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AFL I Arizona Rattlers

Arizona Rattlers game notes

April 18, 2007 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Arizona Rattlers News Release


QUICK FACTS:

Game: Arizona Rattlers at Utah Blaze

Date: Friday, April 20, 2007

Kickoff: 6:00 p.m. (AZ Time)

Site: Salt Lake City, Utah

Arena: EnergySolutions Arena (15,336)

Television: None

Radio: ESPN Radio 860-AM KMVP (Kent Derdivanis, Dale Hellestrae)

Internet: www.azrattlers.com; AFL Net (Video)

Series Record: Rattlers lead 3-1 (all-time)

Last Meeting: Utah 75, Arizona 71, Mar. 10, 2007, U.S. Airways Center, Phoenix

Officials: Bill Athan (R), Matt Jordan (U), Tim Podraza

(HL), Tom Symonette (LJ), Greg Wilson (BJ)

Head Coaches: Arizona - Gene Nudo (second season, 9-14); Utah - Danny White, (15th season; 133-66 regular season, 149-75 overall).

RATTLERS IN REVIEW: The Rattlers struggled to hold on to the ball once again as the team suffered six turnovers (4 fumbles, 2 interceptions) in a 62-36 loss last week to Nashville - a week after turning the ball over five times (4 fumbles, 1 interception) at Los Angeles. After averaging 63.8 points per game through their first four contests, the Rattlers were held to just 10 points through the first half vs. the Kats and 17 points at the end of three quarters, ultimately posting a season-low 36 points. A bright spot for the club was the return of WR/DB DARRELL JONES, who helped spark Arizona's special teams with 103 kickoff return yards - including a 49-yard return - in his first game back off the injured reserve list.

THE SERIES: Friday marks the fifth all-time meeting between the division rivals. Arizona took the first three meetings - including a first-round playoff victory last season - before falling to Utah 75-71 in Week 2 of this season. The Rattlers have only traveled to Utah once in the Blaze's two-year history, beating the Blaze 64-52 on Apr. 7, 2006.

ARIZONA RATTLERS (1-6)

Date Opponent Win/Loss Record

Mar. 3 Georgia L (69-65) 0-1

Mar. 10 Utah L (75-71) 0-2

Mar. 16 @ Colorado L (56-54) 0-3

Mar. 23 Las Vegas W (68-41) 1-3

Mar. 30 @ Kansas City L (62-61 OT) 1-4

Apr. 6 @ Los Angeles L (64-45) 1-5

Apr. 14 Nashville L (62-36) 1-6

Date Opponent Time (AZ) TV

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

Utah Blaze (5-2)

Date Opponent Win/Loss Record

Mar. 3 New Orleans W (63-61) 1-0

Mar. 10 @ Arizona W (75-71) 2-0

Mar. 18 @ Nashville L (69-55) 2-1

Mar. 23 Grand Rapids W (83-42) 3-1

Apr. 1 @ Las Vegas W (57-47) 4-1

Apr. 6 @ Austin L (65-64) 4-2

Apr. 13 Los Angeles W (76-63) 5-2

Apr. 20 Arizona

Apr. 28 @ San Jose

May 4 Dallas

May 12 @ Kansas City

May 18 Las Vegas

May 25 @ Orlando

June 4 Colorado

June 9 San Jose

BYE WEEK

June 23 @ Los Angeles

THIS WEEK'S QUOTES:

Rattlers head coach Gene Nudo on the Blaze now compared to the last match-up: "They're better. I think they're much better than the last time we played them."

Nudo on the key to Utah's success: "They've got great receivers, they play with energy, they've got good pass rushers, they've got a great kicker and they hustle. They do all the little things that a good team is supposed to do."

Nudo on playing in Utah: "The environment is good up there. They're riding high. They're a division leader. I think the Blaze are among the best teams in the league, which is what I thought the first time we played them. We've got our work cut out for us, but we're going to see what we can do."

ARIZONA RATTLERS 2006 Results (8-8)

Date Opponent Result Score

Jan. 29 @ Los Angeles Loss 31-40

Feb. 3 Austin Loss 34-53

Feb. 12 San Jose Loss 50-58

Feb. 18 Utah Win 45-38

Feb. 24 @ Columbus Loss 26-42

Mar. 4 Nashville Win 51-49

Mar. 10 Orlando Win 60-57

Mar. 17 @ Las Vegas Win 47-33

Mar. 24 Los Angeles Win 58-45

Apr. 2 @ San Jose Loss 49-61

Apr. 7 @ Utah Win 64-52

Apr. 15 Chicago Win 61-42

Apr. 23 @ Grand Rapids Loss 42-45

Apr. 28 @ Dallas Loss 46-54

May 5 Las Vegas Win 75-28

May 12 @ Colorado Loss 35-59

NEXT GAME: The Rattlers will make their first trip to the East Coast this season as they'll duke it out with the New York Dragons at the Nassau Coliseum on Long Island. The two teams last met in the New York area on Feb. 27, 2005, with the Dragons coming out the victors, 61-37. New York has struggled early this season on offense as the team was held to just seven points in a Week 1 loss and has scored the fewest points in the league heading into Week 8 (267).

Former Rattler reserve and Chandler, Ariz.-resident JOE GERMAINE has propped himself up among the league's elite quarterbacks this season. Germaine's 134.0 passing rating ranks No. 2 in the league (Brian Jones, LVG, 136.4) and his 2346 passing yards tops all signal callers. The Blaze quarterback passed for 433 yards and 10 touchdowns against the Rattlers back in a Week 2 win for Utah at the U.S. Airways Center. Germaine's 371-yard, 10 touchdown performance last week against the Avengers earned him the AFL's Offensive Player of the Week award for Week 7.

THE "IF" SECTION

If the Rattlers defeat the Blaze it would:

- be their first road win this season

- be their first road win since Apr. 7, 2006 (64-52 @ Utah)

- be their second win at Utah in as many games

- be their second division win this season (Mar. 23 vs. LV)

Rattlers Coaching History

Season - Head Coach Record

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

2005 Todd Shell 7-9

2006- Gene Nudo 9-14 (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 13-26 during the first half of the season, including last week's loss vs. Nashville. Despite the slow starts, the Rattlers were still able to make title runs in 2003 and 2004 and advance to the second round of the playoffs last season.

Top of the Charts

The Rattlers rank among the AFL's top offenses this season with a potent passing attack and a record-setting rushing game.

Following are offensive categories where Arizona ranks within the top five in the 19-team league:

Passing Yards - Total (3rd) 1766 (Utah, 2,005)

Passing Completions - (T-5th) 144 (New Orleans, 162)

Passing Touchdowns - (4th) 39 (Georgia, Utah, 44)

Rushing Yards (2nd) 199 (Austin, 235)

Rushing Attempts (4th) 64 (Nashville, 68)

Rushing Touchdowns (5th) 12 (Nashville, Tampa Bay, 18)

Total Points Scored (4th) 364 (Utah, 397)

Total Touchdowns - (3rd) 52 (Utah, 56)

WR/DB Darrell Jones made a splash in his first game back from injured reserve, taking a kick return 49 yards before being tackled just short of the end zone. Last season, Jones returned two kicks for touchdowns against Orlando, setting an Arizona single-game record. Without Jones, the Rattlers rank 11th overall with 673 kick return yards (Grand Rapids, 909) and eighth in field goal return yards with 35 (New Orleans, 99).

Familiar faces always line the sidelines when Utah and Arizona do battle. However a new twist to this budding rivalry has been added since the two teams last tangled back in March. DS TERRANCE JOSEPH joined the Rattlers roster prior to Week 6 after beginning the season with the Blaze and faces his former team for the first time since being released.

The scoreboard could be lit up again when the Blaze and Rattler meet on Friday night. The two clubs posted a combined 146 points in their meeting earlier this season and both continue to top the statistical charts. Both teams rank among the leaders in total points scored (#1 Utah, 473; #4 Arizona, 400), total touchdowns (#1 Utah, 67; #4 Arizona, 57) and passing yards (#1 Utah, 2,376; #3 Arizona, 2,061).

Perhaps a potential weapon for the Rattlers this Friday will be their rushing game. After all, the team ranks second in the league this season with 210 rushing yards (Austin, 301), led by AFL rushing king BO KELLY, who's 163 rushing yards ranks third (Adrian McPherson, Austin, 198). Kelly is also tied for second place with nine rushing touchdowns (Dan Alexander, Nashville, 18).

While the Rattlers have their fair share of players with Arizona ties, the Blaze also have strong ties to the state to their south. Though Utah has a number of former Rattlers on their roster, the Blaze also have many players - and a coach - who have played college football, high school football or both in the Grand Canyon State. WR/LB RYAN DENNARD, WR/LB TOM PACE, WR MICHAEL DAVIS and Head Coach DANNY WHITE all played college football at Arizona State. Quarterback Joe Germaine was a prep star at Mesa's Mountain View High School.

SHERDRICK BONNER may be in his 15th year of Arena Football, but the quarterback still has plenty of passes up his sleeve. Bonner's latest accomplishment came in last week's game vs. Nashville when he became just the second quarterback in AFL history with more than 5,000 career passing attempts. Next in Bonner's record-setting career is 40,000 passing yards. Currently with 38,942 career passing yards, Bonner is on pace to join New Orleans quarterback Andy Kelly in this elite club later this season.



Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from April 18, 2007


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