Arizona Rattlers win ArenaBowl XXVII 72-32

Joe Kauffman
Saturday August 23, 2014

CLEVELAND- The dynasty is officially continuing. The Arizona Rattlers have completed their three-peat. They knocked off the Cleveland Gladiators 72-32 to win ArenaBowl XXVII in the biggest blowout in ArenaBowl history. The Rattlers are now the second team to win three straight ArenaBowl titles.

1:00 4Q - Dominick Goodman caught a 6 yard pass from Chris Dieker for the Gladiators' 5th touchdown of the game on a 5 play 30 yard drive following a kickoff out of bounds. The score was Goodman's third touchdown of the game. The Rattlers continue to lead 72-32.

5:04 4Q - Chris Jackson caught a 12 yard touchdown pass from Jason Murrieta, taking a 72-25 lead. Four different Arizona Rattlers receivers have caught at least 2 touchdown passes. This is the first ArenaBowl in which four different players have thrown touchdown passes.

8:04 4Q - Coming off the bench in the fourth quarter, backup quarterback Chris Dieker completed a 5 yard touchdown pass to Dominick Goodman to finish a 5 play, 45 yard drive. After the missed extra point, the Rattlers lead is reduced to 40.

12:28 4Q - The Arizona Rattlers continue to slice through the Cleveland Gladiators defense as Nick Davila completes a 15 yard touchdown pass to Tysson Poots. The Rattlers lead 65-19 in a dominating performance.

END 3Q - The Arizona Rattlers continue to dominate the Cleveland Gladiators in ArenaBowl XXVII. Arizona's 58 points is the most through three quarters by any team in ArenaBowl history, and the 39 point lead is the largest margin through three quarters. Arizona has possession of the football to start the final quarter.

0:53 3Q - The Cleveland Gladiators moved down the field in 6 plays with Shane Austin completing an 8 yard touchdown pass to Dominick Goodman. Austin's two point pass attempt was intercepted. The Arizona Rattlers lead ArenaBowl XXVII 58-19.

5:54 3Q - Following Kerry Reed's second interception for the game, Nick Davila threw a 30 yard touchdown pass to Rod Windsor. The defense has recorded 6 stops so far with a little over 20 minutes remaining in the game. Reed has three touchdowns to go along with his two interceptions. The Rattlers lead 58-13.

10:10 3Q - Following another defensive stop to open the half, the Arizona Rattlers quickly scored another touchdown as Kerry Reed caught a three yard touchdown pass from Nick Davila. The score was Reed's third of the game. The Rattlers hold a 51-13 lead. Davila now holds career ArenaBowl records for completions, yards and touchdown passes.

10:10 3Q - Following another defensive stop to open the half, the Arizona Rattlers quickly scored another touchdown as Kerry Reed caught a three yard touchdown pass from Nick Davila. The score was Reed's third of the game. The Rattlers hold a 51-13 lead.

HALF - The Arizona Rattlers have put up a dominating performance in the first half of ArenaBowl XXVII, leading 44-13 at the intermission. The Arizona defense intercepted Cleveland quarterback Shane Austin 3 times and also sacked him for a safety. The 31 point spread is largest lead at the midway point of an ArenaBowl, and the 44 first-half points scored by the Rattlers is an ArenaBowl record. Cleveland gets the ball first to start the 2nd half, but it's probable that the lead is insurmountable for the Gladiators.

0:31.5 2Q - After an unsuccessful Cleveland Gladiators onside kick, Nick Davila completed an 11 yard touchdown pass to Rod Windsor to re-extend the Rattlers lead to 44-13. The 44 points scored by Arizona in the first half is an ArenaBowl record.

0:38 2Q - Following back to back interceptions on consecutive plays, the Cleveland Gladiators move the ball down the field in 5 plays, with Shane Austin hitting Thyron Lewis for a 15 yard touchdown pass on 4th down. The Arizona Rattlers lead 37-13.

4:18 2Q - Following a second interception thrown by Cleveland's Shane Austin, Nick Davila led the Rattlers down the field in six plays and completed a 5 yard touchdown pass to Kerry Reed. The Arizona Rattlers extended their lead to 37-6 with 4:18 remaining in the second quarter.

10:20 2Q - After the defense scored a safety, Nick Davila took advantage of the opportunity and quickly hit Tysson Poots for a 12 yard touchdown pass. The Arizona Rattlers have extended their lead to 30-6 with 10:20 remaining in the 2nd quarter. The score seems to have started taking the crowd out of the game.

12:47 2Q - Cleveland Gladiators quarterback Shane Austin was knocked into the end zone back wall for a sack and safety on a terrifically strong push by the Arizona Rattlers defensive line, and the Rattlers extend their lead to 23-6. It was the sixth safety in ArenaBowl history.

13:48 2Q - Nick Davila completed an 11 yard touchdown pass to Chris Jackson for the Arizona Rattlers 3rd touchdown of the game. Davila now has 25 career ArenaBowl touchdown passes, extending the record he broke last year. The Rattlers lead is 21-6 with 13:48 remaining in the 2nd quarter.

END 1Q - The Rattlers clearly have the edge through one quarter in ArenaBowl XXVII, as they were able to return a Shane Austin interception for a touchdown on their first defensive drive of the game. The Ratts have jumped ahead 14-7 and are marching down the field as we start the second quarter. Nick Davila was a perfect 4/4 for 63 yards and a TD in the opening stanza.

1:42 1Q - Shane Austin hit Collin Taylor in the back of the end zone on 2nd and goal from the 9 yard line as the Gladiators get on the board. The PAT was missed, but the Gladiators pull within 8. The drive was kept alive on a 3rd completion to Dominick Goodman. Tha Arizona Rattler hold a 14-6 lead with 1:42 left in the 1st quarter.

7:00 1Q - On 4th down and goal from the 8, Shane Austin threw an interception to Kerry Reed, who returned it 46 yards for a touchdown, and the Arizona Rattlers took a 14-0 lead in ArenaBowl XXVII. It's the third longest defensive touchdown in ArenaBowl history.

12:56 1Q - Nick Davila hit receiver Rod Windsor across the middle near midfield, who ran untouched into the end zone to open up scoring in ArenaBowl XXVII with a 7-0 lead. Windsor's touchdown on second down was for 41 yards.

8:04 PM ET - Representatives from both teams meet at midfield with the officials for the coin toss. The Cleveland Gladiators won the toss and deferred their decision to the second half. The Arizona Rattlers will receive the ball first.

7:57 PM ET - 10 minutes until kickoff. The crowd rises for the National Anthem as we reach the final countdown for the start of ArenaBowl XXVII.

7:52 PM ET - The The Cleveland Gladiators come into the arena and crowd goes wild. The defensive players come in by position group, and then the offensive players are introduced individually.

7:48 PM ET - The Arizona Rattlers are coming into Quicken Loans Arena, wearing white helmets, white jerseys with teal shoulders and white pants. The team came in as a group with no player introductions.

7:35 PM ET - It's now just 30 minutes till kickoff of ArenaBowl XXVII. Team warmups have concluded, with the Cleveland Gladiators gathering at midfield before returning to their locker room. You can feel the anticipation of the crowd building as we get closer to the start of the game.

7:05 PM ET - Welcome to ArenaBowl XXVII! We are an hour away from kickoff at Quicken Loans Arena, as the Arizona Rattlers take on the Cleveland Gladiators. The Gladiators have just hit the field for their warm-ups, and both teams are making their final preparations for what should be a fantastic duel. Our staff at ArenaFan is excited to bring you wall-to-wall coverage of the biggest game of the season!