June 23, 2008

Former West Texas A&M University wide receiver Anthony Armstrong will lead the Dallas Desperados into the first round of the Arena Football League (AFL) playoffs Friday night against the New York Dragons. Kickoff is set for 6:30 p.m. at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas.

The Desperados finished the 2008 season with a 12-4 record following a 75-63 loss at Chicago Sunday and will be the number-three seed in the National Conference.

Armstrong is in his second season with Dallas and is currently the team's third leading receiver this year with 85 catches for 1,148 yards and 18 TD's. He opened the season by catching eleven passes for 135 yards and two TD's in the Desperados' 51-41 season-opening victory at Georgia.

Armstrong's indoor pro football career began in 2006 with the Odessa Roughnecks of the Intense Football League, where he caught 55 passes for 760 yards and 18 touchdowns. He also ran the ball four times for 39 yards and three TD's and returned seven kickoffs for 166 yards and one TD. Last year for Dallas he had ten receptions for 126 yards and two touchdowns in just three games before suffering a hamstring injury on May 2.

Armstrong was an outstanding player for the Buffaloes from 2001-2004, and ranks as the school's sixth-leading all-time pass receiver with 145 catches for 1,768 yards and nine touchdowns. In 2003 he was selected as the Lone Star Conference South Division Receiver of the Year after leading WT with 54 catches for 740 yards and four TD's. He also tied a team and LSC record with a 100-yard kickoff return in the Buffs' 49-23 victory at Eastern New Mexico.

Armstrong received his bachelor's degree in marketing degree from WT in May 2005. Since joining the Dallas program, he has been an active participant in the Desperados' community outreach programs.