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AFL I Arizona Rattlers

Arizona Rattlers game notes

January 24, 2006 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Arizona Rattlers News Release


QUICK FACTS:
Game: Arizona Rattlers at Los Angeles Avengers
Date: Sunday, January 29, 2006
Kickoff: 1:00 p.m. (Mountain)
Site: Los Angeles, Calif.
Arena: STAPLES Center (17,942)
Television: NBC (Ted Robinson, John Jackson, Fred Roggin)
Radio: ESPN Radio 860 (Kent Derdivanis, Dale Hellestrae)
Series Record: Arizona leads 7-5 (2-0 in playoffs)
Last Meeting: Los Angeles 59, Arizona 56 - April 30, 2005 at STAPLES Center
Officials: Bill Athan (R), Matt Jordan (U), Tim Podraza (HL), Tom Symonette (LJ), Greg Wilson (BJ)
Head Coaches: Arizona - Gene Nudo (first season, 0-0) Los Angeles - Ed Hodgkiss (fifth season, 38-24)

2006 RATTLERS: The Rattlers enter their 15th season in the 20-year-old AFL eager to put last year behind them. A 7-9 record in 2005 left the team out of the playoffs for the first time since their inaugural season. Despite a slow start, Arizona found life down the stretch, posting six wins in their last eight games. This year's campaign will be guided by new head coach Gene Nudo. Nudo will be on the sidelines for the first time since 1995 when he was a Rattler assistant but he is no stranger to the game as he has been in their front office for the past 12 seasons. He brought back 12 returnees, including QB Sherdrick Bonner, who is one of the league's most prolific passers. Returning for his 13th season, Bonner needs just 37 touchdown passes to become the third player in AFL history to throw for 700. Another veteran returnee, WR/LB Randy Gatewood hopes to become a prime candidate for "Ironman of the Year", an honor he took two seasons ago. The team also brought back FB/LB Bo Kelly, who enters his tenth season with the team. New faces include OS Shannon Culver, a veteran who looks to make a major contribution to the Arizona offense and WR/DB Jeremiah Pope, a promising rookie that was an af2 standout. The Rattlers bring back eight players to their front line, including linemen Wendall Gaines, Kelvin Ingram, and Mark Tucker. Defensively, the team will count on veteran DS Clarence Lawson to lead a backfield that includes four-year veteran Joe Todd, who was a free agent acquisition. K Gary Kral returns as well.
THE SERIES: This will be the 15th overall meeting between the two division rivals and 13th regular season matchup. After winning six straight in Los Angeles, the Rattlers dropped their first game at STAPLES Center during a 59-56 thriller on April 30, 2005. Despite the loss, the Rattlers still hold a 9-5 series advantage, which includes two playoff victories. This will be the second time the two teams meet on opening day. The last time was February 8, 2004 in Arizona. The Avengers took that contest, 51-32 in front of 14,343 at America West Arena.

ARIZONA RATTLERS (0-0)
Date Opponent Time(M) TV
Jan. 29 @ Los Angeles 1:00 NBC
Feb. 3 Austin 7:00 FSAZ
Feb. 12 San Jose 6:00 None
Feb. 18 Utah 7:00 None
Feb. 24 @ Columbus 5:00 FSAZ
Mar. 6 Nashville 7:00 None
Mar. 10 Orlando 7:00 None
Mar. 17 @ Las Vegas 8:30 FSAZ
Mar. 24 Los Angeles 7:00 FSAZ
April 2 @ San Jose 4:00 NBC
April 7 @ Utah 7:00 FSAZ(delay)
April 15 Chicago 7:00 None
April 23 @ G. Rapids 11:00a None
April 29 @ Dallas 5:00 None
May 6 Las Vegas 7:00 None
May 12 @ Colorado 6:00 FSAZ

LOS ANGELES AVENGERS (0-0)
Date Opponent Time(M) TV
Jan. 29 Arizona 1:00 NBC
Feb. 5 @ Philadelphia 11:00a NBC
Feb. 12 @ G. Rapids Noon None
Feb. 18 Chicago 8:30 FSN
Feb. 25 Utah 8:30 FSN
Mar. 5 @ Orlando 10:00a NBC
Mar. 12 @ San Jose 4:00 NBC
Mar. 19 Colorado 4:00 None
Mar. 24 @ Arizona 7:00 FSN
April 2 @ Las Vegas 4:00 FSN
April 9 @ Kansas City 11:00a NBC
April 15 @Utah 7:00 None
April 22 New York 8:30 FSN
April 29 San Jose 7:30 None
May 6 Nashville 7:30 None
May 13 Las Vegas 7:30 None


RATTLER HEAD COACH: Gene Nudo enters his first season as head coach to become the third head coach in franchise history. Nudo joined the Rattlers coaching staff in 1995 as an assistant head coach before becoming a part of the team's front office in 1996. A true pioneer in the AFL, Nudo coached the first-ever Arena Football games in Rockford, Ill. (1986) as well as its "Showcase Game" in Rosemont, Ill. (1987). He would later serve as the Director of Player Personnel and assistant coach for the Chicago Bruisers (1987-88), helping guide them to a berth in ArenaBowl II.

THIS WEEKS QUOTES:

Rattler head coach Gene Nudo on training camp: "Camp was extremely competitive, which made it hard for us when it came time to cut down the roster. All in all, I think we made a lot of progress. We have a good group of guys, but now it will just be about putting the pieces together. I give credit to our other coaches for having a productive camp."

Nudo on Los Angeles: "They always put together a solid team. They, like us, lost a couple of guys to free agency and have some new additions. Their quarterback is a young guy with not much experience, so it's hard to know what he will bring. We expect a very physical game up front. It's always big to start the season with a win, especially with a divisional win. We are anticipating a hard-fought battle."

Nudo on the keys to the game: "Since it is the first full game for both teams, you have to expect penalties and mistakes. The team that keeps their mistakes down will be in position to win. Our guys need to play disciplined football if they expect to come back home with a victory."

ARIZONA RATTLERS
2005 Results (7-9)
Date Opponent Result Score
Jan. 28 @ G. Rapids Win 58-38
Feb. 3 Orlando Loss 51-40
Feb.12 @ Georgia Loss 61-47
Feb. 19 Colorado Loss 69-74
Feb. 27 @ New York Loss 61-37
Mar. 6 Los Angeles Loss 33-29
Mar. 13 @ Tampa Bay Loss 59-56
Mar. 19 Las Vegas Loss 66-63
Mar. 26 @ Nashville Win 48-35 (OT)
April 3 @ San Jose Loss 48-27
April 8 Columbus Win 70-53
April 22 Austin Win 52-26
April 30 @ Los Angeles Loss 59-56
May 6 Chicago Win 61-43
May 14 San Jose Win 54-44
May 22 @ Las Vegas Win 49-42

NEXT GAME: The Rattlers return home to take on the Austin Wranglers on February 3, 2006 in their second-ever meeting. It will be the first of three consecutive games at US Airways Center for the Rattlers. The game will kick off at 7:00 p.m. and can be heard on ESPN Radio 860 AM.

THE "IF" SECTION
If the Rattlers defeat Los Angeles it would:
- be their fourth-straight victory
- be their seventh all-time opening day victory
- give them a 7-1 record at STAPLES Center
- give them a 2-0 record in the month of January
- give them a 1-0 start for the second-straight season
- give them a 4-3 all-time opening day road record

Rattlers Coaching HistorySeason - Head Coach Record
1992-2004 Danny White 141-57 (playoffs 20-10)
2005 Todd Shell 7-9
2006 Gene Nudo 0-0

DIVISION ADDITION: The league's Western division took new shape this year with the addition of the expansion Utah Blaze. The Blaze are coached by former Rattler head coach Danny White, who is the team's head coach and former Rattler WR/LB Hunkie Cooper, who is an assistant.

SLOW STARTERS: The Rattlers have hardly been known for breaking out of the gates quickly in recent years. In their last three seasons, Arizona is a combined 8-16 during the first half of the season. Despite the slow starts, the Rattlers were still able to make championship runs in 2003 and 2004.

Record to start seasonYear - season result First 8 (final overall record)
2003 lost ArenaBowl XVII 4-4 (13-7)
2004 lost ArenaBowl XVIII 3-5 (13-6)
2005 did not qualify for playoffs 1-7 (7-9)
2006 ??? 0-0

25 PERCENT OF THE TOP 20: The league's historical committee announced the top 20 players in AFL history on January 18, 2006. A total of five players with Rattler ties made the list, including current Rattler QB Sherdrick Bonner and WR/DB Randy Gatewood. Former Rattlers included Hunkie Cooper, Aaron Garcia, and Bob McMillen.

Top 20 Players of All-time
1. Eddie Brown - Albany, Indiana
2. Barry Wagner - Orlando, San Jose
3. George LaFrance - Detroit, Tampa Bay, New Jersey
4. Jay Gruden - Tampa Bay, Orlando
5. Hunkie Cooper - Arizona
6. James Baron - Chicago, Nashville
7. Sylvester Bembery - New England, Albany, Tampa
8. Sherdrick Bonner - Arizona
9. Stevie Thomas - Tampa Bay, Orlando, New Jersey
10. Dwayne Dixon - Washington, Detroit
11. Aaron Garcia - Arizona, Iowa, New York
12. Kurt Warner - Iowa
13 Sam Hernandez - Las Vegas, Anaheim, San Jose
14. Cory Fleming - Carolina, Orlando, Nashville
14. Greg Hopkins - Albany, Indiana, Los Angeles
16. Alvin Rettig - Detroit
17. Randy Gatewood - Arizona
17. Gary Mullen - Denver, Detroit, Cincinnati
19. John Corker - Detroit, Miami
20. Bob McMillen - Arizona, Chicago

13 = 8 = GREAT: Arizona quarterback Sherdrick Bonner is one of the league's best all-time field generals as he was honored as eighth greatest on the league's top 20 of all-time. In addition to owning every Rattler passing record, he is working his way up the league charts. Currently, Bonner ranks in the top four in four different all-time passing stats with 32,952 passing yards (No. 3 on the AFL career chart), 663 touchdowns (No. 3), 4,262 pass attempts (No. 3), and 2,650 completions (No. 4). Bonner has also won more games than any other quarterback in AFL history with 94 regular season victories and 17 playoff wins.

Career Passing
1. Andy Kelly - Kansas City Brigade 36,616
2. Aaron Garcia - New York Dragons 34,694
3. Sherdrick Bonner - Arizona Ratters 32,952

Career Touchdowns
1. Aaron Garcia - New York Dragons 725
2. Andy Kelly - Kansas City Brigade 717
3. Sherdrick Bonner - Arizona Ratters 663

Career Attempts
1. Andy Kelly - Kansas City Brigade 5,354
2. Aaron Garcia - New York Dragons 4,315
3. Sherdrick Bonner - Arizona Ratters 4,262

Career Completions
1. Andy Kelly - Kansas City Brigade 3,343
2. Clint Dolezel - Dallas Desperados 2,742
3. Aaron Garcia - New York Dragons 2,664
4. Sherdrick Bonner - Arizona Ratters 2,650

SCORING MACHINE: WR/DB Randy Gatewood scored a touchdown in 13 of his 16 games last season. He has a total of 169 touchdowns in his career as a Rattler.

PLAYERS TO WATCH THIS WEEK:

Avenger WR/DB Kevin Ingram: Last season's "Ironman of the Year" will be the biggest challenge for the Arizona defense. Ingram emerged as L.A.'s top receiver last year and returns to the 2006 squad as the team's most potent offensive weapon. The Rattler backfield of veteran defensive backs, Clarence Lawson and Joe Todd, will have to communicate well to stop Ingram. Ingram will probably see more looks than usual with LA offensive specialist Tony Locke on injured reserve. Arizona did well on holding Ingram in their last visit to STAPLES Center, limiting him to just 37 yards receiving.

Rattler WR/DB Randy Gatewood: 2003's "Ironman of the Year" hopes to outshine last year's award winner by replicating the two performances he had against Los Angeles last season. In two games against the Avengers, the two-way star caught a total of 13 passes for 170 yards. He also made an impact on defense, helping hold the Avengers to 33 points in their first meeting. Gatewood has the ability to put points up on both sides of the ball, as he intercepted five passes last season. With offensive specialist Siaha Burley gone to Utah via free agency, Gatewood should become the premier target for Sherdrick Bonner and the Arizona offense.

RECENT ROSTER MOVES:
Date Action Player
1/21 Placed on IR OL/DL Sebastian BarrieDS Wendell DavisWR/LB Curtis FaganFB/LB Asi FaoaOL/DL Anthony HutchOL/DL Steve MascorroFB/LB Steve Warren
Placed on Recallable Waivers OL/DL Ricky GasparQB Dennis GileOS Darrell JonesOL/DL Zach Rupp
Waived QB Nick RolovichOL/DL Doug GoodwinDS Kenneth StanfordWR/DB Justin Taplin
Released OS Damien GroceFB/LB Sunungura RusunungukoFB/LB Kelron Sykes
1/20 Signed FB/LB Sunungura Rusununguko
Waived FB/LB Vincent Brown
1/13 Signed OL/DL Sebastian Barrie
Activated from Refused to Report K Gary Kral
1/12 Signed OL/DL Ethan Bann ingDS Joseph Todd
1/11 Signed OL/DL Ricky GasparFB/LB Kelron Sykes
1/10 Signed QB Nick Rolovich
1/9 Signed QB Dennis Gile
Waived WR/DB Kenyatte Morgan
Released WR/LB Ricky Ross
1/6 Signed FB/LB Vincent BrownOL/DL Trevor Misipeka

THE RATTLERS ARE ...
- 0-0 at US Airways Center
- 0-0 on the road
- 0-0 when they score more than 50 points
- 0-0 when they score 60 or more points
- 0-0 when they allow less than 60 points
- 0-0 when they allow less than 50 points
- 0-0 when they allow less than 40 points
- 0-0 when they score first
- 0-0 when they commit fewer turnovers
- 0-0 when they commit more turnovers
- 0-0 when a player scores three or more touchdowns
- 0-0 when they score two or more TDs on the ground
- 0-0 when Sherdrick Bonner throws five or more TDs
- 0-0 when Randy Gatewood scores two or more TDs
- 0-0 when Randy Gatewood catches six or more passes
- 0-0 when Bo Kelley scores two or more TDs
- 0-0 when they commit fewer penalties
- 0-0 when they record at least one sack
- 0-0 when they go scoreless for at least one quarter
- 0-0 when they pitch a shutout in a quarter
- 0-0 when the game is decided by 7 or fewer points
- 0-0 when leading at halftime
- 0-0 when trailing at halftime

LAST MEETING WITH LOS ANGELES:

AVENGERS BEAT RATTLERS, 33-29
Courtesy of laavengers.com

Los Angeles, Calif. (April 30, 2005) -- There was a playoff atmosphere at STAPLES Center on Saturday night, and with a postseason berth possibly on the line with four seconds remaining, Avenger quarterback John Kaleo found WR/DB Kevin Ingram in the middle of the field for a game-winning 16-yard touchdown.

Trailing 56-52 with 11 seconds left on the clock, Kaleo made the call for Ingram to run the post-corner route.

"I saw the defender fall down on the post and Kaleo hit me with the ball and I was able to take it in for the touchdown," Ingram said. "This is big. This is a big win for us."

After Arizona WR/DB Randy Gatewood gave the Rattlers the lead late in the game, the Avengers, with their never-say-die attitude, never lost hope.

"We were very confident when we got the ball back with about 30 seconds left," said Avenger offensive specialist Tony Locke, who scored four touchdowns. "With the guys like K.I., Hopkins and myself, we knew we could score."

The 59-56 victory was the first by L.A. in seven tries against Arizona at STAPLES Center. The Avengers used a familiar formula to beat Arizona: force turnovers on defense, score at least 50 points on offense, and find a way to eek out a victory.

"It was awesome," Avenger head coach Ed Hodgkiss said. "I just told the team it was the first time that we have beat Arizona here ... it was the story of this year: a really ugly game, but we were able to hold on and win it."

The win improves L.A.'s record to 8-5 and put the team into a tie for first-place in the Western Division with San Jose, with the showdown between the teams just a week away. Arizona fell to 4-9.

"This places our destiny in our own hands," Hodgkiss said. If the Avengers are able to win their final three regular-season games, they will capture the team's first Western Division title.

In Week 6 at Phoenix, the Avengers had to scrap by the Rattlers, 33-29. Saturday night was no different as L.A. had to overcome offensive specialist Siaha Burley's four touchdowns - three in the first half - and fight off a ferocious second half comeback.

Leading the way on defense for the Avengers was OL/DL Silas Demary, who finished the game with 1.5 sacks and two forced fumbles. He now has a league-leading 11.5 sacks on the season.

Kaleo finished 18-of-26 for 211 yards and six touchdowns. More importantly he threw no interceptions for the seventh time this season.

Locke finished with 10 catches and 166 yards to go along with his four touchdowns, and now has 19 touchdowns on the season. His partner in crime, Ingram, had two touchdowns.

Rattler quarterback Sherdrick Bonner had an outstanding game in a losing cause, finishing 29-of-44 for 364 yards with six touchdowns and the one interception.

Demary and the Avenger defense picked up right where they left off last week and set the tone early. After forcing a fourth down, Demary sacked Bonner, forcing him to fumble the football, which was recovered by OL/DL Luis Almanzar at the Rattler 2-yard line.

The L.A. offense took advantage on its very first play, as WR/LB Greg Hopkins took the handoff from Kaleo and muscled his way across the goal line to give the Avengers a 7-0 lead.

Arizona responded on their next possession when Bonner found Burley for a seven-yard touchdown.

L.A. settled for a 28-yard Remy Hamilton field goal to regain the lead at the end of the first quarter. Hamilton is now 28-of-35 on field goals this season after he missed a 56-yarder right before halftime.

The Avengers went on to extend their lead to 38-20, midway through the third quarter, after FB/LB Lonnie Ford crashed over the goal line from a yard out to scored his ninth rushing touchdown of the year.

But the Rattlers came storming back. After Bonner scored on a one-yard run, former Avenger lineman Vince Amey sacked Kaleo in his own end zone for a safety, trimming L.A.'s lead to 38-29. Then, after fielding the ensuing kickoff, Bonner then found Jerald Brown for a 33-yard touchdown, making it 38-36.

Locke's third touchdown of the game gave L.A. some breathing room early in the fourth quarter, but not for long since Bonner found Gatewood for a 16-yard touchdown soon afterward. A missed extra point kept the Avenger lead at 45-42.

The Avenger offense then uncharacteristically turned the ball over to Arizona, which the Rattlers converted into a two-yard touchdown run by Burley, which gave Arizona its first lead since it led, 14-10, early in the second quarter.

Locke's fourth touchdown put L.A, back on top with just over five minutes remaining. However, with 38 seconds left, Bonner found Gatewood again to make it 56-52 in favor of the visitors.

ARIZONA (4-9) 7 13 16 20 -- 56
LOS ANGELES (8-5) 10 14 14 21 -- 59



ARENA FOOTBALL LEAGUE 2006 STANDINGS:

AMERICAN CONFERENCE
Western Division
W L T Pct. Pts. OP
Arizona 0 0 0 .000 0 0
Las Vegas 0 0 0 .000 0 0
Los Angeles 0 0 0 .000 0 0
San Jose 0 0 0 .000 0 0
Utah 0 0 0 .000 0 0

Central Division
W L T Pct. Pts. OP
Chicago 0 0 0 .000 0 0
Colorado 0 0 0 .000 0 0
Grand Rapids 0 0 0 .000 0 0
Nashville 0 0 0 .000 0 0

NATIONAL CONFERENCE
Eastern Division
W L T Pct. Pts. OP
Columbus 0 0 0 .000 0 0
Dallas 0 0 0 .000 0 0
New York 0 0 0 .000 0 0
Philadelphia 0 0 0 .000 0 0

Southern Division
W L T Pct. Pts. OP
Austin 0 0 0 .000 0 0
Georgia 0 0 0 .000 0 0
Kansas City 0 0 0 .000 0 0
Orlando 0 0 0 .000 0 0
Tampa Bay 0 0 0 .000 0 0

THIS WEEK IN THE AFL (all times EST):
Friday, July 27
Las Vegas at Austin 8:30 p.m.

Saturday, January 28
Orlando at Georgia 7:00 p.m.
Nashville at New York 7:00 p.m.
Utah at San Jose 10:30 p.m.

Sunday, January 29, 2006
Tampa Bay at Philadelphia 3:00 p.m.
Arizona at Los Angeles 3:00 p.m.
Chicago at Colorado 3:00 p.m.
Kansas City at Dallas 3:00 p.m.
Grand Rapids at Columbus 3:00 p.m.

ARIZONA CONNECTIONS: The Rattlers have three players with local connections: OL/DL Vince Amey (Arizona State alum), OL/DL Ethan Banning (coaches at Scottsdale Community College), and QB Dennis Gile (prepped at Cortez High in Phoenix). Two Rattlers - OL/DL Wendall Gains and OL/DL Mark Tucker - played for the Arizona Cardinals.

NFL RATTLERS: Twelve Rattlers have spent time on NFL rosters - OL/DL Vince Amey (1998 Oakland), OL/DL Sebastian Barrie (1992 Green Bay, 1994 San Francisco and Arizona), QB Sherdrick Bonner (1998 Atlanta), DS Wendell Davis (1996-99 Dallas, 1999 Washington), WR/DB Curtis Fagan (2005 Tampa Bay), OL/DL Wendall Gaines (1993-96 Arizona, 1997 Kansas City, 1998-99 Philadelphia), WR/DB Randy Gatewood (1995 Miami), OL/DL Kelvin Ingram (1995-96 New Orleans, 1996-97 Seattle), WR/DB Jeremiah Pope (2004 Philadelphia), WR/DB Wilson Thomas (2003 Kansas City, 2004), OL/DL Mark Tucker (1991 Atlanta, 1992 Indianapolis, 1993-94 Arizona, 1995 Jacksonville), and WR/DB Talib Wise (2005 Chicago). Three Ratters -- Amey (7th round), Davis (6th round), and Tucker (7th round) -- were NFL Draft picks. Davis is the most experienced, having played in 34 NFL games.

INDIVIDUAL GAME-BY-GAME AWARDS

"BABY RUTH OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE GAME": Voted on by the media, the award goes to the player who was the most valuable to his team's offensive success in the game, win or lose.
W Opp. Offensive Player of the Game
1 @ Los Angeles

"ADT DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE GAME": Voted on by the media, the award goes to the player who was the
most valuable to his team's defensive success in the game, win or lose.

W Opp. Defensive Player of the Game
1 @ Los Angeles

"U.S. ARMY IRONMAN OF THE GAME": Voted on by the media, the award goes to the two-way player who best demonstrated the ideals of the AFL's style of ironman football

W Opp. Ironman of the Game
1 @ Los Angeles

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