Sunday, Jul. 19, 2009

Fever loses close one to Rio Grande

HERALD STAFF

HIDALGO, Texas -- The Tri-Cities Fever is typically a country mile from victory in the closing minutes of its games this season.

On Saturday night, the Fever came within an arm's length.

Tri-City quarterback Colin Drafts had his pass tipped and then intercepted in the final minute as a Tri-Cities' rally fell short, losing 44-37 to the Rio Grande Valley Dorados at Dodge Arena.

"It's so disappointing," said Fever coach Pat O'Hara, "especially when you thought this was a winnable game."

It was the Fever's 12th straight road loss and left the team 0-8 away from Toyota Center this season.

The young Fever (2-13) team has one more chance for a victory this season next Saturday at home against a depleted Central Valley (3-12) team.

The Coyotes go for the three-game season sweep in what could be the Fever franchise's final game.

Team owner Doug Mac-Gregor has said that he will fold the team if he cannot find local investors by the end of the summer. Although there has been some interest in buying the team, nothing has materialized as of yet.

The Fever, which trailed by as many as 17 points in the second half, slowly worked its way back in the game thanks timely interceptions by Chris Hemphill and Jamie Hattley in the red zone.

Hemphill picked off former Fever quarterback Josh Kellett late in the third quarter and went 47 untouched yards for a touchdown to cut the margin to 37-30. It was Hemphill's third straight game with an interception.

After the two teams traded scores, Hattley picked off Kellett at the Fever 2-yard line with under five minutes left in the game, giving the Tri-Cities a chance to tie the game.

But on second down from the Rio Grande Valley (8-7) 11-yard line, Drafts had his pass intercepted on second down, all but ending a chance for a Fever come back.

"Our guys played hard," O'Hara said. "I am proud of their effort."

The Fever nearly played itself out of the game in the first half. After scoring on its initial drive of the game, Tri-Cities fell apart. The Fever fumbled the ball away twice -- once in the red zone, missed a field goal and had another field goal blocked.

That led to a 30-13 deficit at halftime with the Dorados starting the second half with the ball on offense. But the Fever defense would not allow the lead to get any bigger.

The Dorados' only score of the third quarter came on a 49-yard kickoff return by Travis McAlpine that extended the lead back to 17 at 37-20.

Rio Grande Valley's only offensive touchdown in the second half came when Kellett hit Rod Windsor with 9:52 left in the game to make the score 44-30. On the eight-play drive, Rio Grande Valley converted on two fourth downs, including the touchdown which came on a fourth-and-10.

"Our defense played good enough to win," O'Hara said.