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Arizona Rattlers

Rattlers Burned by Blaze 75-71

March 11, 2007 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Arizona Rattlers News Release


PHOENIX - The Rattlers (0-2) were burned on Saturday night by a Blaze (2-0) team that's proven to possess a penchant for the dramatic. Joe Germaine's 23-yard pass to Orshawante Bryant with 14 seconds remaining was the encore for a Utah unit that defeated New Orleans the previous week on a last-second field goal.

However, despite the 433 yards thrown by Germaine and his 10 touchdowns - seven of which went to the hands of former Sun Devil Ryan Dennard - it was an on-side kick that proved to be the difference maker.

Down 71-62 with 45 seconds remaining in the game, Utah scored to close to within two at 71-69. The Blaze followed by recovering the on-side kick at their own 16-yard line, leading to the drive that gave Utah only its second lead of the game.

"That on-side kick at the end of the game - they had tried it earlier in the game and couldn't convert on it," Sherdrick Bonner said. "They got a good bounce, the scramble happened and their guy got it. At that point Utah pretty much knew they were in control of what was going to happen in the game. Coach (Danny) White, like he always does, worked the clock and left us little time to try to get something done."

Arizona made a last try to get something done and re-write the game story with its own dramatic ending, but fell just short as Bonner completed a 10-yard pass to Jeremiah Pope, who was tackled at the 3-yard line as time expired.

"As the clock started winding down, we knew it was going to come down to the last person with the ball would have an opportunity to win," Randy Gatewood said. "It's back to the drawing board. We've got to see where it went wrong and see how we can get better."

The Rattlers rebounded early from last week's slow start with a 39-point first half and a strong defensive effort that held the Blaze to 27 points at the break. However, the tide turned with a second half that saw Utah outscore Arizona 48-32.

"As a defensive unit we've got to hold up our end a lot more," Keyuo Craver said. "We need to get them a couple of stops because we know as good as Sherdrick is that he can't win it by himself."

Though it'd be easy for a Rattlers team at 0-2 for the second consecutive season to have its doubts, the guys in the black, copper and teal garb aren't ready to push the panic button and are focused on preparing for their first road trip of the season this Friday night in Colorado.

"It's real early in the season," Craver said. "Nobody needs to get down on each other. We know every game's going to be a fight. We just need to relax, regroup, refocus and win."

Side Notes:

Joe Todd earned Defensive Player of the Game honors. Todd's interception early in the second quarter helped lead to a drive that gave Arizona a 26-13 lead. Todd also broke up a pass and tied Craver for the game-high in tackles with 7.5.

Todd's interception came during a streak of three consecutive Rattlers scores, which also featured a defensive stop.

Germaine earned Offensive Player of the Game honors, while Dennard's 181 receiving yards and seven touchdowns along with four tackles earned him the game's Ironman award.

Attendance: 9,594.

Next Week:

The Rattlers travel to Colorado on Friday to take on the Crush. The Mar. 16 battle will be Arizona's first road trip of the season.

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Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from March 11, 2007


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