(Dallas, TX- Friday, May 20, 2016)
Throughout training camp, the Dallas Desire staff and players felt confident that despite being an expansion team they could compete in the LFL this season. The team felt it had a nice blend of experienced veterans and young-but-talented rookies that could result in its share of victories in 2016. What no one on the roster could account for was how the team — and the coaching staff — would respond once they stepped into the bright lights of a regular season game.
In the 33-32 thrilling loss to the L.A. Temptation — a contest many throughout the league call the best game in the history of the LFL — the Desire had its share of mistakes but also showed the league what the players had been seeing all those days of practice leading up to the game — they aren’t your typical expansion team.
What went right for Dallas:
To say the team was balanced offensively would be an understatement. Not only did the offense split the 266 yards of total offense almost in half — 130 rushing yards and 136 passing yards — but six players either caught one pass or had positive yards rushing.
Leading the way was tight end, Jade Randle. The former Ivy League athlete finished the game with three catches for 84 yards and two touchdowns but she had other key moments — including a crushing block that allowed running back Cortnee White (pictured) to score on a 35-yard scamper — throughout the evening that caught the attention of LFL fans.
Speaking of White, she was another player that Desire head coach Melvin Bullitt had great things to say about leading up to the season opener and on Saturday she lived up to the hype. White showed the speed and balance needed to be one of the up-and-coming backs in the league. Her ability to make defenders miss was put on display during a 35-yard touchdown run when she not only eluded four L.A. defenders but somehow avoided the wall while keeping her balance on the way to the end zone.
Victoria Thomas aka “the beast” was pivotal to the success of the Desire offense as she was the leading rusher with 57 yards and one touchdown on 10 carries. Her value was truly tested when she was forced to leave the game with what was thought to be a shoulder injury. Without her in the lineup, not only did the offense lose a back that dished out punishing blows to the Temptation defense but someone who provided extra protection for Angel in the passing game.
In Thomas’ absence, Cassandra Ashley stepped in and contributed 23 yards rushing and had one reception for 13 yards. Ashley isn’t the bruiser that Thomas is, but she showed some toughness during a key 11-yard run that could lead to her getting more carries as the season progresses.
What didn’t go well for Dallas:
It’s usually the little things that separate the contenders from the pretenders and unfortunately versus L.A., Dallas had too many missteps that it couldn’t overcome to get the victory. Whether it was the crucial off-sides penalty that negated a potential L.A. turnover or not lining up correctly within the red zone there were too many mistakes cost the team — and against a team as talented as L.A there is little room for error.
After Danielle Hawkins’ two-yard touchdown catch to cut the deficit to 33-32 coach Bullitt was faced with a dilemma; tie the game and send it into overtime or go for the win. “We didn’t have enough firepower to go into overtime and we were pretty beat up, said Coach Bullitt on why he chose to go for the win. “We had the momentum and I felt it was the best call.”
What’s next:
There is not much time for the Desire to lick their wounds from this loss as it prepares to take on the Austin Acoustic in the inaugural LFL Texas Bowl. Austin is coming off of a 42-21 victory over the New England Liberty and is playing with a lot of confidence. In addition to finding ways to exploit the smaller Acoustic defense and corralling the elusive Teshay Winfrey at quarterback, it will be important for the Dallas players to get as healthy as possible. The availability of Jaramillo, Pugh and Thomas for this rivalry game is still pending but with this being the home opener, you would think that it would take a lot to keep them off the field.
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