NASHVILLE-RW Burns intercepted three passes and helped enable the Nashville Kats to defeat the Dallas Desperados 37-30 in the opening week of AFL Season 2.
Burns got it started on the first play of the game, intercepting Heinie Voorhees and returning it 40 yards to the Dallas 9-yard line. The Kats gained three yards on three plays, and Daniel Stevenson kicked a 23-yard field goal to take a 3-0 lead with 13:10 remaining in the first quarter. The Desperados came back with a 15-play, 84-yard drive ending with Voorhees throwing a 3-yard touchdown pass to Horace Evers to take a 7-3 lead with 8:11 remaining in the first. After Ardell Edmonds picked off Curt Wardlaw at the Desperados' 33-yard line, the Desperados moved 67 yards on 7 plays, ending with a 23-yard touchdown pass from Voorhees to Clem Shaffer giving Dallas a 14-3 lead with 3:39 to go in the first quarter.
Nashville punted on their next drive, then Dallas attempted a fake punt on their next drive, but Jean Butler's pass to Evers fell incomplete, giving the Kats the ball at the Desperados' 39-yard line. Six plays, Wardlaw hit Isaiah Falk for a 10-yard touchdown pass to make it 14-10 with 10:54 remaining in the second quarter. After a Dallas punt, Nashville drove 67 yards on 10 plays, and Stevenson connected on a 40-yard field goal to make it 14-13 with 3:24 to go in the half. Burns would pick off Voorhees again and return it 18 yards to the Desperados' 28-yard line, but Stevenson would miss a 31-yard field goal attempt late in the second. The ensuing Dallas drive was a near-carbon copy of the previous drive, as Burns once again picked off Voorhees and returned it 13 yards to the Desperados' 38-yard line. The Kats also had a near-carbon copy drive as Stevenson missed a 36-yard field goal attempt with 10 seconds left in the half.
Dallas capitalized on Oliver Osler fumbling the opening kickoff of the second half, and Indiana Forrester fell on the ball at the Nashville 37-yard line. After going eight yards on three plays, Greg Hall kicked a 46-yard field goal to extend their lead to 17-13 with 13:18 left in the third quarter. After the Kats punted, Voorhees was picked off by Lincoln Bingham who returned it 9 yards to the Desperados' 29-yard line. Two plays later, Wardlaw scrambled in for a 3-yard touchdown run to put the Kats ahead 20-17 with 10:43 left in the third. Dallas answered with a 6-play, 69-yard drive, and Hall kicked a 24-yard field goal to tie the game at 20 with 7:56 remaining in the third quarter. Nashville struck back, driving 75 yards on 11 plays. Wardlaw finished it off with a 25-yard touchdown pass to Alza Chipman to pull ahead 27-20 with 3:02 remaining in the third. Evers fumbled the ensuing kickoff and Henry Lockner recovered for the Kats at the Desperados' 29-yard line. Nine plays later, Wardlaw connected with Chipman with a 12-yard touchdown pass on the final play of the third quarter to give Nashville a 34-20 lead.
After Dallas punted to start the fourth quarter, Edmonds sacked Wardlaw and caused a fumble that was recovered by Guy Dodson at the Desperados' 49-yard line. Voorhees finished the 12-play, 51-yard drive with a 12-yard touchdown pass to Helmut Briley to make it 34-27 with 7:11 remaining in the fourth quarter. Osler fielded the ensuing kickoff and returned it 54 yards to the Dallas 27-yard line. After four plays gained seven yards, Stevenson kicked a 37-yard field goal to go ahead 37-27 with 5:51 to go in the fourth quarter. On the ensuing drive, the Desperados drove 53 yards on 7 plays. Hall would kick a 44-yard field goal to make it 37-30 with 2:38 left in the game. After a Nashville punt, Voorhees would be strip-sacked by Keith Ortiz and Tamlin Lake recovered for the Kats at the Dallas 12-yard line with 34 seconds left to seal the game.
Nashville (1-0) gained 323 yards of total offense. The Kats ran for 152 yards on 37 carries. Osler led the team with 75 yards on 16 carries. Wardlaw was 14-of-27 passing for 194 yards, 3 TD and 1 INT. He was sacked twice, losing 23 yards. Osler (25 yards), Vince Caselli (61 yards) and Chipman (48 yards, 2 TD) each caught three passes in the game. The Kats host the Tampa Bay Storm next week.
Dallas (0-1) gained 378 yards of total offense. The Desperados ran 74 yards on 19 carries. Voorhees led the team with 35 yards on 6 carries. He went 25-of-44 passing for 342 yards, 3 TD and 4 INT. He was sacked five times, losing 38 yards. Evers led the receivers with 6 catches for 46 yards and a TD. The Desperados visit the Milwaukee Mustangs next week.
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