ArenaBowl XXIV Gamelog

Joe Kauffman
Friday August 12, 2011

Jacksonville Sharks quarterback Aaron Garcia completed a 10 yard pass to Jeron Harvey as time expired to win ArenaBowl XXIV 73-70 in front of 14,320 atthe U.S. Airways Center in Phoenix, Arizona. The 143 total points is the most ever in ArenaBowl history.

0:21 4th Q - Nick Davilacompleted a touchdown pass for 12 yards to Riley Swanson as the Rattlers retake the lead 70-67. With the score, this has become the highest scoring ArenaBowl in history.

0:40 4th Q - Jacksonville's Aaron Garcia completes an 11-yard pass to Jomo Wilson for a touchdown score to regain the lead.

0:52 4th Q - Following a Jacksonville Sharks failed onside kick attempt, the Rattlers score quickly on a 5-yard Nick Davila pass to Chris Jackson. The Arizona Rattlers follow with a failed onside atttempt of their own.

1:00 4th Q - Aaron Garcia completed a pass to jaron Harvey on 3rd and 8 that went 45 yards for the touchdown. The PAT by Capozzoli made the score 60-56 as one minute timing rules went into effect.

3:16 4th Q - Nick Davila completed a 33 yard pass to Jason Geathers as the Arizona Rattlers retook the lead 56-53. It was the only play of the drive, as the home team struck quickly.

4:36 4th Q - Kirby Griffin rumbled in from a yard out, and the Sharks made the two point conversion to retake the lead at 53-49.

9:15 4th Q - The Jacksonville Sharks get back within 4 on a WR Jamarko Simmons touchdown reception following a roughing the passer penalty that wiped out a LB Kevin McCullough interception.

12:42 4th Q - Odie Armstrong scores from one yard out as the Arizona Rattlers once again extend their lead by 11. The drive was kept alive when Nick Davila hit Chris Jackson for 35 yards on a 3rd-and-10.

END 3rd Q - The Arizona Rattlers take advantage of a defensive third quarter which saw three defensive stops. The Rattlers outscored the Jacksonville Sharks 7-6 in the quarter as they hold a 42-38 lead with 15 minutes left in ArenaBowl XXIV.

1:29 3rd Q - Jamarko Simmons caught a 3-yard touchdown pass from Aaron Garcia in the back of the end zone under tight coverage from Arizona's Virgil Gray. Marco Capozzoli missed his third PAT of the night, as the Sharks pull within four points.

5:29 3rd Q - The Rattlers score quickly on a nine yard screen pass to Odie Armstrong from Nick Davila following a second straight turnover on downs by the Jacksonville Sharks. The Rattlers extend their lead to 42-32.

8:32 3rd Q - It was the Jacksonville Sharks turn to stop the Arizona Rattlers on downs. Nick Davila's fourth down pass into the corner of the end zone fell incomplete. The first two possessions in the second half ended in defensive stops.

11:22 3rd Q - The Arizona Rattlers take over on downs as they force Aaron Garcia into an incompletion on 4th-and-10 at the Rattlers 14 yard line. The Rattlers have the chance to extend their lead after making the defensive stop to start the second half.

Halftime has come here at ArenaBowl XXIV, and what a half we've had! It was a rough half of football for DB Virgil Gray, as he fumbled a pair of kickoffs to give the Sharks the clear upper hand after not fumbling a single ball all season long. The Jacksonville offense was efficient, scoring TDs on its first five drives to take a 32-21 lead. QB Aaron Garcia threw for 191 yards on 12-of-14 passing in his first half of ArenaBowl action. However, things went south for the Sharks on their second to last drive of the first half when FB Kirby Griffin fumbled.

From there, the Arizona offense really did a great job, accounting for 210 total yards. QB Nick Davila threw for 210 yards and four TDs, including the TD pass to WR Jason Geathers that gave Arizona a 35-32 lead at intermission. WR Chris Jackson had eight catches for 96 yards and two TDs.

The Sharks will get the ball to start the second half, but they're facing an uphill battle in the process. Teams that have led at halftime are a perfect 22-0 in ArenaBowl history. 

0:10 2nd Q - After an unsuccessful onside kick, Anttaj Hawthorne recovered a Kirby Griffin fumble. Nick Davila threw a 16 yard strike to Jason Geathers to retake the lead 35-32.

0:54 2nd Q - Nick Davila completes an 18 yard to Chris Jackson shortly after the one minute warning as the Rattlers pull within 32-28 as the first half nears its close. This is the second scoring hookup between the two.

2:13 2nd Q - Jamarko Simmons leapfrogs over the Rattlers defenders to score on a one yard run. A botched snap on the PAT resulted in a failed conversion attempt. The Sharks extend their lead 32-21.

4:26 2nd Q - REVIEW! Jacksonville gets possession of the ball when the call on the field is overturned. Arizona's Virgil Gray has fumbled his second kickoff return of the game.

4:40 2nd Q - Aaron Garcia completed the long ball to Jeff Hughley for 31 yards  to retake a 26-21 lead. It's Garcia's second touchdown pass of 30 or more yards.

6:59 2nd Q - Nick Davila hit Chris Jackson on a 4-yard touchdown pass as the Rattlers regain the lead 21-19. Earlier in the drive, the two paired up for a huge third down conversion that moved the Rattlers out of the shadows of their own nets.

12:32 2nd Q - Jacksonville capitalizes on Arizona turnover by scoring on a fumble recovery. Jomo Wilson picked up the Kirby Griffin fumble to give the Sharks their first lead of the game.

END 1st Q - The Jacksonville Sharks, down 14-12, are driving. The Sharks have the ball 2nd and Goal on the Arizona Rattlers 10 yard line.

1:38 1st Q - Virgil Gray return the kickoff deep into Jacksonville territory, but fumbles the ball. Marco Capozzoli, who has already missed 2 PATs recovered the ball for the Sharks.

1:42 1st Q - Aaron Garcia completes his second career touchdown pass in an ArenaBowl for 11 yards, but kicker Marco Cappozoli misses his second PAT of the game. The Rattlers retain a 14-12 lead. The Sharks touchdown drive was three plays for 38 yards.

4:53 1st Q - After a pass interference call on 4th down and 15 gave the Rattlers a first down, Nick Davila hit Kerry Reed on a 20 yard post route to extend the lead to 14-6.

9:45 1st Q - It took the Jacksonville Sharks just one play to score as Aaron Garcia completed a 41-yard pass to Jomo Wilson in the end zone. After a false start penalty, kicker Marco Capozzoli missed the PAT and the Rattlers retained a 7-6 lead.

10:58 1st Q - Odie Armstrong takes the handoff and rambles in from 2 yards out as the Rattlers take a 7-0 lead in ArenaBowl XXIV. Despite the score being on the ground, the 43 yard drive was dominated by three Nick Davila completions to Chris Jackson and one to Trandon Harvey.

5:35PM MST - The game is underway. Virgil Gray was unable to handle the ball off the net. Riley Swanson picks it up and advances it to the Rattlers 7 yard line.

5:32 PM MST - The Jacksonville Sharks have won the coin toss and elected to defer until the second half. The Arizona Rattlers will receive the opening kickoff.

5:27 PM MST - Jesse McGuire performs a moving rendition of the National Anthem on his trumpet. Moments earlier, the Jacksonville Sharks took the field as a single unit, then the Arizona Rattlers were introduced with thunderous fireworks.

4:36 PM MST - Just about an hour until kickoff, the fans are starting to enter the U.S. Airways Center in Phoenix, Arizona for the ArenaBowl XXIV matchup between number one seeds Jacksonville Sharks and Arizona Rattlers.