Dorados 66, Texas 40

Sunday March 30, 2008

HOUSTON --- The Rio Grande Valley Dorados opened the 2008 season with a 66-40 victory over the Texas Copperheads Sunday at the Berry Center. The win was Rio’s 10-straight on the road dating back to the 2006 season.
 
Jermaine Carpenter hauled in eight catches for four TD’s and 160 yards, while Anthony Chambers had three TD receptions. Quarterback Travis Cole finished 18-for-27, good for 281 yards and eight TD. He was intercepted once.
 
The teams traded TD’s in the first quarter with Texas taking a 14-13 lead into the second. Just 1:12 in, Cole connected with Carpenter for a 47-yard reception to give the Dorados a 19-14 lead after Dustin Bell’s extra point attempt failed. The Dorados never gave up the lead after that. Cole and Carpenter also linked up for a pair of 30-yard TD’s before the half.
 
Texas pulled within 12 of the Dorados after a 58-yard kickoff return by Armar Watson 4:44 into the third, but Cole and Carpenter came through with a 13-yard score with 7:21 remaining in the third.
 
Pierre Thomas picked off Texas QB Rudy Carlton with 5:24 in the final stanza to tie Rio’s record for road points (66), a mark set in the 2007 opener at Corpus Christi. Thomas added 13 tackles on the defensive side of the ball.
 
Shaun Rochon led the Copperheads with 13 catches for 135 yards and three TD. Carlton finished 25-for-46 with five TD and 276 yards. He was picked off three times.
 
The Dorados have next week off and return to action on the road at Corpus Christi on April 12.