Rio Grande Valley Dorados



Years of Existence: 2004-2009
Venue: Dodge Arena (Hidalgo, TX)
Accomplishments:
2004 –
2005 – Quarterfinal appearance
2006 -
2007 - Southwest Division champions, quarterfinal appearance
2008 -
2009 - Playoff appearance
Lifetime Record: 57-45
Home: 33-18
Away: 24-27
Playoffs: 3-3
Average Attendance: 4,618

The Rio Grande Valley Dorados did not enjoy success in their first season. A 3-1 start turned into a 6-10 finish and no postseason. In 2005, the team completed a winning season and qualified for the playoffs. The Dorados defeated Quad City, keeping the Steamwheelers' from winning their first playoff game in four years. Then, the team upset the Tulsa Talons. However, Memphis proved to be just too much, as the Dorados' season ended with a 64-49 loss. In 2006, the Dorados couldn't win against the best teams on their schedule, going 2-6 against playoff bound teams. Early in the year, the team dropped a 75 spot on the Tulsa Talons, a franchise high for points scored at home. On the other side of the coin, Birmingham put 84 on the Dorados late in the season. Quarterback Josh Kellett led the Dorados in 2007. Receivers George Williams and Coco Blalock combined for 71 touchdowns and the Dorados won 15 regular season games. Ten of the games came against other teams in Texas, none of which did well at all, except for Lubbock. The lone loss came against Bossier-Shreveport in week 3. The Dorados won their division and were the top seed in the National Conference playoffs. The team barely survived Alabama in round one and then met the Battlewings in the quarterfinals. An early 13-0 lead evaporated and the Battlewings took control late in the game, handing Rio Grande Valley a 50-45 loss. In 2008, the Dorados had three 1,000 yard receivers in Eddie Jackson, Jermaine Carpenter, and Anthony Chambers. Quarterback Travis Cole passed for 62 touchdowns and rushed for eight more. The team won three of its final four games. However, the team allowed opponents to convert 61% of fourth downs and finished at 7-9 on the year. The 2009 Dorados were led by Nick Hill, who threw 93 touchdowns. Rod Windsor was the star of the team and one of the best in the league, amassing 2,364 yards and 59 touchdown catches. Bret Smith contributed 1,198 yards and 27 scores. The Dorados were one of the best offensive teams in the league, scoring 58 points per game. However, the defense was giving up just as much, and the team would lose seven games, giving up 55 points per game. The record was good enough for the sixth seed and a trip to Bossier-Shreveport. In the lowest scoring meeting of the season between the two teams, it was the Battlewings who took advantage of a turnover on downs in the third quarter to mount a two score lead. The lead would prove insurmountable, and the Dorados would fall in Louisiana 56-46. Following the 2009 season, the Dorados folded.