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AFL I Arizona Rattlers

Rattlers Fall To Grand Rapids

July 1, 2008 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Arizona Rattlers News Release


PHOENIX - The Arizona Rattlers' playoff-guaranteed season ended tonight a yard short of the end-zone on a potential game tying play, as the team fell to the sixth-seeded Grand Rapids Rampage 48-41.

Trailing all night long, the Rattlers fought back and trailed by just seven points with under a minute to go and had a first down at the Rampage 3-yard line. However, the Rattlers were stopped on four consecutive plays by the Rampage defense, and the game ended with one Rampage pass into the stands.

"We just didn't get it done tonight," said Head Coach KEVIN GUY. "We had first and goal at the three and just didn't get it done."

QB JEFF SMOKER had a solid game for the Rattlers, completing 17-of-24 passes (70.8%) for 233 yards, four passing touchdowns, and one rushing score. WR TRANDON HARVEY caught five passes for 87 yards and two touchdowns and ran back a 56-yard kickoff return for his fifth special teams touchdown of the season. Harvey once again paced the team in all-purpose yards, compiling 213 between receptions and kick returns for the evening and once again won the game's Ironman award for his efforts. WR SIAHA BURLEY led the team with nine catches for 115 yards and two touchdowns, and recovered a crucial fumble in the fourth quarter to give the team a chance to tie the score.

DB CHRIS MCKENZIE, who won defensive player of the game honors with six pass breakups in the team's Week 13 win against the Rampage, led the way again with three defended passes. LB KURT KAHUI and DL ANTTAJ HAWTHORNE added a sack apiece.

After going 4-12 last season, the Rattlers doubled their win output this year with a young team. The squad made good on the now famous playoff guarantee, and earned a home playoff game for the first time since 2006.

"I still look at the season as a success," said Guy.

GAME NOTES

Harvey becoming the first Rattler to return a kick for a touchdown in the playoffs since Burley did it on June 6, 2004 against the Los Angeles Avengers... With the return, Harvey tied the Rattlers single-season mark for most total returns for touchdowns with five (Hunkie Cooper, 1995)... Burley moved into 7th on the AFL's all-time postseason reception list with his 74th catch and finished the game with 76 career postseason catches... Burley also moved from 8th to 6th on the Rattlers' all-time reception list and has 31 in his Rattler career... He also moved into 7th place on the team's all-time list with 380 receiving yards.

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Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from July 1, 2008


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