Rattlers Win at Home
Brian Knapp
Monday April 11, 2005
"You have to come out and play every week no matter who the opponent is," said Rattlers head coach Todd Shell. "[Columbus] only has one win but they have been in every game they’ve played in. They have a lot of skilled guys and I’ll put them up with any team we’ve played so far."
Last season, the Destroyers (1-9) rolled into America West Arena under similar circumstances-one win and looking for some kind of momentum.
The difference this time around was the surprise misfortunes that have haunted the Rattlers at home. Five straight home losses dating back to last season has turned "The Snake Pit" from a feared arena into a venue for teams to take advantage of Arizona’s new found struggles.
Columbus gave the Rattlers everything it could handle early and held the lead for much of the first half. When Destroyers DS Donventis Franklin took a fumble return for a touchdown in the first quarter, Rattler fans fell almost silent.
The touchdown, however, appeared to be just what the doctor ordered for Arizona. The fire that had left the arena weeks ago suddenly re-ignited as the team found new life and a 23-point lead in the third quarter.
Leading 60-40 with 8:42 remaining in the game, Arizona K Anthony Brenner hit a 35-yard field goal to all but seal the win. The kick followed three touchdowns by OS Siaha Burley and capped off a route that Rattler fans had been dying to see for over a year.
"Confidence is really high in the locker room," said Arizona QB Joe Germaine. "We have been working so hard to get a win [at home] and for that to happen and see our work pay off is a tremendous feeling."
Jerald Brown Shines
In just his sixth AFL game, WR/DB Jerald Brown wowed fans with his intensity on both sides of the football. Brown struggled in the first half, coughing up the football in an attempt to gain more yards after a catch.
"I don’t think it was a fumble," Brown said jokingly. "But it’s football and if the ref calls it a fumble I just have to deal with it."
He made up for the mistake with a body slam tackle on a kickoff return by WR/DB Sedrik Robinson. The hit brought the crowd to its feet and excited the Rattler bench.
Brown hauled in five passes for 68 yards and a touchdown to go along with three tackles in his Rattler debut.
The highlight of the game was Brown’s 37-yard touchdown reception that gave the Rattlers their largest lead of the evening 60-34.
"It was my first game this season but I told [the coaches] that whenever they put me in I’m going to make plays because that’s what I do," Brown said. "When they called that [touchdown] play for me, I said ‘It’s show-time’ and fans like the show."
Brenner kicks it up a notch
Despite facing questions about his leg strength, Brenner hit the net three times on kickoffs Friday night and hit the post two more times. Brenner has had trouble getting the ball to the net on kickoffs of late after injuring his right kicking leg earlier in the season. He also hit a 35-yard field goal in the fourth quarter and connected on seven straight extra point attempts after missing his first.
Brian Knapp was a writer for ArenaFan Online from 2003 to 2005.
