• Recap
• Bleachers

Dolezel's late heroics helps Dallas earn playoff berth

May 15, 2007 - 6:01 AM DALLAS (Ticker) -- Clint Dolezel made sure the Dallas Desperados had the last laugh.

Dolezel hooked up with Will Pettis with just three seconds left in the fourth quarter to lift the Desperados to a 52-48 triumph over the Chicago Rush in a clash of two of the top teams in the league.

Chicago's Matt D'Orazio threw two touchdown passes to DeJuan Alfonzo to open the final quarter to give the Rush a 41-38 lead at the 11:33 mark.

Dolezel answered back with an one-yard scamper to regain the edge at 45-41 with 6:54 left. But Bob McMillen scored on an one-yard run for the Rush, setting up Dolezel's game-winning heroics.

Dolezel completed 25-of-34 for 274 yards and four TDs and Pettis and caught nine passes for 68 yards and two scores to help the Desperados (10-1) clinch a playoff berth.

D'Orazio went 28-of-42 for 284 yards and five touchdowns and rookie Rob Mager had 12 catches for 147 yards and a TD for Chicago (8-2).

"We lost to great team," Chicago coach Mike Hohensee said. "But I am proud that we battled right to the end and I think we will learn a lot from this game. Once again we fell behind and did not take advantage of some opportunities."