Rattlers Fall to Iowa in Finale; Travel to Spokane for First Round of Playoffs
Published on July 31, 2010 under Arena Football League (AFL)
Arizona Rattlers News Release
Phoenix - The Arizona Rattlers lost to the Iowa Barnstormers 67-47 in the final regular season game to give the team the #4 seed in the National Conference heading into next weekend's playoffs.
A raucous crowd of 10,420 at the US Airways Center witnessed the Rattlers finish with a 10-6 record, the team's best since going 11-5 on their way to an American Conference Championship in 2005. Next week the Rattlers will travel to Spokane to face the top-seed Shock on Friday night in the first round of the playoffs.
WR ROD WINDSOR continued his record breaking rookie season with just over seven minutes remaining in the first quarter, as he hauled in a 32-yard touchdown pass from QB NICK DAVILA for his 45th receiving touchdown of the season. This first score, which put the Rattlers up 14-13, broke the AFL rookie record for touchdown receptions in a single season. Then with just over seven minutes remaining until half-time, Windsor caught a 42-yard touchdown pass to break the Arizona Rattlers single season touchdown mark. Windsor finished the game with 15 catches for 234 yards and three scores. Windsor set AFL all-time records for receptions and receiving yards in a season over the previous two weeks, and finished with a remarkable 193 catches for 2,372 yards on the season. His final totals are not only league records, but both are also the most in professional football history.
Davila finished 27-of-37 for 361 yards and seven touchdowns, three each going to Windsor and WR JJ MCKELVEY. On the season, Davila finished with 4,858 yards and 102 touchdowns and a completion percentage of 67.3%, all three of which are Rattler and AFL rookie records.
The Rattlers had a chance to make another improbable comeback and take the lead in the fourth quarter after LB KELVIN MORRIS intercepted Iowa quarterback Ryan Vena with 2:45 remaining in the third quarter and Arizona trailing 36-34. Unfortunately K FABRIZIO SCACCIA field goal attempt was blocked and the Barnstormers scored on the very next play to go ahead 43-34 to stop a six game losing streak against Arizona.
"We had a chance with a chip shot field goal and we just got blown up on the line of scrimmage," said Arizona Head Coach Kevin Guy. "We got pushed back all the way to the kicker, and we never recovered after that. We're going to go back and work on it, and we've got to get ready for Spokane."
This will be the third time this season the Rattlers have squared off with the 13-3 Shock with the Shock defeating the Rattlers both times, first with a 63-56 win at US Airways Center on May 7th and then with a 37-36 victory in Spokane on July 2nd.
GAME NOTES
The Rattlers 22 sacks are the most in team history, breaking the previous record of 18 set in 2005... The Rattlers offense was the most prolific in team history, finishing with a record 5,179 total yards as well as a record 955 total points... Kelvin Morris' interception in the third quarter was his team leading sixth on the season... The offensive line's streak of eight straight games without allowing a sack came to an end with a late fourth quarter sack...The line has still only given up two sacks over the past 12 games...
Arena Football League Stories from July 31, 2010
- Vipers Edge Blaze In Final Game Of The Season , 68-64 - Utah Blaze
- Orlando Ambushes Storm With 75-60 Victory - Tampa Bay Storm
- Milwaukee scores 20 unanswered points in 4th quarter for the win - Cleveland Gladiators
- Milwaukee Set to Host Chicago in First Round of Playoffs - AFL
- Jacksonville Sharks Win South Division Title - Jacksonville Sharks
- Rattlers Fall to Iowa in Finale; Travel to Spokane for First Round of Playoffs - Arizona Rattlers
- AFL Announces NFL Network Game for First Round of Playoffs - AFL
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
