Dorados beat Steeldogs in first round of playoffs

Monday August 6, 2007

Hidalgo, Texas— In a back and forth battle the Rio Grande Valley Dorados advanced to the second round of the af2 playoffs with a 44-41 victory over the Alabama Steeldogs Sunday at Dodge Arena.

With just 19.6 seconds Josh Kellett connected with Coco Blalock on an 11-yard touchdown pass to capture the lead and the win for the Dorados.

Rio held a 10-7 lead after the first quarter and advanced that to 10 at the half after Kellett connected on three touchdown passes, including one to Blalock and two to Dwight Counter. Kellett’s 9-yard pass to Counter with 4.7 left in the first half gave Rio a 31-21 lead.

The Steeldogs came out firing early in the third notching 14 unanswered points to pull ahead 35-31.

It all came down to the final quarter, with Alabama advancing their lead on a 32-yard field goal by Nick Hayes to make it 38-31. Rio then tied things up at the 7:53 mark when Kellett and Blalock connected once again on a 6-yard TD reception. Hayes then pulled the Steeldogs ahead once again on a 19-yd field goal, but it was the Blalock/Kellett combo that sealed the deal for the Dorados with just 19.6 left on the clock on an 11-yard touchdown pass giving the Dorados the 44-41 lead.

Kellett led all players offensively, completing 24-of-45 passes for 258 yards and six touchdowns. Alabama’s Marcus Mitchell rushed for three TD’s in the first half.

The Dorados now get ready to face Quincy Carter and the Bossier-Shreveport Battlewings in the second round of the af2 playoffs this Friday night at the Dodge Arena. Game time is set for 7:35 p.m. Tickets go on sale Monday morning at 10 a.m. at all Ticketmaster outlets, including ticketmaster.com" target="_blank">www.ticketmaster.com

Score by Quarters              1              2              3              4              Score
Alabama                                  07            14            14            06            41            Record: (7-10)
Rio Grande Valley                    10            21            00            13            44            Record: (16-1)
 
LEADERS:
PASSING: KELLET, Josh (RGV) 24-45-0-258; TANNEY, Mitch (ALA) 16-27-0-196
RECEIVING: WILLIAMS, George (RGV) 9-137-1; BELL, Herman (ALA) 7-97-1

ATTENDANCE: 4,997

Schutt Offensive Player of the Game: Coco Blalock (RGV)
U.S. Army Ironman of the Game: Travis McAlpine (RGV)
ADT Defensive Player of the Game: John Mohring (ALA)
Cutters Catch of the Game: Mitch Tanney's 45 yd TD pass at end of second quarter to Herman Bell (ALA)