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AFL I Arizona Rattlers

Arizona Rattlers game notes

April 4, 2007 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Arizona Rattlers News Release


QUICK FACTS:

Game: Arizona Rattlers at Los Angeles Avengers

Date: Friday, April 6, 2007

Kickoff: 7:30 p.m. (MST)

Site: Los Angeles, Calif.

Arena: Staples Center (17,942)

Television: None

Radio: ESPN Radio 860-AM KMVP (Kent Derdivanis, Randy Gatewood); Sirius Satellite Radio, Ch. 116

Internet: www.azrattlers.com

Series Record: Rattlers lead 10-6 (all-time)

Last Meeting: Arizona 58, Los Angeles 45, Mar. 24, 2006, U.S. Airways Center, Phoenix

Officials: Perry Havener (R), Tom Laverty (U), Bill Ward

(HL), David Meslow (LJ), Keith Washington (BJ)

Head Coaches: Arizona - Gene Nudo (second season, 9-12); Los Angeles - Ed Hodgkiss, (sixth season, 45-37)

RATTLERS IN REVIEW: The Rattlers continue to copy last season's results, once again dropping the first three games, winning in Week 4 and losing again in Week 5. Arizona's 1-point 62-61 overtime loss last week at Kansas City continued the Rattlers tough luck with close contests as the team has lost its four games by a combined 11 points. After losing a number of receivers throughout the season, Arizona got a bit of good news last week as CURTIS FAGAN returned from the injured reserve list for his first game of the season. Former Sun Devil JOSH GOLDEN also saw his first action of the season as the defensive back had been on the team's practice squad. The Rattlers will hope they can continue to copy last season - when the team began a four-game winning streak in Week 6.

THE SERIES: Friday marks the 17th all-time game between the two division rivals. Arizona has taken 10 of the previous 16 match-ups (regular and post-season), including a 58-45 victory on Mar. 24, 2006 in Phoenix - the last time these teams faced one another. Though Arizona leads the all-time series, Los Angeles has won three of the last four meetings.

ARIZONA RATTLERS (1-4)

Date Opponent Win/Loss Score

Mar. 3 Georgia L 65-69

Mar. 10 Utah L 71-75

Mar. 16 @ Colorado L 54-56

Mar. 23 Las Vegas W 68-41

Mar. 30 @ Kansas City L 61-62

Date Opponent Time (AZ) TV

Apr. 6 @ Los Angeles 7:30 None

Apr. 14 Nashville 7:00 None

Apr. 20 @ Utah 6:00 None

Apr. 28 @ New York 4:00 FSAZ

May 5 San Jose 7:00 None

May 12 Austin 7:00 FSAZ(delay)

May 18 @ Tampa Bay 4:30 None

May 26 Chicago 7:00 FSAZ

June 3 @ Las Vegas 3:00 None

June 11 Los Angeles 7:00 ESPN2

June 16 @ San Jose 7:30 FSAZ

June 18-24 BYE WEEK

Los Angeles Avengers (2-2)

Date Opponent Win/Loss Record

Mar. 4 San Jose L (66-58) 0-1

Mar. 12 @ Orlando W (44-37;OT) 1-1

BYE WEEK

Mar. 24 @ New Orleans W (48-36) 2-1

Apr. 1 @ Chicago L (66-31) 2-2

Apr. 6 Arizona

Apr. 13 @ Utah

Apr. 21 @ San Jose

Apr. 28 Grand Rapids

May 6 @ Las Vegas

May 12 Tampa Bay

May 19 Georgia

May 26 @ Kansas City

June 2 Chicago

June 11 @ Arizona

June 17 Las Vegas

June 23 Utah

THE "IF" SECTION

If the Rattlers defeat the Avengers it would:

- be their second consecutive win vs. Los Angeles

- be their first road win of the season

- be their first win at Los Angeles since May 1, 2004 (42-38)

- mark the second consecutive year Arizona has started the season with a 2-4 record

Rattlers Coaching History

Season - Head Coach Record

1992-2004 Danny White 141-57 (playoffs 20-10)

2005 Todd Shell 7-9

2006- Gene Nudo 9-12 (playoffs 1-1)

SLOW STARTERS: The Rattlers have hardly been known for breaking out of the gates quickly in recent years, though they've finished strong. In their last five seasons, Arizona is a combined 13-24 during the first half of the season, including last week's loss at Kansas City. Despite the slow starts, the Rattlers were still able to make title runs in 2003 and 2004 and advance to the semifinals last season.

Los Angeles Avengers wide receiver LENZIE JACKSON is a familiar face to many football fans in the Valley of the Sun as Jackson played his college ball at Arizona State. The former Sun Devil ranks third in the league this season in receptions among all receivers with 44 (Chris Jackson, Georgia, 46). He also has 479 yards receiving and seven touchdowns.

The 2007 Rattlers find themselves in a familiar position to that of the 2006 squad. For the second consecutive year, the Rattlers have lost the opening three games of a season, recorded their first win in Week 4 and lost in Week 5. Last year's Rattlers squad rebounded from its Week 5 defeat to go on a four-game winning streak.

Given the potency of the Rattlers offense this season, it should come as no surprise that the team ranks among the league's elite when it comes down to Red Zone efficiency. Arizona ranks second in scoring within the 10-yard line at 92.3 percent (26 trips - 24 TDs, one FG).

The Rattlers active roster features a number of players who have played either college football, high school football or both within the state of Arizona. Both OL/DL VINCE AMEY and ALBREY BATTLE suited up at Arizona State, helping to lead ASU to an undefeated PAC-10 season and a trip to the Rose Bowl. WR/DB JOSH GOLDEN also attended and played at ASU. On the practice squad, rookie OL/DL BRANDON PHILLIPS is a Chandler native who played his high school ball at Tempe's Corona Del Sol before going on to the University of Arizona. On injured reserve, WR JUSTIN TAPLIN is an Arizona native who was born in Phoenix and graduated from Tempe High School. Taplin also played at Arizona State.

SHERDRICK BONNER may be in his 15th year of Arena Football, but the quarterback still has plenty of passes up his sleeve. Bonner is the fifth highest ranked quarterback in the league this season with a 121.4 rating (Clint Dolezel, Dallas, 134.5). Bonner is third in the league this season in passing touchdowns with 34 (Griesen, Georgia, 37) and his 1,458 passing yards also ranks third among his peers (Joe Germaine, Utah, 1,695). Bonner's 38,401 career passing yards have him on pace to become just the second quarterback in AFL history to reach 40,000 passing yards (Andy Kelly, New Orleans).

Recap: WEEK 5

Arizona Rattlers @ Kansas City Brigade

Mar. 30, 2007 Attendance: 8,512

RATTLERS FALL TO KC IN OT 62-61

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - The Arizona Rattlers (1-4) had lost three of their first four games by a combined 10 points, but Friday night's 62-61 overtime defeat at Kansas City (2-2) was an especially tough pill to swallow.

Making the defeat even more devastating for the team was that the Rattlers held a 41-20 advantage with just over four minutes remaining in the third quarter.

"We shot ourselves in the foot with turnovers," Vince Amey said. "We were up on them by 21 points. We just need to learn how to finish. We're a good ball club, but we've got to learn how to finish."

A game of great highs and large lows for the Rattlers all came down to one play. After the Brigade opened the overtime period with a Boo Williams 35-yard touchdown reception, Arizona responded with a 31-yard TD connection from Sherdrick Bonner to Kevin McKenzie.

With the end of overtime's opening part - in which each team gets possession of the ball - near, and sudden-death overtime looming, the Rattlers took a shot at a victory with a two-point conversion. However, Bonner's pass to McKenzie in the right corner of the end zone went incomplete.

For many of the players, the decision to go for two was the right call.

"It came down to one play and both teams wanted it," Jeremiah Pope said. "I think that was the right decision because we had the momentum and they hadn't stopped us much in the red zone all game. They made a defensive play and it went in their favor."

The Rattlers started the game strong, stymieing Kansas City's opening drive on a Grant Steen interception - his second of the season. The play gave Arizona first-and-goal at the Brigade 5-yard line, leading to a touchdown reception by Trandon Harvey and an early 7-0 lead. Arizona would maintain an advantage throughout the game until Kansas City tied the score at 41-41 on a Denario Smalls' 42-yard interception return two minutes into the final quarter.

Smalls' interception capped a 21-point comeback by the Brigade, which also used an onside kick during a run of three consecutive scores. The comeback came on the heels of a strong second quarter by the Rattlers defense, which held the Brigade scoreless during the period to take a 27-13 halftime lead.

The two teams battled back and forth throughout the final quarter with Kansas City taking a 55-47 lead with 35 seconds left in the game. Bonner led Arizona down the field for the final drive of regulation, connecting with Harvey on a 20-yard pass with five seconds remaining on the clock.

Down by a pair of points, the Rattlers were faced with their first two-point conversion situation of the night, this one to force overtime. Bonner found Pope in the end zone to tie the score at 55-55. Kansas City was left with a 55-yard field goal attempt that was no good.

The 62-points allowed by Arizona overshadowed a strong defensive effort by the Rattlers. Keyuo Craver led all players in the game with nine tackles along with a pair of forced fumbles. Joe Todd recovered a loose ball and Vince Amey tallied a sack.



Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from April 4, 2007


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