Rattlers force key turnovers in win over Georgia
Sunday April 27, 2008
WR Trandon Harvey named Ironman of the Game with 254 all-purpose yards
PHOENIX – WR TRANDON HARVEY caught five passes for 96 yards and two touchdowns and ran back a kickoff for 58-yards for another score as the Playoff-Guaranteed Arizona Rattlers beat the Georgia Force 66-61 in front of 10,444 at U.S. Airways Center.
“The fans were the ones that made the difference tonight,” said Rattlers Head Coach KEVIN GUY. “They brought a great energy to the game.”
Harvey finished the game with a 30.8 yard return average on five kick returns. QB LANG CAMPBELL was impressive as well, completing 17-of-29 passes for 187 yards and five touchdowns with no turnovers.
The Rattlers offensive line unit of STEVE MASCORRO, ATLAS HERRION and ERIC THOMAS anchored the trenches and didn’t allow a sack for the third straight game. They led the charge in three rushing touchdowns, and assisted an offense that scored on every possession save one.
“We came out and executed in all phases of the game,” said Guy, “There was a big difference on offense from last week, and it all started with protection.”
After Harvey helped the Rattlers get off to a quick start by returning the opening kick 25-yards to set up good field position. The Rattlers then scored three touchdowns on their first three offensive plays of the game, including touchdown passes of 36, 7, and 25-yards to three different receivers.
“This was a big win for us,” said Harvey, who won the Ironman of the Game award for the second straight contest. “We’re like a freight train: once we get rolling, you can’t stop us.”
FB CHRIS ROBINSON carried the ball eight times for 19 yards and finished with his first career three-touchdown game, scoring on runs of 1, 3, and 1-yard.
With the scored tied at 42 at the half, the Rattlers controlled both sides of the ball in the second half and forced two crucial Force interceptions. DB ARIC WILLIAMS made his second interception of the season on an acrobatic play in the back of the end zone in front of the Rattlers bench. After a quick Rattlers score, LB KURT KAHUI, the beneficiary of intense pressure by new starting DL MKRISTO BRUCE, made another interception and ran it back 33-yards to the Force’s three-yard line.
“The defense made some adjustments at the half and came out and did a great job,” said Guy.
After the Force closed the gap to eight points late in the fourth quarter, K ERIC HOULE made a clutch 25-yard field-goal to give the Rattlers a 66-55 lead. It was the first successful field-goal of the season for the Rattlers
WR SIAHA BURLEY made five catches for 46 yards and two touchdowns and WR TODD DEVOE added six catches, a touchdown, and a fumble recovery.
With the win, the Rattlers improve to 4-4 on the season and sit in third place in the American Conference. The team will travel to Los Angeles next week to face division rival, the Avengers. They next play at home against the defending AFL champion San Jsoe SaberCats on Friday, May 9. Kickoff is set for 7:00pm at USAirways Center.
“We have Los Angeles next week, and I think we have something to prove,” said Guy, “We’re not the same team we were in Week 2.”
GAME NOTES
The Rattlers made team history by opening up the game with three consecutive touchdown passes on three consecutive offensive plays to three different receivers (Harvey, Devoe, Burley)…Harvey had 254 all-purpose yards in the game, 63% of the Rattlers total…The Rattlers scored their first two touchdowns in just 2:29 to open the game…Devoe recovered his first career net ball midway through the first quarter, leading to his touchdown on the very next play…With his touchdown reception in the first quarter, Burley has caught a score in every game he’s played in since returning to the team this season…Harvey has had two consecutive games with a kickoff return for a touchdown, the first time a Rattler has done that since Hunkie Cooper in 2000… The Rattlers intercepted two balls for the second time this season.
STATISTICS
Passing
Arizona – Lang Campbell, 17-for-28, 187 yards, 5 touchdowns
Georgia – Chris Greisen, 28-for-42, 383 yards, 7 touchdowns
Rushing
Arizona – Chris Robinson, 8 rushes, 19 yards, 3 touchdowns
Georgia – Damien Groce, 1 rush, 5 yards
Receiving
Arizona – Trandon Harvey, 5 receptions, 96 yards, 2 touchdowns
Georgia – Tiger Jones, 7 receptions, 140 yards, 4 touchdowns
Defense
Arizona – Aric Williams, 7.5 tackles, .5 tackle for loss, 1 interception
Georgia – James Whitley, 5 tackles
Players of the Game
Offensive – Tiger Jones, Georgia
Defensive – Aric Williams, Arizona
Ironman – Trandon Harvey, Arizona
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.
Watch the battle of the unbeatens, as undefeated Philadelphia (8-0) takes on undefeated Dallas (7-0), on Russell Athletic Arena Football Monday, April 28 at 5:00pm PT on ESPN2.
