Rattlers nip Storm 63-62
Sunday April 13, 2008
Rattlers take over sole possession of 1st place in Western Division
TAMPA – 29 points scored in the fourth quarter and two key special teams plays highlighted the Rattlers win in Tampa Bay today with the Rattlers defeating the Storm, 63-62.
With this win, the Rattlers (3-3) take over sole possession of first place in the Arena Football League’s Western Division. Arizona also becomes the first team in the league to win following a bye week.
QB LANG CAMPBELL returned as starting quarterback for the Rattlers today and had a strong performance, completing 24 of his 39 passes, eight of those for touchdowns. The offense was perfect in the turnover margin, allowing no interceptions or fumbles all game. The offensive line was equally as perfect, holding the Storm pass rush without a sack. WR SIAHA BURLEY turned in his second consecutive four touchdown performance, hauling in 10 passes for 107 yards.
“The offense did really well today,” said Rattlers Head Coach Kevin Guy. “Coach Foster and Coach Kauahi did a great job mixing up the protections. We got the ball out a lot quicker. We put in new plays and new personnel during the bye week, and it worked out for us.”
However, the plays of the game went to the special teams. Down 48-34 to start the fourth quarter, the Rattlers followed up a WR TRANDON HARVEY touchdown with FB/LB ASI FAOA recovering a net ball, swinging two scores to the Rattlers just 1:17 into the period. KICKER ERIC HOULE notched the extra point, allowing Arizona to tie the game at 48.
The teams twice traded touchdowns in the fourth, with the Rattlers bringing it within one point with only three seconds left to go in the game, 62-61. Arizona lined up as if to kick the extra point, however QB JEFF SMOKER, holding for Houle, snapped a shovel pass to DL WENDALL GAINES, who walked in for the two-point conversion, giving the Rattlers their first lead of the half. The team went on to hold the Storm on their last play of the game, securing the win for Arizona.
“We didn’t come down here to lose,” said Guy of the two-point conversion call. “We were on the road and we did not want to go to overtime. We told the players during the third quarter the game would come down to that play, and that was what we were going to run. We wanted to win…right now.”
The Rattlers, who last played at home in a 62-33 drubbing of the New York Dragons on March 21, come home to the USAirways Center for their next two games, and three out of four. The team will face the New Orleans VooDoo in just five days, on Friday, April 18, then follow it up with its third consecutive game against the Southern division, taking on the Georgia Force on Friday, April 25. The Rattlers will then play two consecutive division games, at Los Angeles and then at home against the San Jose SaberCats on Friday, May 9. All Rattler home games kickoff at 7:00pm PT.
GAME NOTES
Rookie WR TODD DEVOE caught his first touchdown pass in his first ever AFL game, a five yard strike from Campbell on the team’s opening drive…Campbell showed no rust, completing all three of his passes on the team’s opening drive for 36 yards and the Devoe score…Campbell went on to complete eight of nine in the first quarter…Harvey notched seven receptions for 82 yards and three touchdowns, and is second on the team with nine scoring receptions this season…though Burley has only played half of the Rattlers games, he currently leads the team in receiving touchdowns with 11…the Rattlers improved to 6-2 following bye weeks this century…DB ISAIAH TRUFANT added another three pass-breakups, bringing his season total to 13, best on the team…Trufant is averaging over two pass breakups a game.
STATISTICS
Passing
Arizona – Lang Campbell, 24/39, 247 yards, 8 touchdowns, 0 interceptions
Tampa Bay – Brett Dietz, 24/32, 367 yards, 6 touchdowns, 0 interceptions
Rushing
Arizona – Chris Robinson, 4 attempts, 16 yards
Tampa Bay – Brett Dietz, 3 attempts, 21 yards
Receiving
Arizona – Siaha Burley, 10 receptions, 107 yards, 4 touchdowns
Tampa Bay – Lawrence Samuels, 8 receptions, 61 yards, 1 touchdown
Defense
Arizona – Isaiah Trufant, 6 tackles, 1 assist, 3 pass breakups
Tampa Bay – Jeriod Johnson, 9 tackles, 4 pass breakups
The 2008 Arizona Rattlers have guaranteed their season ticket holders a trip to the playoffs. Season tickets, group tickets and premium single game tickets can be purchased by calling the Rattlers ticket hotline at 602-514-TDTD. Single game tickets are now on sale at the USAirways box office and all Ticketmaster locations. More information is available at www.azrattlers.com.
