Sports stats



AFL I Arizona Rattlers

Rattlers quiet Gladiators, 80-63

April 11, 2004 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Arizona Rattlers News Release


PHOENIX- Last time the Rattlers and Gladiators hooked up, it was a high-scoring overtime thriller in Las Vegas. This time around in the Snake Pit, it was just as high-scoring, but the result was not as close as the first meeting. The Rattlers avenged their early season 65-64 OT loss in big way, silencing the Gladiators 80-63. Hunkie Cooper had 46 all-purpose yards, lifting him past the 20, 000 career All-Purpose yard mark. Cooper joins George LaFrance as the only men to accumulate 20, 000 All-Purpose yards in their career.

The Rattlers have been looking for a defensive boost all season, and they got one on the first possession of the game, recovering a Las Vegas fumble at the Gladiators seven-yard line. That set up Sherdrick Bonner to Randy Gatewood five-yard strike to give Arizona the early 7-0 lead. Las Vegas would come right back, as Clint Dolezel found Cornelius Bonner for a 38-yard TD pass to knot the game at 7-7. The teams would alternate scores on the next three possessions, until the Arizona defense stepped it up again. Las Vegas had first and ten deep in Rattlers territory, but the Arizona D-line would stop Gladiators Fullback Frank Carter and three straight rushes, including fourth and inches to force the turnover. Arizona capitalized, as Bonner found Hunkie Cooper for a three-yard touchdown to give the Rattlers a 14-point cushion.

The two teams would trade touchdowns from that point on, as both offenses put on a clinic. Gladiators QB Clint Dolezel finished 29-37 for 290 yards and nine touchdowns, but Bonner, who was 21-35 for 263 yards and nine touchdowns, matched him throw for throw.

"Sherdrick played as good a game tonight as I think I've ever seen him play," said Rattlers Head Coach Danny White. "He was sharp, made some great reads; reads that were unexpected. Just an excellent job all-around by our offense."

Five different Rattlers caught touchdowns, including rookie Justin Taplin's first career AFL touchdown, a 32-yard score in the third. The Rattlers rushing game came alive, as Joe Jackson and Bo Kelly combined for 50 yards, and two touchdowns.

The 12, 641 fans in attendance gave a standing ovation when Hunkie Cooper hit the 20,000 yard milestone, and Cooper gave the fans more to cheer about with his two touchdown effort. Marcus Nash had another stellar outing for the Gladiators, making 15 catches for 145 yards and a record tying seven touchdowns in the losing effort.

Arizona is now 5-5 on the season, with a showdown with the Dallas Desperados on tap for next Sunday on NBC. Las Vegas falls to 3-7, and will have a bye week to prepare for Detroit on April 25.

For tickets to the Dallas game or to the regular season finale against San Jose on May 9, call 602-514-TDTD or log on to www.AZRattlers.com. Both remaining home games kickoff at Noon, and can be seen on NBC.

• Discuss this story on the Arena Football League (1987-2008) message board...

Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from April 11, 2004


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.

OurSports Central