AFL I Arizona Rattlers

Arizona Rattlers game notes

Published on March 16, 2004 under Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Arizona Rattlers News Release


The Stakes: The Rattlers look to get back in the win column after Sunday's heartbreaking overtime loss to Las Vegas. New Orleans looks to continue their surprising start, searching for their sixth win of their inaugural campaign.

The Series: This is the first ever meeting between the expansion Voodoo and the Rattlers.

Radio: All Rattler games are broadcast on KMVP 860 AM. All games are also simulcast over the internet at www.AZRattlers.com.

Star Watch: Rattlers OS Siaha Burley and Voodoo FB/LB Dan Curran are the one's to keep an eye on. Burley is first in the AFL in receiving yards, while Curran is first in the AFL in rushing. Burley has returned a kickoff for a touchdown in each of the last two games.

Media Contacts:
Rattlers: Randy Policar
602-514-8302, 602-750-9541 cell
Voodoo: Justin Macione
504-731-1848, 504-288-9907 cell

ARIZONA RATTLERS (3-3)
Date Opponent Time TV
2/8 Los Angeles Loss 32-51
2/13 Detroit Loss 31-48
2/21 @ Carolina Win 45-38
2/29 New York Win 53-41
3/5 Columbus Win 65-42
3/14 @ Las Vegas Loss 64-65 OT
3/18 New Orleans 7:00
3/27 @ Colorado 7:00 FSAZ
4/4 @ Grand Rapids 12:00
4/10 Las Vegas 7:00 FSAZ
4/18 Dallas 12:00 NBC
4/25 @ Indiana 12:00 NBC
5/1 @ Los Angeles 7:30 FSAZ
5/9 San Jose 12:00 NBC
5/15 @ Detroit 4:30
5/30 @ San Jose 1:00 NBC

NEW ORLEANS VOODOO (5-1)
Date Opponent Time TV
2/8 @ Philadelphia Win 42-34
2/14 Indiana Win 41-40
2/22 @ Georgia Win 55-52
2/29 @ Las Vegas Loss 30-50
3/7 Tampa Bay Win 55-43
3/12 Detroit Win 54-31
3/18 @ Arizona 7:00
3/27 Carolina 6:00
4/9 @ Orlando 4:30
4/18 Columbus 12:00 NBC
4/25 @ Austin 12:00 NBC
5/1 @ San Jose 7:30
5/9 Orlando 12:00 NBC
5/15 Georgia 5:00
5/23 @ Tampa Bay 12:00
5/30 Austin 1:00 NBC

Head Coaches: Head Coach and General Manager Danny White (131-62 overall, 113-53 regular season) is in his 13th season with the Arizona Rattlers. The 2002 Arena Football Hall of Fame inductee is second all-time in coaching victories, with 131 wins. White is only the second coach in AFL history to notch 100 wins. White's career-winning percentage of .678 ranks fifth all-time in AFL history. He is a two-time ArenaBowl Champion (1994, 1997).

Mike Neu is the man chosen to lead the expansion New Orleans Voodoo in their inaugural season. Neu was the head coach of the Carolina Cobras in 2002. He has a career record of 12-10.

Big Hunk: WR/LB Hunkie Cooper returns to Arizona for his 12th season. In the AFL record book, 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. Cooper was named the US Army Ironman of the Week for his performance against the Dragons on 2/29.
All-Purpose Yards:
1. George LaFrance 20,480
2. # Hunkie Cooper 19,886
3. # Barry Wagner 19,224
Kickoff Returns
1. # Hunkie Cooper 484
2. George LaFrance 460
Kickoff Return Touchdowns
1. Lamont Cooper 24
2. Steve Papin 23
3. # Hunkie Cooper 19
Pass Receptions:
1. Eddie Brown 949
2. # Barry Wagner 905
3. # Gary Compton 736
4. # Hunkie Cooper 733
# denotes Active Player

Lucky 13: Rattlers Quarterback Sherdrick Bonner is third all-time in Arena Football history with 556 touchdown passes. He ranks second in passing yards (28, 166) and second in pass completions (2, 236). Bonner also ranks second for pass attempts (3, 596).
Most Passing Touchdowns
1. # Aaron Garcia 578
2. # Andy Kelly 571
3. # Sherdrick Bonner 556
Most Passing Yards
1. # Andy Kelly 29,219
2. # Sherdrick Bonner 28,166
3. # Aaron Garcia 28,131
Most Pass Completions
1. # Andy Kelly 2,628
2. # Sherdrick Bonner 2,236
3. # Clint Dolezel 2,203
4. # Aaron Garcia 2,193
Most Pass Attempts:
1. # Andy Kelly 4,300
2. # Sherdrick Bonner 3,596
3. # Aaron Garcia 3,506
# denotes Active Player

Count Down: Hunkie Cooper needs only 114 yards to reach 20, 000 all-purpose yards for his career. Only George LaFrance has reached that milestone. Sherdrick Bonner needs 1, 834 passing yards to reach 30, 000 for his career.

Next Week: The Rattlers head to the Rocky Mountains to battle the Colorado Crush on March 27. The 7:00 Pm game will be televised on Fox Sports Arizona.

Officials: Officials for tonight's game are: Wes Fritz (Referee), Tony Payne (Umpire), Jim Hatfield (Head Linesman), David Chesney (Line Judge), and James Cole (Back Judge).

Injury Report: The Rattlers have five players currently on Injured Reserve. Arizona placed FB/LB Frank Trentadue on IR with a strained thigh. QB Travis Cole has a left ankle sprain, WR/LB Terence Davis is dealing with an eye injury, OL/DL Pete Tramontanas has a right ankle sprain, and WR/LB Larry Nixon has a right thigh contusion.

Last Week: Arizona dropped a heartbreaker in overtime, 65-64 to Las Vegas. The Rattlers rallied to tie the score with a two-point conversion at the end of regulation, but a missed PAT cost Arizona the victory.

Catch Him If You Can: OS Siaha Burley continues his onslaught of offense in 2004. Sunday against the Gladiators , Burley returned a kickoff 55-yards for a touchdown, his second straight game with a KO Return for a score. He also caught eight passes for 72 yards. Burley is tied for second in the AFL with 49 catches, and leads the AFL with 587 receiving yards.

Another One Bites The Dust: Bryan Henderson added another sack on Sunday, bringing his season total to five, tied for tops in the AFL. Henderson has now sacked his way to the second highest total for sacks in a season. With one more, Henderson will tie Cedric Walker and Andy Coviello for the Rattlers single season record. He is also three sacks away from the Rattlers career record, held by Stacey Evans.

Key AFL Dates: The AFL Trading deadline is April 7...The AFL claiming order will be established on April 8...The Regular Season ends May 30...AFL Playoffs begin on June 5...ArenaBowl XVIII is on June 27.

Other Games This Week:
Austin (3-2) @ Detroit (2-3)
Georgia (4-2) @ Indiana (1-5)
Columbus (1-5) @ New York (3-3)
Las Vegas (3-3) @ San Jose (4-1)
Tampa Bay (2-4) @ Carolina (2-4)
Los Angeles (3-2) @ Dallas (5-1)
Orlando (2-3) @ Chicago (4-1)
Colorado (4-2) Philadelphia (3-3)
BYE: Grand Rapids (0-6)

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Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from March 16, 2004


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