Rattlers Keep Playoff Hopes Alive With Win Over Dallas
Brian Knapp
Monday April 19, 2004
The two teams traded touchdowns early, and a quarterback duel began between Dallas’ Glen Gauntt and Arizona’s Sherdrick Bonner. Gauntt went a perfect 13 for 13 passing to start the game, hitting three different receivers for touchdowns before halftime. Bonner threw five touchdown strikes before the break, two of which went to Siaha Burley, who has caught a touchdown pass in every game so far this season.
“Sed has played two outstanding games back to back which is really good to see,” Rattler head coach Danny White said.
After stopping the Rattlers on fourth down late in the first half, the Desperados had a perfect opportunity to take the lead before halftime. Dallas marched down the field but turned the ball over when OL/DL Bryan Henderson sacked Gauntt, forcing a fumble. Henderson recovered the fumble, and the Rattlers capitalized on the very next play when Bonner hooked up with WR/DB Randy Gatewood for a 30-yard touchdown.
The turning point in the seesaw battle came with two minutes left in the third quarter, when Rattler WR/DB Tom Pace recorded a safety when he forced Sippio to run a kickoff back into his own end zone. The safety gave the Rattlers an 11-point lead, part of a 29-0 second half run Pace was named the Ironman of the Game, racking up 74 receiving yards, two touchdowns, two and a half tackles, and the safety.
The game had an Old West shootout feel early, appearing as though the last team with the ball would walk away the winner. The Rattlers’ defense was the difference, however, forcing two fumbles and an interception. Henderson forced both fumbles, and in the process tied the franchise record for sacks in a season with seven.
“When he decides to go, he’s hard to block,” White said. “We just need to incorporate a little discipline into the pass rush, and Bryan Henderson could easily be the best, if not one of the best, two-way linemen in the league, because he does a good job on offense too.”
The Desperados did not look like the same team that knocked off San Jose last week, making numerous mental mistakes. Dallas committed 12 penalties to Arizona’s three, including a roughing the passer and running into the kicker call, both of which could have easily been avoided.
As for the Rattlers, Bonner is starting to look like the quarterback of old after throwing 17 touchdowns in the past two games. Bonner hit five different receivers for touchdowns against Dallas, and he is the without a doubt the leader on this team.
The Rattlers will need continued veteran leadership from the likes of Bonner, Gatewood, and Hunkie Cooper as they head into the final five games of the season. Four of the Rattlers’ five remaining games will be played on the road, and spirits are high in the locker room as the team eyes its 12th straight playoff berth.
“We’re going to go in with the mindset that we’ve got to win every game,” Bonner said. “Every game is a playoff game for us right now.”
Heading into the matchup with Dallas, the Rattlers knew that every game must be treated like a playoff game for the rest of the season. The way the season has gone, it appears as though a 10-6 finish will be necessary to get into the playoffs, which leaves the Rattlers only one more loss to play with. Historically, the Rattlers appear to be in good shape to make the playoffs, but there are two teams in California waiting for their chance to put an end to Arizona’s playoff run.
Brian Knapp was a writer for ArenaFan Online from 2003 to 2005.
