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AFL I Arizona Rattlers

Rattlers Set Records, Scorch Blaze 83-69

April 21, 2007 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Arizona Rattlers News Release


SALT LAKE CITY - Two touchdown returns by Darrell Jones, a triumphant comeback by Randy Gatewood and a near perfect performance by Sherdrick Bonner all came together for a record-setting night as the Rattlers (2-6) beat the Blaze (5-3) 83-69 Friday night in front of 15,313 at the EnergySolutions Arena.

The 83 points scored by Arizona set a franchise single-game high - a far contrast from last week's loss to Nashville when the Rattlers posted a season-low 36 points.

"We finally played four quarters," Jones said. "We've been playing good all year until the end of the game. We finally stepped up to the challenge of playing four quarters."

Jones' pair of touchdown returns - a kickoff return and a missed field goal return - tied the team record he set last season when he returned two kicks for scores in a win against Orlando on Mar. 3.

In just his second game this season back from injured reserve, Jones was determined to be a difference maker.

"I feel like I can return a ball every time I get it," he said. "That's what I'm thinking every time. I feel like I'm one step away every time. My mindset when I get back there is that nobody can stop me and I'm going to run it back."

The first of his scores came after the two teams began the game with a pair of deliberate drives on a combined 11 plays. But ball control would quickly go out of style as Jones followed Utah's first score with a 56-yard kickoff return to give Arizona an early 14-7 lead.

As much excitement as Jones' first touchdown provided for the Rattlers, his second return for a touchdown proved to be the turning point of the game.

After Siaha Burley tied the score at 34-34 on a 21-yard connection with Joe Germaine with 5:04 remaining in the second quarter, the Blaze attempted and recovered an onside kick. After the change in possession led to another Burley touchdown for a 41-34 Utah advantage, the Blaze attempted and recovered a second consecutive onside kick, which led to a 3-yard Tom Pace touchdown reception and a 48-34 Blaze lead with 30 seconds remaining in the half.

Faced with trailing by a pair of touchdowns going into the break and having to kickoff to Utah to open the second half, Bonner found Gatewood in the end zone for the pair's second of five scoring connections on the night to nip Utah's lead down to seven at 48-41.

Enough time was left on the clock for a short Blaze drive and a 45-yard field goal attempt. However, Steve Videtich's kick went wide right as Jones caught the carom off the netting and returned it for a 55-yard touchdown to tie the game at 48-48 as the half expired.

"It was huge," Bonner said of Jones' second score of the game. "We were down 14 at one point there. But to get right back in it, it was great. Special teams have kind of been a thorn in our side all year and the two onside kicks we gave up put us down. With them coming back and getting possession after the half, it was huge for us to get right back in the game and to get that return for a touchdown."

Bonner also kept his team in the game with a near perfect performance on a night when he continued to validate his stature in the Arena Football League record books.

Bonner made a bit of history on the game's opening play with a 13-yard pass to Kevin McKenzie. While it was far from the longest or most crucial completion thrown by Bonner, it did put the 15-year veteran over 2,000 passing yards in a single season for the 12th time in his career as Bonner became the first quarterback in league history to accomplish this feat.

Bonner would go on to complete 17 of his 19 attempts for 348 yards, nine touchdowns and no interceptions. Though he completed six passes for 129 yards and two touchdowns to Kevin McKenzie, it was clear that the return of Gatewood provided a spark for the offense as the two long-time Rattlers reunited for 118 yards and five scores.

"Coming back (from injury) I just wanted to lead by example and go out and make some plays and hopefully the team would rally around us and tonight I was able to do that," said Gatewood, who also made a number of plays on defense en route to the Ironman of the Game honor. "I felt a little rusty, just a little bit, but not too bad. Overall, considering I didn't get a lot of conditioning in and I didn't practice a whole lot because of my foot, tonight I was able to still make plays and kind of shake off the pain."

The Bonner-to-Gatewood connection struck three times in the final quarter, including on a 10-yard touchdown with 3:26 remaining in the game to give Arizona an 83-69 advantage.

While offense dominated the evening for both teams, it was the Rattlers defense that made the game's final play. With Utah blazing a trail towards a touchdown that would have brought them to within one score, Arizona forced a crucial fourth down at the Rattlers 2-yard line with 44 seconds remaining on the clock. However, Tom Pace was stuffed at the 1-yardline as Vince Amey and Jeffery Ruffin combined to seal the deal for the Rattlers.

Though the Blaze fell to the Rattlers for the fourth time in five all-time meetings, Utah had plenty of offensive stars of their own. Germaine passed for 433 yards and eight touchdowns, while Burley led all receivers in the game with 218 yards on 16 receptions to go along with four scores.

The clubs combined to score 152 points in the game, besting the 145 points the Blaze and Rattler registered in their last meeting on Mar. 10.

The Rattlers return to the road next week as they travel to New York to face the Dragons.

Notes:

Offensive Player of the Game: Sherdrick Bonner (ARI)

ADT Defensive Player of the Game: Keyuo Craver (ARI)

Ironman of the Game: Randy Gatewood (ARI)

Attendance: 15,313

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