Too hot to handle
Friday April 1, 2011
Vigilantes Fall to Blaze, 69-40
SALT LAKE CITY, UT- The Dallas Vigilantes' perfect record was snapped Thursday night at the EnergySolutions Arena, falling to the Utah Blaze, 69-40. Turnovers were the kryptonite to the Dallas offensive attack, as the Vigilantes coughed the ball up five times, one of which leading to a devastating Blaze touchdown to end the second quarter. Vigilante quarterback Dan Raudaubaugh completed 15 of 19 passes for 220 yards and five touchdowns, but his three interceptions would cast a shadow on his predominantly efficient performance. When on the field, the Dallas offense was electrifying at times, as Raudabaugh would lead the team on two one-play scoring drives.
Blaze quarterback Tommy Grady would capitalize on Utah's opening drive, connecting on a five-yard redzone pass to reciever Ernie Pierce. But in Dallas' first crack at offense after the Pierce touchdown, Raudabaugh found the equalizer, firing a quick slant to receiver Tiger Jones, set up from a previous Derrick Ross 15-yard power run.
The first quarter ended in a 7-7 tie, but the score would change abruptly, as the Blaze would open the second quarter with a Ben Stallings goaline touchdown run to put Utah up 14-7. After a costly Raudaubaugh interception, the Vigilante defense would make a crucial fourth down stop its own 19-yard line. After the Utah turnover on downs, Raudabaugh decided to score in a hurry, lobbing a 32-yard bomb to receiver Tiger Jones, his second touchdown of the game. Vigilante kicker Remy Hamilton would miss the extra point, putting Dallas down by one at 14-13.
Toward the end of the half, Dallas would drive all the way to the Utah four-yard. The Vigilantes were knocking on the door for the potential equalizer, until fullback Derrick Ross made a costly fumble, giving Utah the ball back with time to spare. The Blaze capitalized on the Dallas mistake, scoring on its last possession of the second quarter to go up by 14 points at halftime.
Ross found redemption at the beginning of the third quarter, hammering in a one-yard touchdown run to cut the Utah lead to 34-26. Another Vigilante turnover early in the quarter would help spark an offensive clinic by the Blaze, as Grady and receiver Aaron Boone would score twice to help Utah tack on 29 unanswered points to end the third at 55-26.
Dallas continued to fight in the fourth quarter, but the deficit was just too daunting to overcome. Ross found redemption at the beginning of the third quarter, hammering in a one-yard touchdown run to cut the Utah lead to 34-26. Another Vigilante turnover early in the quarter would help spark an offensive clinic by the Blaze, as Grady and receiver Aaron Boone would score twice to help Utah tack on 29 unanswered points to end the third at 55-26.
Dallas continued to fight in the fourth quarter, but the deficit was just too daunting to overcome. Matt Fields and Tiger Jones would both score off touchdown receptions to help Dallas reach the 40-point mark, but by the game's end, it would only be for the statbooks.
The loss to the Blaze moves Dallas to 2-1 on the season. Next up for the Vigilantes is a 7:05 p.m. match-up on Friday, April 8 at the Georgia Force. The game will be nationally televised on NFL Network as the AFL Game of the Week.
