In the final tune-up before the playoffs start next week, Weylan Harding gave some young players extensive time on the field by sitting out his top two receivers and a starting lineman.

With nothing at stake except pride, the Dragons saw a young group struggle to stay with the Dallas Desperados in an 82-38 loss at the American Airlines Center.

The game meant nothing standings-wise to either team. New York (10-6) entered the contest assured of having the top wild card seed, giving them a home playoff game for the second straight year.

By virtue of having the best record in the National Conference, Dallas (13-3) will receive a first-round bye and home-field advantage throughout the preliminary rounds.

Harding will now be able to give his complete attention to next week’s first-round post-season contest. The game will be held at the Nassau Coliseum on May 21. Kickoff is set for 3:00 pm against an opponent to be determined.

With no possibility of improving the team’s playoff positioning, Harding kept Mike Horacek, Kevin Swayne, and Stacy Evans out of the game to give them a chance to rest. Those roster moves allowed the rest of the depth chart to see extensive game action.

OS Mutsumi Takahashi made his AFL debut, becoming the first Japanese player in Arena Football history. The 5-5, 171-pound wide out made his first reception in the second half, catching a pass from Sam Clemons on a crossing route. Despite a jarring hit, Takahashi held on to the ball for the milestone.

Matt Thomas also took advantage of the extra playing time, returning a kickoff 57 yards for a touchdown in the final minute of the first half. It was the rookie’s first professional kick return for a touchdown. He left the game with a knee injury in the second half. It is not expected to keep him out of action in the future.

Dallas rested some premier players of their own, keeping Will Pettis out of the game and lifting star quarterback Clint Dolezel in the second half.

Dolezel did stay in the game long enough to make history. His touchdown pass to Terrill Shaw late in the first half was his fourth of the game and 104th of the season, tying him with Dragons’ great Aaron Garcia for the most touchdown passes in a season.

Less than two minutes later, Dolezel broke the record. With the clock winding down to halftime, he connected with Dialleo Burks for his fifth touchdown and the new AFL mark.

“I was on pace for it last year if I didn’t hurt my finger,” said Dolezel to the Dragons post-game radio network. “You can’t have any injuries. We feel pretty blessed this year because there weren’t too many injuries.

By entering the game with 99 touchdowns, the 10- year veteran said he was just looking to get the first one out of the way and reach the century mark.

“I was happy just to throw one and get to 100,” he said to reporters after the game. “Shockingly we got it done in the first half. We wanted a win to have that little momentum going into the playoffs.”

FIRST HALF RECAP:
Dolezel added his name to the record books early on, becoming just the second quarterback in AFL history to throw 100 touchdowns in a season, accomplishing the feat on the opening drive.

Bobby Perry took advantage of a Dallas interception on the Dragons’ first possession. A convincing pump fake by Dolezel allowed Perry to break free from the defense, catching a touchdown pass to put the home team up two scores.

Kicker Jesse Obert finally put the Dragons on the board, drilling a field goal with 9:58 left in the half to make it 23-3.

Bruce Blue cut the lead to 30-10 late in the half by taking a handoff and barreling in to the end zone for his fourth rushing touchdown of the year.

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