Arizona Rattlers Open Season with Comeback Victory
Published on March 13, 2011 under Arena Football League (AFL)
Arizona Rattlers News Release
PHOENIX - The Arizona Rattlers battled from behind to beat the Jacksonville Sharks 55-52 at the US Airways Center on Saturday night (March 12) to win the organization's first home opener since 2002.
Trailing the Sharks throughout the game, Rattlers' WR JASON GEATHERS caught a nine yard touchdown pass from a scrambling QB NICK DAVILA with 31 seconds left to put the Rattlers up 53-52. FB ODIE ARMSTRONG scored on a two-point conversion to cap off the scoring. On the Sharks opening play of what would be its' final series, LB KEVIN MCCULLOUGH pulled down an interception to seal the win for the Rattlers.
Davila carried the Rattlers through the air, connecting on 27-of-46 passes for 284 yards and five touchdowns. Odie Armstrong led the rushing attack for the Rattlers with two carries for 12 yards. WR TRANDON HARVEY netted 12 catches for 130 yards and four touchdowns. Geathers also contributed with nine catches for 100 yards and one touchdown. DB MARQUIS FLOYD carried the Rattlers' defense with two interceptions.
Though Davila opened the Rattlers first series of the game going four and out with four incompletions, he finished the half completing 16 of 24 passes for 170 yards and three touchdowns through the air. Davila also rushed for a six yard quarterback keeper for a touchdown in the second quarter to bring the Rattlers within four points at 23-19 with just over five minutes remaining in the half. Harvey benefited from Davila's hot stretch, snaring seven catches for 82 yards and two TDs in the games first 15-minutes.
Defensively, Floyd had a touchdown saving interception on fourth down with only 26-seconds remaining in the first half. The Rattlers turned that into points, as Davila connected with WR NATE FORSE for a 16-yard scoring hookup as time expired, to set the halftime score at 30-25.
In the second half, the Sharks extended their lead to 37-25 after a two-yard pitch sent WR Jimo Wilson into the endzone. The Rattlers clawed back, eventually tying the score at 40, following a Davila to Harvey 15-yard score at 10:06 left in the fourth quarter. Both teams continued to battle until the Sharks netted at 52-47 lead with only 1:20 remaining in the game to set up the games' dramatic finale.
The Rattlers next contest is on March 19, 2010 at 7:00 PM (AZ TIME) against the Milwaukee Mustangs at US Airways Center.
Arena Football League Stories from March 13, 2011
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- Arizona Rattlers Open Season with Comeback Victory - Arizona Rattlers
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