Preds fall at home to Desperados 67-41
Friday May 23, 2008
DESPERADOS DEFEAT PREDATORS 67-41
Amway Arena was the sight of the biggest game in Week 13 of Arena Football League action when the Dallas Desperados hooked up with the Orlando Predators. An announced crowd of 12,633 saw the Desperados (10-2) knock off the Predators (8-5) 67-41 behind a strong second half performance which saw Dallas outscore Orlando 39-13.
The game opened up with the Preds scoring quickly on a 1-yard Marlon Moye Moore plunge to put Orlando up 7-0. After three defensive penalties, Desperados QB Clint Dolezel hooked up with Marcus Nash to tie the game at 7-7.
Kevin Nickerson made his impact on the final play of the first quarter, making an acrobatic and juggling catch from 30 yards away that gave Orlando a 14-7 lead at the end of the first quarter. Stafford was a perfect 4 of 4 passing for 72 yards in the quarter.
Following a tricky play where the Desperados WR/DB Will Pettis threw his first career touchdown pass. Dallas then pulled out the stops by recovering a surprise onside kick. Dolezel uncharacteristically ran for a touchdown which left the Preds trailing 21-14. Dallas went with another surprise onside kick following this touchdown and recovered it, but an illegal block penalty gave the Predators excellent field position.
Nickerson took advantage of the short field and scored a touchdown on fourth down to knot the game at 21-21. The two teams traded touchdowns heading into the one minute warning, but the Predators kept themselves in the game by forcing a Remy Hamilton field goal attempt with 22 seconds left in the half. The kick failed, and the Preds went into the dressing room tied at 28.
It was the last time the Predators were not behind in the game.
“We go in tied at halftime and then three minutes later, we’re down by 16. Some of those are self-inflicted wounds, others they just made the plays,” said head coach Jay Gruden after the game. “Against a team like this, you’re not going to win too many times.”
Dallas ran a quick three play touchdown drive to open the 2nd half, and then recovered the ensuing kickoff that hit the bar. Dolezel threw his 3rd touchdown pass of the game to Pettis, which pushed the lead to 35-28.
Dolezel finished the night with four touchdown passes, extending his Arena Football League career record 910 TD passes.
On the first play from scrimmage on the next Preds possession, Stafford was sacked by Rickie Simpkins in the end zone for a safety, which made the score 44-28 Dallas. Even though the Predators held the Desperados on downs the next drive, Stafford threw a pass that was ruled a lateral on the second play of their next possession. Nickerson picked the ball up but was tackled in the end zone for the Preds second consecutive safety. Dallas capitalized this time, as Dolezel hooked up with Anthony Armstrong to push their lead to 53-28.
The third quarter ended well for Orlando, as Jake Eaton came in off the bench to replace Stafford and immediately led the team on its only TD drive of the quarter. Orlando trailed 53-34 after three quarters.
The Predators have now been outscored 202-155 in the third quarter of games this season.
The fourth quarter did not start well for Orlando either; Eaton’s second pass of the half was picked off by Pettis, who returned it 42 yards for a touchdown. He had a touchdown rushing, receiving, passing, and on an interception in the game, and he earned Ironman of the Game honors for his effort.
Former Predator, Chris Sanders entered the game in relief of Dolezel and led Dallas to another touchdown drive, which pushed Preds deficit to 33 points.
T.T. Toliver scored an inconsequential touchdown with 50 seconds left in the game to make the final score 67-41 Dallas.
Needing 203 yards to break Barry Wagner’s single season all-purpose yardage total (2876), Toliver came up short, posting a season-lows 37 return yards and 129 all-purpose yards. He should break that record next week at home against the Arizona Rattlers, needing just 74 total yards to eclipse the all-time Predator great.
Stafford finished the game 10 for 14 for 102 yards and three touchdowns, but only completed one pass in the second half. Eaton threw two touchdowns and two interceptions in relief.
In his second game as a Predator, Nickerson had five catches for 64 yards and three touchdowns.
Ron Johnson, celebrating his 28th birthday, had six catches, bringing his total to 102 receptions on the year. Johnson became the third receiver in Predator history to reach the 100 catch plateau for a single season. He trails only Javarus Dudley (107 catches in 2007) and Cory Fleming (131 catches in 2004) for the most receptions in team history. Toliver also recorded his 100th catch of the season in the fourth.
Defensively, Ahmad Carroll paced the team with 6.5 tackles, but did have two costly penalties on the opening drive of the game which set the tone for Dallas.
Orlando finished the game minus two in turnovers, bringing them to minus 14 on the season.
The Predators are now 8-5 and sit a half game behind the New Orleans VooDoo for the Southern Division lead. Next week face the Rattlers in a game that will be critical for the Predators to assure themselves of a 17th consecutive playoff appearance. Saturday’s game is set to kick off at 7:30 p.m. and will be carried on the radio on 540 AM WFLA in Orlando.
