Record-setting win ends Dorados' regular season

HIDALGO — The Dorados knew they needed a good outing Saturday night to get them ready for the playoffs.

They got much more, setting some af2 records in the process.

In their final regular season game, the Dorados (9-7) routed lowly Corpus Christi 78-51. Wide receiver Rod Windsor set the af2 single-season records for points (374), receptions (184), TDs and receiving TDs (59) in a season, getting 12 catches for 157 yards and four scores.

Needing 2 TDs entering the final quarter, Windsor broke the record set earlier this season by Quad Cities’ Jesse Schmidt with a 17-yard score with 1:17 remaining to give him the marks for both TDs and receiving TDs. It capped off a season that, even for af2 standards, was special.

“I was just trying to get it, try to get it in the end zone,” Windsor said. “I knew I had one more. I just wanted the ball so when it got into my hands I knew I was going to work for it.”

Leading 56-33 at halftime, the Dorados had a chance to score 94 points, which would have been an af2 record. Though they didn’t reach that, and Windsor was unable to gain the 187 yards needed to set the single-season receiving yardage mark, not much else went wrong for the Dorados. One week after struggling to beat a poor Tri-Cities team with nothing to play for, RGV did what it was supposed to in easing past the Sharks (2-14).

“It’s real big (to get a win like this),” Windsor said. “The defense needed a little motivation, the offense needed to come out and play good so I think that helped us a lot.”

Not only did the Dorados thoroughly outplay a team they were supposed to, they even got some luck.

One play after a defensive stop gave the Dorados the ball at the Sharks’ 12 with 4:46 left in the second, Hill had a pass batted into the air and intercepted by Brian Ellis at the 1. Ellis’ momentum carried him into the end zone where he was stripped of the ball, with the fumble recovered by the Dorados’ Marcus Harris for an apparent TD.

After about a five-minute conference, the officials awarded Harris the score, which gave the Dorados a 40-27 lead.

“Things went our way,” Dorados coach Marty Hammond said. “When you’re playing hard, things are going to happen to good teams, and I think that was the case tonight.”

TOUCHBACKS: The Dorados will play at Bossier-Shreveport in the first round of the National Conference playoffs next Saturday night. ... Back in the lineup after regaining his starting spot, quarterback Nick Hill went 23-for-30 with 327 yards and eight scores.

Brian Sandalow covers the Rio Grande Valley Dorados for Valley Freedom Newspapers. You can reach him at (956) 683-4436.

Dorados stick

Saturday’s Game

DORADOS 78, SHARKS 51

SHARKS              20    13   12   6 —  51

DORADOS           20   36     7  15  —  78

First Quarter

RGV — Rod Windsor 14 pass from Nick Hill (Radamez Rubio kick), 11:40.

CC — Brandon Hussey 28 pass from John De Los Santos (Nick Gatto kick), 8:15.

RGV — Ramonce Taylor 23 pass from Hill (Rubio kick no good), 6:35.

CC — Hussey 41 pass from De Los Santos (Gatto kick), 4:02.

RGV — Bret Smith 4 pass from Hill (Rubio kick), 53.1.

CC — Chris Campbell 25 pass from De Los Santos (Gatto kick no good), 10.0.

Second Quarter

RGV — Taylor 56 kickoff return (Rubio kick), 14:44.

CC — Hussey 4 pass from De Los Santos (Gatto kick), 11:19.

RGV — Smith 12 pass from Hill (Rubio kick), 8:50.

RGV — Marcus Harris fumble recovery in end zone (Josh Kellett pass to David Miller), 4:46.

CC — Anthony Chambers 39 pass from De Los Santos (Gatto kick no good), 3:45.

RGV — Windsor 25 pass from Hill (Rubio kick), 2:51.

RGV — Smith 26 pass from Hill (Rubio kick), 15.8.

Third Quarter

CC — Nathan Fricke 23 run (De Los Santos run failed), 11:02.

RGV — Taylor 2 run (Rubio kick), 6:13.

CC — Chambers 11 pass from De Los Santos (De Los Santos pass failed), 54.2.

Fourth Quarter

RGV — Windsor 4 pass from Hill (Rubio kick no good), 9:43.

CC — Chambers fumble recovery in end zone (De Los Santos pass failed), 2:42.

RGV — Windsor 17 pass from Hill (Rubio kick good), 1:17.

RGV — De Los Santos sacked in end zone, 54.6

Team statistics

                                  CC             RGV

First downs               12               21

Rush-yards            13-(-6)          18-18

Passing                    287             327

Total Offense            281             345

Comp-Att-Int          20-34-0       23-30-1

Sacked-Yds lost       4-19            0-00

Fumbles-Lost            4-2              0-0

Penalties-Yards       7-37          13-133

Individual statistics

RUSHING — CC: Campbell 5-21, 1 TD; De Los Santos 6-(-16); Chambers 2-(-11), 1 TD.  RGV: Hill 2-12; Taylor 2-4; Harris 2-2.

PASSING — CC: De Los Santos 20-34-1, 287 yards, 6 TD. RGV: Hill 23-30-1, 327 yards, 8 TD.

RECEIVING — CC: Graham 8-80, 1 TD; Chambers 7-84, 2 TD; Hussey 2-68, 2 TD; Campbell 1-25, 1 TD; Atauyo Nkeshe 1-21; Nathan Fricke 1-9 . RGV: Windsor 12-157, 4 TD; Smith 7-102, 3 TD; Taylor 3-65, 1 TD; Todd Williams 1-3.

Attendance: 5,273 Time: 2:50