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AFL I Arizona Rattlers

Arizona Rattlers game notes

February 15, 2005 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Arizona Rattlers News Release


The Stakes: The Rattlers hope to end a two-game losing streak when they host the Colorado Crush. Arizona fell to Georgia last weekend in Atlanta, losing 61-47. The Crush dropped a heartbreaker to Chicago 51-48. Both teams come in at 1-2

The Series: Tonight is the fifth meeting between these two franchises. Arizona leads 3-1, including last season's Semi-Final victory to send the Rattlers to the ArenaBowl.

TV: Tonight's game will be broadcast on FSN Arizona. Kent Derdivanis and Ron Wolfley will call the game, with Kevin McCabe roaming the sidelines.

Radio: All Rattler games are broadcast on KMVP 860 AM. Craig Grialou and Dave Krieg will provide the commentary.

ARIZONA RATTLERS (1-2) Date Opponent Time TV 1/28 @ Grand Rapids Win 58-38 2/3 ORLANDO Loss 40-51 2/12 @ Georgia Loss 47-61 2/19 COLORADO 7:30 FSNAZ 2/27 @ New York 1:00 NBC 3/6 LOS ANGELES 6:00 - 3/13 @ Tampa Bay 10:00a NBC 3/19 LAS VEGAS 7:00 FSNAZ 3/28 @ Nashville 6:30 - 4/3 @ San Jose 6:00 FSNAZ 4/8 COLUMBUS 7:00 FSNAZ 4/22 AUSTIN 7:00 FSNAZ 4/30 @ Los Angeles 7:30 - 5/7 CHICAGO 7:00 FSNAZ 5/14 SAN JOSE 7:00 - 5/22 @ Las Vegas 12:00 NBC

COLORADO CRUSH (1-2) Date Opponent Time TV 1/30 @ Orlando Loss 36-39 2/45 GRAND RAPIDS Win 72-56 2/13 CHICAGO Loss 48-51 2/19 @ Arizona 7:30 FSN 2/27 LOS ANGELES 1:00 NBC 3/13 @ Nashville 4:30 - 3/20 COLUMBUS 1:00 - 3/25 @ Dallas 6:30 - 4/3 LAS VEGAS 12:00 - 4/10 PHILADELPHIA 10:00a NBC 4/17 @ Chicago 10:00a NBC 4/22 SAN JOSE 6:00 - 4/30 @ Grand Rapids 5:00 - 5/8 @ New Orleans 10:00a NBC 5/13 NASHVILLE 6:00 - 5/21 @ New York 4:00 -

Head Coaches: Todd Shell is in his first season as Head Coach of the Rattlers. The 2003 AFL Coach of the Year has a regular season record of 47-38 (.553), with stints in San Jose and New York. Shell has won three division titles, including back-to-back Eastern Divisions with New York in 2003 and 2004. Shell was the team's original Defensive Coordinator, helping lead the team to the 1994 ArenaBowl Title.

Mike Dailey begins his second season in Colorado and ninth in the AFL. Dailey led the Crush to a 12-6 record in his first season, including the team's first ever playoff victory. Dailey's career record is 76-54 (.588), including the 1999 ArenaBowl title with the Albany Firebirds.

Last Meeting: Arizona clinched it's third straight trip to the ArenaBowl with a thrilling 45-41 victory over the Crush. Sherdrick Bonner found Siaha Burley for a 13-yard score with 17 seconds left to put Arizona up four. The Crush drove to the nine yard line of the Rattlers, but John Dutton's final pass attempt was incomplete, sending the Rattlers to the ArenaBowl.

#1 All-Time: On a 28-yard kickoff return in the second quarter against Georgia, Hunkie Cooper passed George LaFrance to become the AFL's all-time leader in all-purpose yardage. Cooper now has 20,535 career all-purpose yards. Cooper also ranks first in kickoff returns, third in KO Return TDs, and third in receptions. All-Purpose Yards: 1. # Hunkie Cooper 20,535 2. George LaFrance 20,480 Kickoff Returns 1. # Hunkie Cooper 498 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 945 3. # Hunkie Cooper 774 # denotes Active Player

Next Week: Arizona heads back across the country to New York for a meeting with Todd Shell's former team, the New York Dragons. The Sunday, February 27th game will kick off at 1 PM Arizona time and will be shown on NBC.

Officials: Officials for tonight's game are: Dennis Lipski (Referee), Richard Brown (Umpire), Tim Podraza (Head Linesman), Art Lucky (Line Judge), and Joe Duncan (Back Judge).

Last Week: Arizona dropped their second straight game, falling to the Georgia Force 61-47 in Atlanta. Joe Germaine, making his second career start, threw five TDs, but was picked off twice in the loss. Jim Kubiak connected on 72% of his passes to lead the Force to the victory.

To Play Or Not To Play: QB Sherdrick Bonner will be a game time decision. Bonner has missed the past two games with a leg injury, and is currently on IR.

IR: Arizona has eight players on Injured Reserve. QB Sherdrick Bonner, FB/LB Bo Kelly¸ WR/LB Ryan Dennard, WR/DB Orshawante Bryant, QB Travis Cole, WR/DB Evan Hlavacek, FB/LB Phil Glover, and OL/DL Vince Amey.

Climbing The Charts: Wendall Gaines is making his ascent up the Rattlers all-time sack list. Thanks to his sack of Jim Kubiak Saturday, Gaines now has ten career sacks, one short of Bryan Henderson's team record.

Familiar Faces: Rattlers Kicker Anthony Brenner kicked for the Crush last season...John Peaua spent three seasons in Arizona before joining the Crush in 2004.

Divisional Seperation?: This is the first time in franchise history that the Rattlers have not faced a divisional opponent within the first three weeks of the season. Arizona had opened with a Western Division foe for four straight years. They will not play a division opponent until Week 6, when they host Los Angeles.

Quick Hits: This is the third straight season Arizona has started 1-2...

Other Games This Week: February 17 Orlando Predators at Dallas Desperados February 19 Nashville Kats at New York Dragons Chicago Rush at Columbus Destroyers Austin Wranglers at Grand Rapids Rampage February 20 Philadelphia Soul at New Orleans VooDoo San Jose SaberCats at Los Angeles Avengers Georgia Force at Las Vegas Gladiators BYE: Tampa Bay

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Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from February 15, 2005


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