Arizona Shocks Spokane 60-43
Published on March 29, 2015 under Arena Football League (AFL)
Arizona Rattlers News Release
Spokane Shock at Arizona Rattlers
(Arizona Rattlers, Credit: Mike Hinshaw)
The Arizona Rattlers' (1-0) quest for a four-peat started strong with a 60-43 home win over the Spokane Shock (0-1).
The Rattlers began their quest for history tonight in front of a crowd of 9,455 and they did so with and entirely new wide receiving core. Tysson Poots is in Las Vegas, Maurice Purify is still out from an injury he suffered last season, and Rod Windsor and Kerry Reed were both held out as game time decisions by head coach and general manager Kevin Guy. Jared Perry and Markee White have both played for Arizona in the past. Chase Deadder is beginning his third season in the Arena Football League (AFL). Ronnell Pompey is beginning his first season in the AFL and with the Rattlers after earning the spot from attending an open tryout with the Rattlers this past February.
Tonight was a celebration for the Rattlers. It began with the Rattlers unveiling their 2014 ArenaBowl championship banner, and with the Arizona governor Doug Ducey doing the honorary coin flip. It ended with an exciting win for Arizona.
Spokane started strong with a 35 yard touchdown pass from quarterback Carson Coffman to wide receiver Mike Washington.
The Rattlers answered with a 1 yard run from fullback Mykel Benson, after a 30 yard pass from quarterback Nick Davila to wide receiver Jared Perry put them on the one.
The Shock responded with a 10 yard touchdown pass from Coffman to Washington. The extra point attempt from kicker Taylor Benson was blocked by linebacker Tyre Glasper.
Arizona once again answered with a touchdown catch from wide receiver Jared Perry from a scrambling Davila. The drive stayed alive because of two converted two first downs from Benson.
The ensuing kickoff clanked off the upright and was recovered by Rattlers wide receiver Markee White for another Arizona touchdown. After a good extra point attempt from kicker Jeremy Shelley, the Rattlers held a 21-13 lead.
The second quarter started similar to the first for Spokane with a 36 yard touchdown pass from Coffman to Washington.
After two big receptions of 18 and 14 yards to White that put the Rattlers in scoring position, Davila finished off the drive with a 10 yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Chase Deadder.
Spokane's very next play was a completed pass from Coffman to wide receiver Rashaad Carter who fumbled the ball and was recovered by Rattlers defensive back Jeremy Kellem. Arizona capped off the drive with a 3 yard touchdown run by Benson. Shelley's extra point attempt was blocked by nose guard Terrence Taylor.
Coffman slowly drove the Shock down the field on their next possession, which concluded with a 3 yard run by nose guard Bryson Kelly.
Spokane failed to recover their own onside kick, putting the Rattler's in good scoring position. The Shock's defense, however, was able to hold, and forced Arizona to attempt a field goal. Shelley's attempt was good, giving the Rattlers a 37-27 lead.
The Shock had 36 seconds left in the half to work with, and was able to drive down to the Rattlers 7 yard line. But with 1 second left, linebacker Glasper broke through Spokane's line and sacked Coffman, ending the half.
The Rattlers did not slow down in the second half with 13 unanswered points. It began with a 3 yard touchdown pass from Davila to Deadder. Shelley's extra point attempt was no good. Arizona's defense came up big with a forced fumble on backup quarterback Jarrett Brown by defensive end Marcus Pittman, which was recovered by Glasper. The Rattlers then scored on a 5 yard pass from Davila to Deadder, making the score 50-27.
At this point Spokane's fortunes began to turn with 16 unanswered points. It began when Brown scrambled for a 10 yard touchdown run. Then the Shock's linebacker Derrick Summers sacked Davila for a safety. The Shock then took their next possession down for another touchdown with a 3 yard run by Kelly.
Unfortunately for Spokane, this was the closest they got to the Rattlers. Arizona added 10 more points with a 16 yard field goal from Shelley and a 2 yard touchdown run from Benson.
The Rattlers' next game will be at 7:30 p.m. next Saturday (April 4th) when they visit the Las Vegas Outlaws (0-0), who will open their season against the San Jose SaberCats this Monday. This will be Arizona's first meeting with the fledgling franchise. The game will be nationally televised on CBS Sports Network.
Images from this story
 Spokane Shock at Arizona Rattlers (Mike Hinshaw) |
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