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AFL Arizona Rattlers

Rattlers Outlast Avengers, 70-63

June 2, 2003 - Arena Football League (AFL)
Arizona Rattlers News Release


LOS ANGELES, CA- Hunkie Cooper has always had a flair for the dramatic when it comes to playing the Los Angeles Avengers. Sunday he used four quarters of steady, superb football to lead his Rattlers to a 70-63 quarterfinal victory over the Avengers at Staples Center. Cooper scored three crucial touchdowns, including a fumble recovery on a kickoff, to swing the momentum, and ultimately the game in Arizona's favor. The Rattlers shook off a slow start, scoring only three points in the first quarter, to set a new franchise record for points in a playoff game.

The Rattlers and Avengers traded scored for much of the game, but it was the four LA turnovers that proved to costly for the Avengers to overcome. The Arizona defense picked off Tony Graziani once, and recovered three Avenger fumbles. The Rattlers turned those four turnovers into 20 points.

Sherdrick Bonner started slowly, but ended with another All-Arena performance. Bonner had seven touchdown passes on 16-30 passing for 275 yards. Orshawante Bryant caught 6 passes for 76 yards and two scores to lead Rattlers receivers.

LA jumped out to a quick 14-3 lead, but a turnover helped the Rattlers close the gap to 14-13 Avengers lead. The teams would alternate scores, until Cooper recovered a Jahine Arnold fumble on a kickoff in the end zone. The score put the Rattlers up 47-35, and the momentum had shifted solidly in favor of the Rattlers. The teams traded scores the rest of the way until the final gun. An Avengers on-side kick attempt was unsuccessful, and Bonner and the offense ran out the remaining seconds of the victory.

The Rattlers were joined in LA by a contingent of Rattler fans who rode a bus from Phoenix to Los Angeles Sunday morning. The Rattler players felt the fans were the difference.

"Most times on the road, it feels like it's just you out there," said Rattlers WR/DB Ricky Parker. "Our fans who came here were loud, they were supportive, and it helped. It was like having a little slice of home in LA."

Now the Rattlers will head to San Jose in a re-match of ArenaBowl XVI with the SaberCats. The Sunday game is scheduled for a 2:30 PM kickoff.



Arena Football League Stories from June 2, 2003


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.

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