Rattlers Get Past Las Vegas, Draw Avengers in Round Two
Brian Knapp
Tuesday May 27, 2003
Las Vegas could only muster two yards on four plays in their opening drive, and turned the football over to Arizona on downs. This was pretty much the beginning of the end for the Gladiators, as the Rattlers would carry the early momentum into halftime holding a comfortable 28-7 advantage.
“It’s like the offense didn’t even matter tonight,” Rattler head coach Danny White said. “But, it’s a great feeling to have the defense come through like that.”
The floodgates finally burst open in the second half when Las Vegas quarterback Todd Hammel fumbled the ball on his own 3-yard line on a sack by Rattler linebacker and Ironman of the game, Frank Trentadue. Arizona’s Pete Tromontanas picked up the loose ball and stumbled three yards for the score, giving Arizona an insurmountable 41-7 lead.
Neither Hammel nor fellow quarterback Jay McDonagh could find a way to overcome the intense pressure put on by the Rattler defensive line. Arizona scored three touchdowns off of Gladiator turnovers, including a 47-yard interception return by Rattler defensive back Ricky Parker. Although Parker’s touchdown was meaningless at the time, it intensified just how poorly Las Vegas was playing.
“I like to make people miss, and score,” Parker said. “I’ve been so close, this is the first time I got in this year.”
Parker played on the offensive side of the ball as well, tallying three receptions for 18 yards and a touchdown. With newcomer defensive back Hamin Milligan assisting in the secondary, White could afford to use Parker on both offense and defense.
“He’s (Milligan) definitely a good player,” Parker said. “The arena league is growing, these guys are getting tall, and that was unheard of five years ago, so it’s good to have his presence back there, and he’s a great player.”
With their dominating win over the Gladiators, the Rattlers set a franchise record for number of points scored in a playoff game, surpassing the previous record of 65 scored against Orlando in 1996.
Although the Rattlers had a field day with Las Vegas on Sunday, they still have plenty of work to do before they step into the unfriendly confines of the Staples Center this weekend. Arizona will face the Los Angeles Avengers, who earned a first round bye as the fourth seed in the playoffs. The teams split the season series 1-1, with each team winning on the road.
“It’s all about L.A. now,” White said. “It should be a great game, it’s a great match-up, and we play well over there and our guys will be ready.”
Los Angeles had their way with Arizona in week 14, as the Rattlers could not stop the Avengers offensive attack led by quarterback Tony Graziani. However, history is in favor of the Rattlers, as Arizona is a perfect 4-0 in the Staples Center.
Despite the lopsided victory over Las Vegas, the Rattlers did suffer a couple of potentially devastating setbacks, as OL/DL Bryan Henderson and Sebastian Barrie were each helped off the field with injuries.
“Sebastian had an old injury, his quad that he re-injured, and Bryan Henderson’s got a sprained ankle,” White said. “Right now they’re both questionable, and we’ll just have to see what the report is in a couple days.”
Brian Knapp was a writer for ArenaFan Online from 2003 to 2005.
