Sports stats



AFL I Arizona Rattlers

Arizona Rattlers game notes

February 22, 2005 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Arizona Rattlers News Release


The Stakes: Arizona hopes to break a three game losing streak when they head to New York to take on the Dragons. Todd Shell will face the team he coached the past two seasons. The Rattlers have never lost four straight games.

The Series: Today is the 11th meeting between these two organizations. Arizona is 6-4 all-time against the New York/Iowa franchise, and 1-2 against the Dragons. New York was known as the Iowa Barnstormers until 2001.

TV: NBC will televise this afternoon's game. Allen Bestwick and Charles Davis will call the action.

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

ARIZONA RATTLERS (1-3)
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 Loss 69-74
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

NEW YORK DRAGONS (2-1)
Date Opponent Time TV
2/6 DALLAS Win 55-45
2/11 @ Las Vegas Loss 37-41
2/19 NASHVILLE Win 62-49
2/27 ARIZONA 1:00 NBC
3/6 @ Philadelphia 10:00a NBC
3/12 GEORGIA 5:00 -
3/19 @ Austin 2:00 -
3/26 @ Columbus 5:00 -
4/2 CHICAGO 4:00 -
4/10 @ Los Angeles 12:00 NBC
4/17 @ Orlando 4:30 -
4/24 PHILADELPHIA 10:00 NBC
4/29 @ Dallas 5:30 -
5/7 COLUMBUS 4:00 -
5/15 @ Tampa Bay 10:00a -
5/21 COLORADO 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 47-39 (.547), 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.

Weylan Harding is in his first season with the Dragons. Harding was the Defensive Coordinator for the Columbus Destroyers for the past three seasons, and also played for the Iowa Barnstormers.

Last Meeting: These two teams hooked up last season in Phoenix, with Hunkie Cooper and Arizona emerging with a 53-41 victory. Cooper scored three touchdowns, and had an interception to help lead the Rattlers. New York's Aaron Garcia was knocked out of the game in the fourth quarter after being sacked by Bryan Henderson.

#1 All-Time: On a 28-yard kickoff return in the second quarter against Georgia on 2/12, Hunkie Cooper passed George LaFrance to become the AFL's all-time leader in all-purpose yardage. Cooper now has 20,550 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 20,550
2. George LaFrance 20,480
Kickoff Returns
1. # Hunkie Cooper 499
2. George LaFrance 460
Kickoff Return Touchdowns
1. Lamont Cooper 24
2. Steve Papin 23
3. # Hunkie Cooper 19
Pass Receptions:
1. # Barry Wagner 952
2. Eddie Brown 949
3. # Hunkie Cooper 774
# denotes Active Player

Wait and See: Arizona is taking a wait and see approach to starting QB Sherdrick Bonner's knee injury. It will likely be a game-time decision on whether or not he will play. If he can't go, Joe Germaine will make his fourth start.

Next Week: The Rattlers welcome Los Angeles to America West Arena for a Western Division battle. Arizona and the Avengers will play Sunday March 6 at 6:00 PM.

Officials: Officials for tonight's game are: Bill Athan (Referee), Tim Morris (Umpire), Tim Podraza (Head Linesman), Tom Symonette (Line Judge), and Greg Wilson (Back Judge).

Last Week: The Rattlers lost their third straight, falling 74-69 to the Colorado Crush. After giving up 50 points at halftime, Arizona battled back to take a lead late, but John Dutton led the Crush to the victory.

Home Sweet Home?: Arizona has started 0-2 at home for the second straight year, and third time in team history. The Rattlers dropped their first two at the Snake Pit last year, but won five of their last six at home to finish the season, before winning two more home playoff games.

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.

Dragons West: Arizona has five former Dragons on their roster: Linemen Jerry Sharp, Kelvin Ingram, Anthony Hutch, DS Terrance Joseph, and FB/LB Kerry Taylor. All five played for Coach Shell in New York last season. WR/DB Jerald Brown is on the Rattlers practice squad, and he played for New York last season. Stacy Evans, a lineman for New York, spent four seasons in Arizona.

Divisional Seperation?: This is the first time in franchise history that the Rattlers have not faced a divisional opponent within the first five 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.

Going Back to NY: In addition to the five players who played for the Dragons last season, three of the Rattlers coaches coached in New York last year. Todd Shell, Lary Kuharich, and Derrick Chachere coached the Dragons last year before moving on to Arizona.

Laundry List: Arizona has been flagged 46 times this season for 273 yards. That works out to an average of almost 12 flags per game for over 68 yards. The Rattlers are tops in the league in that category.

Hold On To Me: Arizona has turned the ball over nine times this year, including five interceptions. Last season the Rattlers had only 22 turnovers for the year.

• Discuss this story on the Arena Football League (1987-2008) message board...

Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from February 22, 2005


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central