Kats Rebound to Defeat Struggling Rattlers
April 14, 2007 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Nashville Kats News Release
PHOENIX- The Nashville Kats (3-4, 0-2) handily defeated the Arizona Rattlers (1-6, 1-3) 62-36 Saturday night at Phoenix's U.S. Airways Center behind a solid offense and a turnover-forcing defense. The Kats were led by Offensive Player of the Game QB Jeff Smoker who finished a brilliant offensive display by going 18-28 for 231 yards and six touchdowns. Arizona was led by WR Jeremiah Pope who finished the contest with nine catches for 116 yards. Kats DB Ahmad Hawkins was named Defensive Player of the Game after making two interceptions and five tackles. Hawkins leads the AFL with seven interceptions on the season. The win pushed the Kats to 3-5 record all-time against the Rattlers. By beating Arizona, Nashville stayed undefeated in 2007 against teams from the American Western Division (Utah Blaze). Unfavorably greeted by rowdy Rattler fans as they were introduced, the Nashville Kats took that hostile momentum to offense and promptly marched down the field on a fast, athletic Arizona bunch. Unfortunately for the Kats, their opening drive was halted short as FB Dan Alexander fumbled on the Rattlers 15-yard line. Subsequently, on the Rattlers' ensuing drive, WR Jeremiah Pope fumbled to give Nashville the ball back. Not wasting any time, plays later, Smoker found WR/DB Maurice Brown in the endzone for a 16-yard touchdown. The touchdown was Brown's second game-opening touchdown in the past two weeks. Arizona responded when 15-year veteran QB Sherdrick Bonner found WR Kevin McKenzie for a 17-yard touchdown. The teams ended the first quarter tied 7-7.
The Kats started the second period with points as the Smoker to WR Kenny Higgins hookup continued as the pair got together for a 14-yard touchdown pass and catch. A Jason Witczak missed PAT left the score 13-7 Nashville. With the Nashville defense playing tough and not allowing the deep big plays the Rattlers were desperately attempting to convert, the Rattlers had to settle for a field goal. Unfortunately for the Rattlers, DL/TE James Baron blocked the attempt and earned his second blocked kick of the season in the process. Nashville capitalized on the turnover when Alexander ran three yards into the endzone untouched for his AFL leading 17 th rushing touchdown of the season. The defense again coming up big, DB Ahmad Hawkins intercepted his AFL-high sixth interception of the season in the endzone as Bonner attempted to squeeze in a tight pass. Two plays later, Nashville's Brown took a five-yard pass and fought off Arizona defenders with fierce stiff arms to rumble into the endzone for a 44-yard touchdown making the score 27-7 with 2:23 remaining in the first half and giving him his fourth touchdown of the season. On the last play of the half, the Rattlers got something positive out of a rough second quarter as Rattlers' K Gary Kral connected on a 49-yard field goal to make the score 27-10 Kats at halftime.
Arizona opened the second half efficient, effectively driving down the field before the turnover bug again bit the Rattlers, this time it was Bonner fumbling on the Kats' 13-yard line of which was recovered by Kats veteran FB/LB Rupert Grant. Two plays later, Smoker connected on his fourth passing touchdown of the night, this time to WR Kenny Higgins for a 37-yard touchdown. After a three-yard touchdown run off the left side by WR Trandon Harvey, Smoker again responded by finding WR Cornelius Bonner alone in the endzone for a 14-yard touchdown to make the score 41-17 Kats-their biggest lead of the contest. On the ensuing kickoff, Witczak drilled the ball into the endzone, so hard it bounced off of KR Darrell Jones and landed in the hands of Kats defender Liam Ezekiel on the one-yard line. One play later, TE Fitu Tuua got his first touchdown of the season on a one-yard pass to extend the Kats' lead to 48-17 at the conclusion of the third quarter.
The fourth quarter was all about the running game as the AFL's premier rushers showed why they are a top the charts in league rushing statistics as Arizona's Bo Kelly and Nashville's Alexander traded rushing touchdown to open the final period. Kelly's run was two-yard rumble while Alexander's was a 10-yard scamper off the left side. Ultimately, the Kats' efficient and balanced offense and a strong defensive performance was too much for the struggling Rattlers eventually winning 62-36.
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Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from April 14, 2007
- Rattlers Routed by Kats 62-36 - Arizona Rattlers
- Kats Rebound to Defeat Struggling Rattlers - Nashville Kats
- Brigade gets convincing 52-41 over Grand Rapids - Kansas City Brigade
- Rampage fall to Brigade, 41-52 - Grand Rapids Rampage
- Destroyers offense explodes for 72-49 win - Columbus Destroyers
- Wranglers lose to Destroyers 72-49 - Austin Wranglers
- Utah Alone In First Place With 76-63 Victory Over Los Angeles - Utah Blaze
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