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AFL Arizona Rattlers

Arizona Rattlers Game Notes

May 7, 2003 - Arena Football League (AFL)
Arizona Rattlers News Release


The Stakes: The Rattlers try to get back in the win column when they take on the Rush. Arizona is coming off a 63-49 loss to the Avengers, while Chicago handed Carolina their 14th loss of the season, 57-38.

The Series: This is the second regular season meeting, and third overall between these teams. Arizona beat the Rush 46-35 in the semi-finals of last season's playoffs to earn an ArenaBowl berth. The Rattlers also knocked off Chicago 52-41 during the regular season. This will be the Rattlers first trip to Chicago.

TV: NBC will broadcast today's game to a national audience. Mike Breen and Ray bentley will call all the action.

Radio: All Rattler games are broadcast on KMVP 860 AM. Kent Derdivanis and Ron Wolfley will provide the commentary.

Head Coaches: Head Coach and General Manager Danny White (123-58 overall, 108-50 regular season) is in his 12th season with the Arizona Rattlers. The 2002 Arena Football Hall of Fame inductee is second all-time in coaching victories, with 117 wins. White is only the second coach in AFL history to notch 100 wins. White's career-winning percentage of .680 ranks fifth all-time in AFL history. He is a two-time ArenaBowl Champion (1994, 1997).

Mike Hohensee is in his third season with the Rush, having led Chicago to the second round of the playoffs in each of his two seasons. Hohensee owns a career record of 67-63 in his tenth season as an AFL head coach. Hohensee, a former AFL quarterback, threw the first touchdown pass in Arena Football League history.

Last Meeting: Arizona scored the first three touchdowns of the 8/11/02 semi-final game, earning a trip to ArenaBowl XVI with a 46-35 victory. Sherdrick Bonner was 20-33 for 261 yards and four touchdowns to lead the Rattlers to their third ArenaBowl.

Playoff Posturing: Despite the loss to Los Angeles, the Rattlers clinched a playoff berth for the eleventh consecutive season. Arizona currently sits in the sixth seed, and would host the Detroit Fury if the playoffs began today.

Big Hunk: WR/LB Hunkie Cooper cements his status as an AFL legend on a weekly basis. Cooper added two more touchdown catches to his season numbers in the loss to LA. Cooper ranks first all-time in kickoff returns, second all-time in all-purpose yards, third in kickoff return touchdowns, and fourth in pass receptions.

Golden Lefty: Rattlers Quarterback Sherdrick Bonner is third all-time in Arena Football history with 521 touchdown passes. He is ranks second in passing yards (26,321) and pass completions (2,074). Bonner also ranks fourth for pass attempts (3,354).

New INT Record: Randy Gatewood's interception on 4/26 was the 23rd of his career, putting him alone atop the Rattlers all-time list. Gatewood broke a tie with Cecil Doggette for the top spot. It was his eighth of the season, extending his single season franchise record.

Milestone Marker: Several Rattler players have reached significant milestones this season. Quarterback Sherdrick Bonner passed the 25, 000 career passing yard mark on 4/6 against Orlando. Bonner threw for his 500th career touchdown pass on 4/13 at Los Angeles. Hunkie Cooper became the AFL's all-time leader in kickoff returns on 3/23 at Indiana, returning his 461st career kickoff. Bo Kelly passed the 1,000 career rushing yards mark on 4/26 against Carolina.

Career Year: Sherdrick Bonner has already reached a new career high in touchdown passes in a single season. Bonner has 75 so far this year, eclipsing his old record of 72 set during the 2000 season. Keep in mind that Bonner missed two games this season with a separated shoulder. Bonner is 463 yards away from setting a new career high in passing yards. He threw for 3, 690 yards in 1996. The AFL named Bonner the Offensive Player of the Month for the month of April.

Next Week: Arizona finishes off the regular season in Denver, when they battle the Colorado Crush. The 12:00 Arizona time game will not be televised.

Last Week: Arizona had their four game win streak snapped by Los Angeles, 63-49. Chris Jackson had six touchdown catches to lead the Avengers past the Rattlers. Sherdrick Bonner threw for 308 yards and seven scores in the loss.

Officials: Officials for today's game are: Tom McCabe (Referee), Thomas Laverty (Umpire), Brent Durbin (Head Linesman), Bob McElwee (Line Judge), and James Anderson (Back Judge). Winning Tradition: With one more victory this season, the Rattlers will secure their eleventh straight winning season. The Orlando Predators currently own the league's longest streak with winning seasons in each of the last 12 years (1992-present). The Tampa Bay Storm had their eleven winning seasons streak snapped last season. They had a winning season every year from 1991-2001.

Weekly Awards: The Rattlers have won six weekly awards so far this season. WR/DB Randy Gatewood has earned two of them, being named the ADT Defensive Player of the Week against the Fury on 3/7 and Ironman of the Week for his play versus Las Vegas. WR/LB Hunkie Cooper was named Ironman of the Week following the Indiana game. Sherdrick Bonner has been named Offensive Player of the Week three times, including back-to-back awards following the Los Angeles and Grand Rapids games.

IR: OL/DL Lindsay Hassell is on Injured Reserve and expected to miss the remainder of the season with a torn ACL. K Nelson Garner was placed on Injured Reserve prior to the 4/19 game with a broken arm. Chris Sailer, who kicked for the Rattlers for part of 2002, was signed to fill in for the injured Garner. Monster 80's: The Rattlers became the first team in the history of the Arena Football League to score 80 or more points in consecutive games when they posted 82 points against Los Angeles on April 13 and Grand Rapids on April 19.

Ironmen: Only two Rattlers players have appeared in all 14 games this season. Hunkie Cooper and Mark Tucker are the only ones who haven't sat out a game. Cooper hasn't missed a game since the 1999 season.

More NBC: In addition to Mike Breen and Ray Bentley, Dave Burns will be working the sidelines for the Peacock Network. The Rattlers are 4-4 on NBC this season.

Snake Bytes: The Rattlers are 5-1 this season when they score first...Arizona is 6-3 when they hold a lead at halftime...When the Rattlers score last, they are 6-1...Hunkie Cooper has caught a pass in every game this season...Arizona finished the regular season 5-3 at home. They are 52-22 all-time in the regular season at America West Arena. They are 45-24 all-time in the regular season on the road....Arizona is 26-10 all-time in the month of May.



Arena Football League Stories from May 7, 2003


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