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AFL I Arizona Rattlers

Rattlers' Defense Plays Texas Hold'em in 52-26 Win

by Andrew Nordmeier
April 24, 2005 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Arizona Rattlers


The Arizona Rattlers keep doing it with defense.

Although they didn't record a shutout quarter, they held the Austin Wranglers (4-9) to no more than one touchdown per quarter en route to an easy 52-26 win Friday night at America West Arena.

Rattlers' star quarterback Sherdrick Bonner came back into the lineup after missing several games with a knee injury. He looked rusty early but overcame a slow start to account for six of Arizona's seven touchdowns as the 4-8 Rattlers have put together back-to-back wins. Arizona has won three of its four games in the season's second half after a 1-7 start.

Austin struck first when Wranglers' quarterback John Fitzgerald found Angel Rubio on a guard-eligible play 5:09 into the game.

The Rattlers responded as Bonner hooked up with Offensive Specialist Siaha Burley for a 13-yard touchdown that knotted the score at 7-7 with 2:21 left in the opening quarter.

After Austin's Todd Sievers missed a 54-yard field goal, Arizona marched down the field and Bonner plowed the ball in on a one-yard quarterback sneak to give Arizona a lead they wouldn't relinquish.

The Wranglers tried to come back on their next possession but momentum swung Arizona's way. The Rattlers stuffed Austin's Darrin Chiaverini on fourth-and-goal toss play at the Rattlers' one-yard line. It would be the first of four Arizona stops in the game.

Arizona went back to the end zone soon thereafter with a Bonner-to-Gatewood connection for a 21-7 lead with 1:00 left in the first half. A Chiaverini touchdown catch brought it to 21-13 but Rattlers' placekicker Gary Kral hit a 48-yard field goal as the half expired to give the Rattlers an 11-point edge. Kral was signed during the week on an emergency basis.

The second half was just like the first. Bonner hit Burley for a pair of third quarter touchdowns that boosted the lead to 38-13 with 4:00 left in the third quarter. The gap proved to be too wide for Austin to close and Arizona had the win locked up.

Burley benefited the most from Bonner's return as he caught six balls for 71 yards and four touchdowns. Fellow Rattler Orshawante Bryant led all receivers with 71 yards on his four catches.

Bonner finished with an 20-of-31 night passing for 224 yards and five touchdowns. Fitzgerald hit on 27-of-43 passes he threw for 235 yards and four scores but was picked off twice.

Up next, the Rattlers head to Los Angeles to battle with the Avengers Saturday night in a divisional showdown. Arizona really needs to win to keep its slim playoff hopes alive.

Notes:Austin receiver Ira Gooch was taken off of the field in the fourth quarter. Gooch's neck was jammed as a Rattler dove over him trying to make a tackle. He later walked off the field under his own power...The referees could have used some ice for their arms following the game; they threw the penalty flag 20 times in the game with each team getting hit 10 times...The penalties set the two squads back a combined 134 yards...Austin outgained Arizona 253-238...Arizona's Terrence Joseph led the all players with nine tackles (eight of them solo) in the game.



Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from April 24, 2005


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