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AFL I Arizona Rattlers

Rattlers Wrangled, 53-34

February 4, 2006 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Arizona Rattlers News Release


PHOENIX - For the second time in two weeks, the Rattlers used two quarterbacks, had a half with no offensive touchdowns and went down in defeat, 53-34, to the Austin Wranglers in front of 10,205 at US Airways Center.

"Completing a pass seemed like a minor miracle tonight," said head coach Gene Nudo, who coached his first game in front of the Rattler faithful. "There wasn't really a silver lining in this one, except that our defense kept us in the game in the first half."

Quarterback Travis Cole started the game after Sherdrick Bonner was inactivated an hour before kickoff due to a shoulder injury he sustained last week.

Cole struggled early, completing just one of his first seven passes in the first quarter while Austin cashed in on a six-yard Dan Krager run and a Todd Sievers 20-yard field goal to take an early 10-3 lead. The Rattlers opened up the game with a 3-0 lead after kicker Gary Kral connected on a 54 yard field goal.

Cole completed two of four passes on the Rattlers next drive, but Arizona was unable to capitalize on a Kral 36-yard field goal attempt to start the second quarter as it sailed wide left. After the miss, the Wranglers completed an 11 play 45 yard drive that was capped with a John Fitzgerald one- yard run to put the Wranglers up, 17-3 with 6:15 to go in the half.

After a four-and-out, the Rattlers turned to rookie quarterback Dennis Gile to spark the offense.

"We saw that things weren't working out with Travis so we gave Dennis a shot," said Nudo.

Austin defensive specialist Damon Mason intercepted Gile's first pass, but were the Wranglers unable to take advantage of the turnover as kicker Todd Sievers missed a 26-yard field goal with 15 seconds left in the half.

The Rattlers found a stroke of luck going into the break, scoring 10 points in the last 15 seconds to cut the Wrangler lead to seven, 20-13. The run was capped when defensive specialist Joe Todd scored a touchdown off a net recovery on a kickoff with two seconds left after Kral nailed 37-yard field goal.

Gile's first touchdown pass, a five-yard completion to receiver Randy Gatewood with just over four minutes remaining in the third quarter, ended a drought for the Rattlers of over four quarters without an offensive touchdown.

Before the touchdown, Mason intercepted Gile a second time and later got his third of the game to help him earn "Defensive Player of the Game" honors.

"I tried to go in there and make the big play instead of just taking what they were giving me, especially on the three interceptions," said Gile. "I'll take it and I'll learn from it."

Krager, who earned "Ironman of the Game honors" added two more Austin touchdown runs to give Austin a 40-20 lead early in the fourth.

After another Austin touchdown, the two teams traded touchdowns down the stretch to make the final 53-34.

Gile finished 11-of-25 for 141 yards and two touchdowns while Cole was 6-of-17 for 69 yards.

Damien Groce was the Rattlers top receiver with six catches for 99 yards.

The Rattlers stay at home for the second of a three-game home stand to take on the division-rival San Jose SaberCats on Sunday February 12. Kickoff is set for 6:00 p.m.



Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from February 4, 2006


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