Arizona Fails to Put Avengers Away
Patrick Daly
Sunday June 24, 2001
Key breakdowns in the secondary during the first half cost the Rattlers a chance to build a big lead early in the game. Arizona controlled the line of scrimmage early and put pressure on Avengers quarterback Todd Marinovich. However, Los Angeles scored their three first half touchdowns when Arizona had them pinned down. The Avengers scored once on fourth down and twice on third (and long) in the first half.
“We had it in control up front, but tonight, as strange as it was, we think if we control the game of front we’re in good shape. Then of all things, our DB’s just flat let us down,” said Arizona Head Coach Danny White about the team’s defensive performance. “They didn’t make plays. We gave them three touchdowns in the first half.”
“The pass rush was pretty good for the most part,” continued White. “We just didn’t cover people. We didn’t make plays defensively. Then offensively, we dropped passes. That was basically the difference in the game.”
What a difference it was. The Rattlers had a number of chances to get the ball back without allowing a score, but coverage mistakes allowed Los Angeles to score and keep the game close. However, this was not the same Avengers team that rolled over and played dead when Arizona easily beat them earlier in the season. Most of the names are the same, but the attitude was clearly different.
“You’ve got to give LA credit,” said White. “They hung in there. They kept fighting. They didn’t get discouraged. They just kept coming back.”
Marinovich left the game early in the third quarter due to a possible concussion, but backup quarterback Tony Graziani efficiently moved the Avenger offense and made sure that the Rattlers paid for their mistakes. Graziani tossed five touchdowns in relief of Marinovich, including the game winner in overtime.
Arizona offensive specialist Calvin Schexnayder took the loss especially hard. Schexnayder had an opportunity to be the hero in overtime, but dropped a Sherdrick Bonner pass in the endzone that would have pulled the Rattlers even. While the Rattlers should have had the game in hand before going to overtime, the dropped pass will unfortunately stand out.
“I just can’t really say how much this was important and, again, how disappointing it is to lose to LA in our home facility,” said Schexnayder. “I know we have a great team. I personally feel that this is on my shoulders. One pass here and another pass there; it’s tough.”
“I’m going to put it behind me, but it’s something that’s going to make me better,” said Schexnayder. “It’s going to make me focus. I promise you that. I will come back with better focus and take nothing for granted.”
The loss drops the Rattlers record to 6-4. It also drops Arizona to 4-2 in the Western Division, a record that could very likely come into play in the race for the division title with San Jose. A win would have guaranteed at least another week atop the division and would have kept Arizona on track for a shot at a first round bye in the playoffs. With the loss, the Rattlers will need help and cannot afford to falter in the remaining four games.
“We had a golden opportunity this weekend to jump way up in the standings and couldn’t take advantage of it,” commented White about the Rattlers’ missed opportunity to maintain control of their own destiny.
Arizona will now travel to Salt Lake City, Utah next Saturday to face the 3-8 Houston ThunderBears, who come off of a 58-52 overtime win over Carolina. The Rattlers needed the heroics of backup quarterback Chad DeGrenier to beat Houston in the first meeting this season. Arizona desperately needs a win over Houston with San Jose coming to town the following week.
“I don’t have to tell these guys anything,” said White about the loss. “They’re as sick about it as anybody. What we will do is sit down and we’ll analyze the film very, very carefully and we’ll correct the mistakes that were made.”
Patrick Daly has been an Arena Football League enthusiast since he first stumbled across the late-night ESPN broadcasts and has followed the Arizona Rattlers since their inaugural season in 1992. He graduated from Arizona State University with an engineering degree and is currently a member of a web development team for Direct Alliance in Tempe. Patrick currently resides in the Phoenix suburb of Chandler, Arizona with his beautiful wife, son and a very large football helmet collection.
