Desperados beaten down in this heavyweight battle
Special to the Star-Telegram
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PHILADELPHIA -- Had Monday night's game against the Philadelphia Soul been a prize fight, the Dallas Desperados would have been issued a standing eight count shortly after the opening bell.
Stumbling and bumbling from the outset, Dallas (7-1 overall, 3-1 division) looked more like rope-a-dopes than Arena Bowl favorites in falling 57-28.
And while its counterpart repeatedly squandered red zone opportunities, the Soul (9-0, 3-0) took sole possession of the Eastern Division in dominant fashion.
"We didn't live up to the hype," Dallas coach Will McClay said. "This team wanted to win so bad, but we weren't on the same page early, and things started snowballing. Clint [Dolezel] took about 10 to 15 hits, and you just can't do that. You've got to protect your quarterback and put pressure on their quarterback. We didn't do that."
Philadelphia quarterback Matt D'Orazio torched the Dallas defense, completing 20 of 29 passes for 194 yards and six touchdowns.
McClay's squad had a chance to land the initial blow in the battle of the unbeatens, but instead turned the ball over on the first play from scrimmage. Dolezel (17 of 36, 206 yards, 2 TDs) lofted a pass downfield that sailed to the right -- just as his intended target, Will Pettis, cut left -- and Soul defensive back Mike Brown made a sprawling interception at his own 10 yard line. Brown's return to the Dallas 14 set the Soul up for a short scoring drive.
Things didn't get any better for Dolezel, who had a 34-yard touchdown pass wiped out by a holding call and was intercepted in the end zone on the next possession.
Late in the game, Dolezel took a big hit on his fourth interception and "bruised some ribs," Dolezel said. "But the thing that bothers me more is that they outplayed us in every facet of the game. Still, we know that the ultimate goal is to win the championship, and we'll be ready the next time we play these guys."
The rematch is scheduled for June 7 at American Airlines Center.
PHILADELPHIA 57, DESPERADOS 28
Breakdown
Why Philadelphia won: The Soul's first three possessions produced touchdowns, and Philly was in control from there.
Why Dallas lost: The Desperados' first three possessions produced two interceptions, two first-and-goal series and no points.
Notable: The matchup was the latest in the season that two unbeaten teams have met in the Arena Football League.
Up next: Dallas at Columbus, 6 p.m. Saturday,
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