TULSA, OK–Since moving out of the Tulsa Convention Center in 2008, the Tulsa Talons have a perfect home record. That record was extended to an even 12 games as they defeated the Oklahoma City Yard Dawgz 67-41 in front of 7,235 enthusiastic fans in the amazing BOK Center on Saturday night.
The Talons hoped to erase the bad memory of a disappointing loss at the hands of the Cleveland Gladiators last week. The Talons came out of the locker room loaded for bear and hungry for a good win over their in-state rivals.
Carlese Franklin was the big man in the end zone, catching 3 passes for touchdowns and rushing for two more. Talons QB Justin Allgood threw 15 completions on 19 attempts for 178 yards and six touchdowns on the night, just 84 yards short of the all time passing record for Talons quarterbacks. Defensively the Talons sacked Yard Dawgz QB Tommy Grady three times and picking him off once, and the Talons forced 3 fumbles as well.
The Talons took the early lead on a 7 yard skip by Carlese Franklin. Grady threw the pick on the ensuing OKC drive and the Talons converted that into a 14 point lead when Jeff Hughley took a 5 yard pass from Justin Allgood into the endzone. From there, the Talons never looked back. The Yard Dawgz never had any momentum and looked flat in the game. Their poor offensive showing prompted the activation of backup QB Xavier Lee, but it was too little, too late as the powerful Talons defense was too much for him.
The Talons move to 4-3 on the season, which is good enough for first place in the AFL’s American Conference Southwest Division. Oklahoma City drops to 2-5 and are tied with the Bossier-Shreveport Battle Wings, the Talons opponent on the road next week. Oklahoma City will entertain the Alabama Vipers next weekend in the Cox Convention Center.
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Photos by: Kevin Pyle
The Talons will return home to face the Orlando Predators at 7pm June 5th in the BOK Center. Tickets are available at the BOK Center box office, at the Talons main office at 6221 S 107th E. Ave, or at tulsatalons.com