Another LA vs. Arizona Sports Rivalry
Manny Nunez
Sunday June 28, 2015
Arizona and Los Angeles, no matter what league or sport, have always had bitter rivalries. If you follow the major professional leagues, the Dodgers and Diamondbacks of Major League Baseball have been throwing punches and jumping in pools since 2011. The Kings and Coyotes of the National Hockey League express their hatred on the ice, and if you flashback to the 2012 playoffs, there were more words exchanged than handshakes during the traditional series-ending meet at center ice. Even in the NBA, Kobe Bryant told the press how no matter who is on the Suns, he always looks forward to lick his chops when they face off.
The Los Angeles KISS and Arizona Rattlers didn’t really have much up until today. Each game the Rattlers would completely take control of the game before the seats would get warm. This game, just like all others, began just like all others. This had a much different feel though, where after each touchdown, the Rattlers wanted to let everyone know who they were playing against.
Nick Davila could not miss in the first half. Former KISS fan favorite A.J. Cruz got his licks and scored twice, once on a kickoff return. Rod Windsor also got his revenge, but this time to former president Joe Windham, where on one of his scores right in front of the new KISS CEO a little pointing and trash talking ensued.
The Rattlers had felt this would be another walk in the park, but last night, they saw a completely different KISS team that would not go away. Down 42-21 at after the Windsor score, the KISS yet again mustered up another comeback. Danny Southwick and Donovan Morgan were their usual one-two duo that brought this team back to life.
It wasn’t until late in the fourth quarter when Southwick went down hard for a fifth sack with his team down 14. Arizona easily went through the KISS line, but a questionable late hit on Southwick knocked him out. He zig-zagged off the field while both sides bickered about the play. Los Angeles faced yet again another debacle under center, and losing another quality quarterback had awoken the beast.
Kevin Guy and Bob McMillen expressed their displeasure, even well after the hit through the one-minute warning, whereas the rest of the team jawed each other out just after each play.
So the KISS had no choice but to bring in their sixth quarterback to take snaps this year, rookie Joe Clancy from NCAA Division II Merrimack. His first three passes were at least ten yards off his receivers, but on fourth down he connected on a dime to Morgan to bring his team within one. A botched snap on the extra try forced Clancy to scramble, and his beat down pushed him forward over the goal line to cut the Rattler lead to six.
By then, this game turned more about beating Arizona rather than getting a win to potentially keep their playoff hopes alive, and sadly the emotions took a major toll. The KISS knew that Arizona was not playing nice, so they decided to return the favor and play at their level. All the KISS needed to do was force a stop, and with whatever time left on the clock they could get one more chance.
Just under the one-minute mark, and using their last time out, emotions got the best of them when Josh Victorian expressed his anger against the Rattler receiving core. With no chance to stop the clock other than not gaining positive yardage, that one shining moment was taken away.
Los Angeles showed that they were tired of being the doormat of the AFL, and against Arizona, they knew this had become much more than a football game. Arizona had taken this the same way, and by the end of the game a new rivalry in the Arena Football League might have developed. Sure the records are far apart, but with the background these two teams had before today, and with banging up Southwick, the KISS will have July 26 circled now on their calendars when these two teams face off a third time.
As impressive as Los Angeles played though, they finished 1-2 in by far the leagues toughest three game stretch. Ironically enough, they lone win came from the most unexpected opponent, handing San Jose an embarrassing first loss of the year. At 2-11, just like last season, they are not far behind from the fourth spot, with Spokane and Las Vegas coming next on their schedule. The major question is this: if they can play with this much emotion, and if the Arizona game made this team turn the corner, can they carry their style of play in these final five games with the two most important games on their schedule coming up?
