosed". The Predators would close the half with a 24-21 lead, but let’s get back to Dolezel for a second.
Are you telling me that you made it all the way to the National Conference title game and you do not even know how to count to four? Good news for you guys in Nashville reading this column. Vince Young did not do that well on the Wonderlic test, but I bet he can at least count to four! My favorite comedian, Bill Engvall, does bits about people like Dolezel and ends every one of his stories with an emphatic, "Here’s Your Sign". Hold that sign up a little higher Clint!
Unfortunately for Dolezel there was more humiliation and beating to come in the second half as the Predators relentless defense would intercept him a couple more times. Dolezel would also attempt a pass that was knocked out of his hands by one of his own offensive lineman and picked up by the Preds Cory Fleming. Orlando would score after that turnover giving themselves a 10-point lead that they would never relinquish.
The Predators continue to play every game with the "Whatever it Takes" attitude that Head Coach Jay Gruden has instilled in his teams since becoming the Preds coach in 1998. I can’t give Jay all the credit though because his assistant Les Moss came back to the Preds this year. Ironically the Preds have not been to an ArenaBowl since Moss left the team after the 2000 season. In that 2000 season you will remember Joe Douglass and Clif Dell were the Preds two rookie studs at receiver. In 2006 receivers DeAndrew Rubin and Javarus Dudley provide a very similar comparison. No doubt in my mind if there was an "Assistant of the Year" award it would go to Les Moss who is bar none, the best evaluator of talent in the AFL.
Rubin and Dudley have been two of the most consistent players on the Preds receiving corps this season. Dudley had his coming out party against Dallas in week eight and has since been named to the AFL’s all rookie team. He lead the Preds in receiving today with six receptions for 112 yards and two touchdowns earning him Offensive Player of the Game honors. Rubin was stepping in for Jerrian James who was suspended after ripping off the helmet of Rob Milanese last week. All Rubin did in this game was get the game sealing interception in the fourth quarter, average just over 27 yards per kick return, and score a 56 yard touchdown on a second quarter kickoff return. He shook off a bad start to earn Ironman of the Game.
Possibly the biggest contribution of the day for the Preds was the play of WR/DB Khalil Carter who managed two interceptions of Dolezel, one returned for 33 yards and a touchdown, the other with Dallas frantically trying to get back into the game in the final minute. Carter, along with Charlie Davidson, and Lin-J Shell filled in admirably for the Predators who were without McEntyre and DS Jeroid Johnson once again. McEntyre will most likely remain questionable for next week’s ArenaBowl all week with a heel injury.
The Preds will have very little time to celebrate this week before they have to travel to Las Vegas and prepare for a week 10 rematch with the Chicago Rush, A game the Predators won 55-27 in the Jungle. ArenaBowl XX Las Vegas should be another classic match-up in which the Preds will face a team that mirrors their style of play.
My congratulations go out to the players, coaches, and fans of the Chicago Rush and the Orlando Predators for making it to the ArenaBowl. I look forward to seeing everyone in Vegas on Thursday!
Jason Lucas is a part-time freelance writer based in the Orlando, Florida area. A former director of media relations with the Orlando Predators, Jason is making his return to Arenafan.com after a short stint as a public relations assistant with the UFL‘s Florida Tuskers in 2010. Lucas has followed the AFL since 1992 and began covering the Predators for Arenafan during the 2004 season. He held that position until being picked up by the Preds front office after the 2007 season. Jason‘s knowledge of arena football and love of the game is what drives him to continue covering the sport.
