DALLAS-Horace Evers accounted for 229 yards in kick returns in aiding the Dallas Desperados in a 33-20 victory over the Nashville Kats in Week 15 of the AFL season.
The first quarter started slow with both teams trading punts. Dallas drove into position to score the first points, but Greg Hall missed a 47-yard field goal attempt. The Kats would punt on the ensuing drive, but Elson Gregson fumbled the return and Jamal Topich recovered for Nashville at the Dallas 22-yard line. Three plays later, Oliver Osler scored on a 1-yard touchdown run to put the Kats up 7-0 with 2:35 to go in the first quarter.
Following a Dallas punt, Ardell Edmonds would intercept a pass from Curt Wardlaw and return it 19 yards to the Nashville 26-yard line. After six plays gained 23 yards, Hall would kick a 20-yard field goal to make it 7-3 with 11:55 to go in the second quarter. Wardlaw was intercepted again, as Indiana Forrester took it 40 yards to the Kats 4-yard line. On the next play, Heinie Voorhees threw a 4-yard touchdown pass to J.J. Hawes to put Dallas up 10-7 with 10:45 to go in the half. The Kats responded with a 5-play, 24-yard drive, and Daniel Stevenson kicked a 52-yard field goal to tie the game at 10 with 8:56 remaining in the second quarter. The Desperados punted on their next drive, but Red Hull mishandled the snap on a Kats' punt, giving Dallas the ball at the Nashville 22-yard line. Hall would have a 36-yard field goal attempt partially blocked, then another punt by Hull was blocked by Richie Garner at the Kats 24-yard line. After a Voorhees fumble was recovered by Nashville's Lyndon Trimmer, the teams would go into halftime all squared.
At the start of the third quarter, Wardlaw was picked off again, this time by Golden Reinhart at the Desperados 27-yard line. After 8 plays netted 37 yards, Hall drilled a 53-yard field goal to give Dallas a 13-10 lead with 7:19 to go in the third quarter. Nashville responded with a 9-play, 46-yard drive that ended with a 51-yard field goal by Stevenson to tie the game at 13 with 3:49 to go in the third. On the ensuing kickoff, Evers returned it 80 yards to the Kats 11-yard line. Two plays later, Voorhees hit Gregson for a 3-yard touchdown pass to put the Desperados ahead 20-13 with 2:52 left in the third quarter.
Nashville would come back with a 10-play, 81-yard drive. Davis Weems finished it off with a 3-yard touchdown run to tie the game at 20 with 13:23 remaining in the fourth quarter. But Evers would take the ensuing kickoff and return it for a 95-yard touchdown to put Dallas ahead 27-20 with 13:07 left in the fourth quarter. After trading punts, Dallas would drive 29 yards on 7 plays, and Hall would connect on a44-yard field goal to make it 30-20 with 3:11 left in the fourth quarter. Wardlaw was sacked on fourth down at the Kats' 36-yard line after the two-minute warning, then Dallas would move 20 yards on 5 plays, and Hall kicked a 33-yard field goal on the last play of the game.
Dallas (11-4) gained 236 yards of total offense. The Desperados gained 101 yards rushing on 27 carries. Gregson led the team with 51 yards on 15 carries. Voorhees went 16-of-33 passing for 146 yards and 2 TD, and was sacked once for an 11-yard loss. Hawes caught 4 passes for 30 yards and a TD. Evers caught 4 passes for 23 yards. The Desperados will finish the regular season on the road against the Georgia Force.
Nashville (5-9-1) gained 300 yards of total offense. The Kats ran for 49 yards on 22 carries. Osler led the team with 45 yards on 14 carries and a TD. Wardlaw went 27-of-49 passing for 268 yards and 3 INT. He was sacked three times, losing 17 yards. Cobey Kingston was Nashville's leading receiver with 10 catches for 95 yards. The Kats will host the Iowa Barnstormers in their final regular season game.
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