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AFL I Arizona Rattlers

Rattlers Stop Rush, 61-43

by Andrew Nordmeier
May 7, 2005 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Arizona Rattlers


Maybe the Arizona Rattlers should consider retiring more jersey numbers.

On the night they sent the number 14 worn by Hernandez "Hunkie" Cooper to the rafters, the Rattlers played inspired football despite knowing they'll miss the playoffs for the first time in 12 years. The 4-9 Arizona Rattlers looked to play spoiler to the 8-5 Chicago Rush as Chicago tries to win its division.

You would think the records were reversed based on the way the Rattlers stormed out to a 14-0 lead and never looked back in their 61-43 win Friday night in front of 12,349 fans America West Arena.

"We could have come out and laid down for a playoff team,"Rattlers' quarterback Sherdrick Bonner said, "but it shows you the kind of character the team has and to come out here and perform like that in front of Coop (Hunkie Cooper) on his night."

Chicago won the toss and deferred, giving Arizona the first crack on offense.

Bonner completed a pass to Tom Pace to get Arizona to midfield before hitting Offensive Specialist Siaha Burley for a 25-yard touchdown pass on the second play from scrimmage. Gary Kral's extra point put the Rattlers ahead 7-0 just 1:40 into the game.

On the ensuing kickoff, Rush WR-DB Russell Shaw returned it but was popped with a big hit from Arizona Defensive Specialist Terrance Joseph to knock the ball loose. Arizona FB-LB Phil Glover recovered the ball and set the Rattlers up on the Rush 10-yard line.

Two plays later, Bonner hooked up with Pace for a seven-yard touchdown pass. Kral's PAT made it 14-0 3:39 into the game.

"They scored on the first play of the game and then we come back on the kickoff return and fumble," Chicago quarterback Raymond Philyaw said, "We were playing for our lives after that."

The teams traded touchdowns for the rest of the half, each of them adding 21 points to their side of the scoreboard to make it 35-21 at the half.

Chicago was scheduled to get the ball to start the second half but the Rattlers had other plans. Kral made the second-half kickoff into an onside kick and Gatewood got at his own 17-yard line.

Four plays later, Bonner hooked up with Pace for a 28-yard touchdown pass that put Arizona up 41-21 with 11:53 left in the third quarter.

"I really think that we wanted to come out quick in the second half but that pop-up (kick) really hurt us." Rush WR-LB Etu Molden said.

Arizona and Chicago continued to trade scores as the game progressed but Chicago raised its white flag when Philyaw was pulled in favor of backup quarterback Todd Hammel with 10:59 left in the game and the Rush down 54-29. Hamell threw for a couple of cosmetic touchdowns but the teams weren't as close as the final score showed.

"The train just kept on rolling tonight and it rolled right over us," Molden said, "They played better than us in every aspect of the game. We have to give them credit because they came out and played hard; we didn't."

Bonner played one of his best games ever, hitting on 22-of-25 passes while racking up 240 yards

and eight touchdowns through the air. Bonner added one on the ground on a one-yard quarterback sneak. Philyaw finished with a 19-of-25 effort for 139 yards and four scores.

Molden led all receivers with nine catches for 74 yards and two scores. Pace lead Arizona with seven catches for 80 yards and three scores. Burley caught six passes for 108 yards and three touchdowns, giving him 41 on the season.

Notes: Arizona NG-C Jerry Sharp left the game with left knee injury on the first play of the second quarter; Vince Amey filled in the rest of the way for him and earned praise from Arizona head coach Todd Shell...Arizona Defensive Specialist Clarence Lawson led all players with eight tackles (seven solo)...Chicago (38) ran more offensive plays than Arizona (35) in the loss...This win is the first one Arizona has over a winning team all year...Arizona is 4-0 all time against Chicago.

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Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from May 7, 2005


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