Rattlers Lose on Final Play... Again
Brian Knapp
Tuesday March 25, 2003
Now, although making it to the postseason is always exciting, the Rattlers are not used to being at the bottom of the 12-team totem pole that is the Arena Football League playoffs.
In their four losses thus far, the Rattlers have been blown out once, and three times have found themselves on the losing end of a last-second play. Key losses include a 49-45 loss at Buffalo, a 65-64 overtime loss to Dallas, and probably the most painful of all, a 59-58 loss to intra-division rival San Jose.
The Rattlers started off the season on the proverbial seesaw, which carried them through week six before finally winning two in a row. A bad loss followed by an exciting win was commonplace for Arizona to begin the 2003 campaign.
This was the story until week 7, when the Rattlers appeared to turn things around. The Rattlers followed a key 51-41 win over Detroit with a 72-45 victory over the Colorado Crush. This was the streak Arizona needed to finally get the season rolling.
Unfortunately, the Rattlers next opponent was the San Jose Sabercats, who had outscored Arizona 101-42 in their previous two outings.
With the loss of All-Arena OS Chris Horn to the NFL, the Rattlers needed a little extra from every player if they wanted to rattle San Jose’s cage. The Rattlers had a chance in the third quarter to put the Sabercats away for good, as they had possession and a 10-point advantage. However, the Sabercats held Arizona to a missed field goal and turned it into six points of their own.
The Rattlers pulled away again in the fourth quarter, taking a 58-46 lead. Once again, the Sabercats matched Arizona pulling within six points of the Rattlers, 58-52. On the ensuing kick-off, Alcorn fooled everyone as he pooched an almost perfect onsides kick, which San Jose recovered.
With just six seconds remaining, WR/LB James Roe caught a 6-yard touchdown pass from QB Mark Grieb that tied the game 58-58. K Darren Alcorn hit the extra point, handing Arizona their fourth loss of the season.
So, as a team, the Arizona Rattlers should be nothing short of frustrated. This club could easily be 6-2 and on the top of the AFL ladder. The Rattlers have squandered too many leads, and given opponents too many chances to win.
A bright spot for the Rattlers following this loss is the play of OS Orshawonte Bryant, and two-way superstar Randy Gatewood. Both players shined despite the loss, and things could be looking up for this team. Once the Rattlers get their defense straightened out, Arizona should again be a force to be reckoned with.
The Rattlers will stay on the road again next week where they will face the Tampa Bay Storm (6-2). Arizona will need to stop the potent rushing attack of the Storm, as well as the deadly air attack of WR Lawrence Samuels and Freddie Solomon.
Arizona might have to try and stop the Storm without the services of OL/DL Wendell Gaines. Gaines was helped off the field in San Jose with an injury to his elbow.
The Rattlers season doesn’t get any easier, as they come home from this brutal road trip for a match-up with the Orlando Predators, followed by two more road games in Los Angeles and Grand Rapids.
Brian Knapp was a writer for ArenaFan Online from 2003 to 2005.
