July 17, 2010

By Kenny Bybee

DALLAS, TX -- The streak is finally over. After 10 straight agonizing losses the Dallas Vigilantes got the gorilla off their back with an enormous 65-52 overtime victory over the first-place Chicago Rush Saturday evening at Allstate Arena.

Dallas outscored Chicago 13-0 in overtime, the first time this season the Vigilantes went into extra periods. The Vigilantes scored on the opening possession of the extra frame on a gutsy fourth down pass from Drafts to Larry Brackins.

Then, needing a stop to win the game, Delenall Reid came up with the biggest play of the season by intercepting Chicago’s JJ Raterink and returning it all the way for a touchdown as the Vigilantes stormed the field. It was Reid’s second interception of the night and his team-leading fourth of the season.

The Vigilantes needed a clutch kick from Mark Lewis just to get to overtime and the veteran came though by nailing a 27-yarder as time expired.

Dallas (2-12) won for the first time since defeating Oklahoma City on April 30 (55-34). Collin Drafts had the best game of his career and season by throwing for 302 yards and completing 30-of-45 passes for six touchdowns and no interceptions. Kenny Henderson led the way in receiving with 10 receptions for 110 yards and two touchdowns.

Chicago (10-5) was led by Raterink, who was forced into the game after an injury to starter Russ Michna. Raterink completed 13-of-19 passes for 156 yards, three touchdowns and one costly interception.

It didn’t take Dallas long to get on the board, scoring on only the second play from scrimmage on a 24-yard strike from Drafts to Henderson to take a 7-0 lead. The Vigilantes then caught a break when Michna fumbled the first play of scrimmage from the Rush and Duke Pettijohn recovered; however, Dallas’ drive stalled on four straight plays.

Dallas’ defense would come up with another turnover when Reid picked off a Michna pass off a deflection to give Dallas great field position. Unlike the time before, the Vigilantes capitialized on a clutch fourth-and-four conversion that resulted in a 20-yard touchdown pass from Drafts to Matt Fields to gain a 14-0 advantage with 3:37 left in the opening quarter.

Chicago finally got on the scoreboard with 13:24 left in the second quarter on a 9-yard strike from Michna to Syvelle Newton to cut the Dallas lead to 14-7.

Dallas received a scare midway through the second quarter when Henderson was flipped hard over the wall. Not only was Dallas’ leading receiver fine, he came back the next play and scored his second touchdown of the night on a nine-yard pass from Drafts to put Dallas up 21-7.

The Rush would score quickly after the Henderson touchdown on a 4-yard TD pass from Michna to DeJuan Alfonzo from four yards away, bringing Chicago to within 21-14.

Things began to fall apart for Dallas right before the half, allowing a long TD run from Alfonzo and Drafts was called for intentional grounding in the end zone for a safety to cut Dallas’ lead to 28-23. Chicago had looked to cut the lead to 28-26 on a 47-yard field goal from Chris Gould but an offensive holding call wiped out the kick.

Dallas will look for its second win in a row next week when it hosts the Utah Blaze Saturday, July 24 at 7:30 p.m. The contest marks the home finale of the 2010 season for Dallas. Saturday night's game, which is Fan Appreciation Night, will also feature the retirement of Clint Dolezel's No. 13. Special tickets are available for $5 for the contest and can be purchased by calling 972.378.5454 or at Ticketmaster.