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Mustangs Fall Short in Snake Pit, 71-65

March 18, 2012 - Arena Football League (AFL)
Milwaukee Mustangs News Release


PHOENIX, AZ - The Milwaukee Mustangs opened up the 2012 season in impressive fashion, but a 1-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Nick Davila to Maurice Purify with 0:04 left in regulation lifted the Arizona Rattlers to a 71-65 victory over Milwaukee on Saturday evening.

Despite a strong performance from quarterback Gino Guidugli, who passed for 364 yards and 5 touchdowns, and wide receiver Jared Jenkins, who hauled in 13 receptions for 211 yards and 2 touchdowns, the Mustangs could not hold on for the victory in an exhilarating back and forth, seesaw of a game. Both teams came out firing in the first half, as 11 possessions resulted in 11 touchdowns. The Mustangs won the coin flip and quickly drove down the field, scoring on a 4-yard rumbling touchdown run from fullback Jeff Tow-Arnett to take an early 6-0 lead. After a 29-yard pass from Davila to Glen Fox, fullback Odie Armstrong rushed into the end zone to give Arizona the 7-6 advantage. Milwaukee battled back on its next possession, as Jenkins caught three passes for 28 yards to set up another Tow-Arnett score - this time on the receiving end from seven yards out.

Though a Purify touchdown reception would help Arizona take a 14-13 lead at the end of the first quarter, Milwaukee opened the second quarter with a one-play drive when Guidugli connected with Jenkins on a 31-yard touchdown pass to regain the lead, 19-14. After a Fox touchdown reception, Milwaukee converted on 4th and long with a 21-yard touchdown pass to AJ Kegg. After another quick Rattlers score, the emerging playmaker Jenkins took a short pass for 32 yards, carrying several defenders down the sideline to set up a touchdown pass from Guidugli to Jonathan Wilson.

Another Purify score with 0:22 left in the half appeared to give the Rattlers a halftime lead, but Jenkins would come up huge with an 11-yard touchdown catch as time expired to give Milwaukee a surprising 39-35 advantage heading into the locker room.

The Rattlers would begin the half with another touchdown pass from Davila to Fox before forcing the first turnover of the game on a Da'Mon Merkerson interception. Arizona would capitalize with a 31-yard Purify TD reception to take a daunting 48-39 lead.

But Milwaukee would not go away easily. A methodical drive from Guidugli and company resulted in a 1-yard TD run from Justin Lawrence. Then, a fumble forced by the former Arizona State Sun Devil Ryan McFoy was recovered by another in Luis Vasquez to give Milwaukee the break they were looking for. The short field would help the Mustangs gain back the lead 51-48 with a quarterback sneak from Guidugli.

Arizona's potent offense fought back with a 5-yard TD reception from Kerry Reed with 8:54 to play, but Tow-Arnett would find the end zone for the third time to give the Mustangs a 57-55 lead. Reed would catch another short touchdown pass and with 2:27 to play, Arizona held a 63-57 lead. The Mustangs would make the most of their final possession with a long drive culminating with another 1-yard touchdown from Tow-Arnett with 22 seconds remaining. A 2-point conversion pass from Guidugli to Adam Tadisch gave the Mustangs a 65-63 lead, but the Rattlers' offense was too much to handle, as Davila's ninth touchdown pass gave Arizona the victory.



Arena Football League Stories from March 18, 2012


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