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AFL I Arizona Rattlers

Rattlers lose close contest to Crush, 56-54

March 17, 2007 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Arizona Rattlers News Release


DENVER - The Rattlers (0-3) once again proved themselves as being better than their record shows Friday night in Colorado. However, Damien Harrell's 154 receiving yards and John Dutton's six touchdown passes gave the Crush (2-1) a 56-54 victory in front of a crowd of 12,376 at the Pepsi Center. The defeat placed Arizona on the wrong end of the scoreboard for the third time in three games this season.

With the two-point loss, the Rattlers find themselves winless despite being outscored by their opponents by a combined 10 points.

"We just need a W to happen once," Sherdrick Bonner said. "Right now we just don't know how to do it. We know we're right there on the brink, but we just can't cross over to the win column. It's a combination of a lot of things. It's not defense. It's not offense. It's all of us. We're just not getting it done."

The loss overshadows a strong defensive effort by the Rattlers. After allowing 69 and 75 points in the team's first two games, Arizona not only held Colorado to 56 points, but came up with a number of big defensive stops.

Down 14-7 in the opening minutes of the second quarter, the Rattlers were faced with falling behind by a pair of touchdowns when Grant Steen alertly intercepted an errant pass off the netting in the end zone.

Erin Damond also intercepted a Dutton pass midway in the third quarter with the Crush leading 42-34. The play would lead to one of Jeremiah Pope's game-high tying four touchdowns and brought the Rattlers to within a point at 42-41.

The entire defense stood strong in the final minutes of the first half as they held Colorado to a 32-yard field goal attempt which went wide left.

Defensive stops like the above are what make the team's current record so confusing to Jerry Sharp.

"When it comes down to it we're playing great games, but we're hurting ourselves at crucial times," Sharp said. "Good teams can't make those mistakes down the stretch. We've got to tighten it up. We can't let games get away. We're in them, but we're not finishing. We've just got to finish the game."

The Rattlers scored for the final time with 20 seconds remaining in the game as Bonner connected with Randy Gatewood on a 3-yard touchdown. Arizona then found itself in a familiar position with an onside kick potentially deciding the game. However Gary Kral's kick was recovered by Harrell and followed by the Crush running out the clock.

Colorado's stout defense played as advertised, holding Arizona to a season low in points and at one point forcing the Rattlers to run a 20-play drive before the team finally reached the end zone. However, Arizona had its moments as Gatewood led all Rattlers in receiving with 101 yards while Pope and Kevin McKenzie each rushed for a score. Bonner was 22-for-37 on the night with 266 yards, six touchdowns and one interception.

Harrell's evening earned the reigning AFL Offensive Player of the Year the game's offensive honors, while Rashad Floyd's 8.5 tackles and four passes defensed earned him the ADT Defensive Player of the Game nod. Robert Thomas was named the Ironman of the Game, rushing for a pair of touchdowns along with 3.5 tackles and a pass defensed.

The Rattlers return to action next Friday (Mar. 23) when the Las Vegas Gladiators come to Phoenix and the U.S. Airways Center.

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Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from March 17, 2007


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