Dorados dominate Sharks 48-26

Tuesday July 15, 2008

Hidalgo, Texas— The Rio Grande Valley Dorados outscored the Corpus Christi Sharks 27-3 in the fourth quarter to take a 48-26 victory Monday night at the Dodge Arena. Both clubs are now 6-8 as they vie for one of the final af2 playoff spots. With the victory, the Dorados take the season series with the Sharks 2-1.

RGV led 21-16 at the half, but the Sharks pulled ahead briefly in the third quarter with a 23-21 advantage after a Jonathan Graham 5-yard TD reception with 3:12 left in the third.

The Rio defense stepped up in the final 15 minutes and sealed the win on a pair of fumble recoveries late in the quarter. Rio’s Travis McAlpine recovered two fumbles in the game, including a forced fumble one play after the Dorados fumbled the ball away themselves. The forced fumble with 7:20 remaining in regulation gave RGV the ball on the Corpus Christi 3-yardline. The Dorados took the lead for good on one play as QB Travis Cole ran the ball in to make it a 35-26 contest with Brian Hazelwood’s extra point.

McAlpine, who earned Ironman of the Game honors, later recovered a Sharks fumble at the Corpus Christi 1-yardine for a TD after QB Fran Johnson was sacked with 5:22 remaining. Reggie Hargrove also recovered a Sharks fumble for a TD with less than a minute on the clock.

The Dorados play host to the Austin Wranglers this Saturday at 7:30 p.m. The first 1000 fans receive Dorados T-Shirts.