Rattlers Win Streak Snapped In Overtime
Brian Knapp
Tuesday March 16, 2004
One of those ejections was more of a voluntary leave, as Gladiator head coach Frank Haege stormed out of the Thomas and Mack Center with 4:33 remaining in the fourth quarter. Haege was trying to get the officials to listen to his argument involving a Rattlers substitution, but apparently didn’t get the response he was looking for. Following a sideline warning assessed to Las Vegas, Haege lost his composure, threw his headset 25 rows into the stands, took off his shirt, and headed for the exits. Assistant coach Ron James stepped in for the departed Haege.
The Rattlers started the game off with an unsuccessful onsides kick attempt, which gave the Gladiators the ball on the Arizona 6-yard line. Former Rattler Maurice Bryant scored his first of three touchdowns on the game giving the Gladiators the early lead. The teams traded touchdowns until the final drive of the first half when the Rattlers held the Gladiators to a missed field goal. Gladiator QB Clint Dolezel was off to an impressive start, completing 18 of 23 passes for 147 yards and four touchdowns in the first half.
“Dolezel managed the game well, and he did the things he needed to do at the right times,” Rattlers WR/LB Hunkie Cooper said.
The halftime tie was just the beginning of the excitement for the Gladiator fans, as well as the hundreds of Rattler fans who made the trip up from Phoenix. The two teams picked up right where they left off to start the second half as the teams once again matched touchdowns to a 42-all tie.
The Gladiators grabbed the momentum early in the fourth quarter with a safety by OL/DL Thaddeus Bullard. Las Vegas stretched its lead to nine on a touchdown pass from Dolezel to WR/LB Marcus Nash. The game appeared locked, as the Rattlers were unable to stop the Gladiators offensive attack. Nash led all receivers with 192 yards and four touchdowns.
However the Rattlers were able to climb back in late in the fourth quarter. Trailing 58-50 with :02 left in the game, Rattler FB/LB Bo Kelly bulldozed his way into the end zone from one yard out. The two-point conversion was successful as QB Sherdrick Bonner found Cooper for the score.
What better way to settle a division match-up than with overtime? The Gladiators won the toss, and deferred to the Rattlers. Kelly capped a five-minute drive with his third rushing touchdown of the game. Rattler kicker Nelson Garner missed the extra point, leaving the door wide open for the host Gladiators.
The missed PAT brought cheers to a Gladiator crowd that had spent the majority of the game booing the officials. At least six fans were tossed from the arena for fighting, throwing beer, and flashing inappropriate hand gestures.
The Gladiators converted on fourth down inside the red zone, and on the next play Dolezel found Bryant to tie the game at 64. K Brian Gowins hit the extra point giving the Gladiators the win.
“Early in the game we blew a couple of coverage’s and gave up big plays on third down,” Cooper said. “Las Vegas made big plays when they needed to and I take nothing from their win.”
The Rattlers lost two defensive specialists in the game, Clarence Lawson and Hamin Milligan. Lawson was ejected in the second half for bumping an official, and Milligan went down with a knee injury.
OS Siaha Burley continued his success as a Rattler, returning a kickoff back for a touchdown for the second week in a row. Burley ended the game with 225 yards of total offense and a touchdown.
“The kickoff return (touchdown) is just a tribute to the guys blocking me,” Burley said. “I’ve been around a couple teams, and this is by far the best team at holding their blocks and creating lanes. I just find the creases and hit the holes.”
The Rattlers have another short week, with only four days to prepare for Thursday’s match-up with the expansion New Orleans Voodoo (5-1).
“It’s good to have a quick week after a loss,” Cooper said. “If we worry about this one, then we’ll go into Arizona on Thursday and have problems. We’re anxious to get back to work and get it back Thursday night.”
Brian Knapp was a writer for ArenaFan Online from 2003 to 2005.
