Power Unable to Break Unbeaten Rattlers in 73-69 Loss
Sunday April 20, 2014
Grady Throws 9 Touchdown Passes as Pittsburgh Falls Short to Arizona
PHOENIX, AZ (April 19, 2014) – The Pittsburgh Power Arena Football team traveled to Phoenix, AZ, to take on the defending ArenaBowl Champions Arizona Rattlers tonight. At the US Airways Center in front of a crowd of 8,179 the Power battled non-stop and ended short with a final score 73-69.
The Rattlers receiving opening kickoff and on their first drive quarterback Nick Davila connected with receiver Maurice Purify for a quick touchdown and the first points on the board. Pittsburgh answered on the ensuing drive with quarterback Tommy Grady finding receiver Shaun Kauleinamoku for a 14-yard touchdown pass. Arizona then went on to score three times in a row to end the first quarter with a score 27-7.
With just under two minutes to go in the first half and down by 12, the Power attempted a successful onside kick that resulted in a Grady-Lesue touchdown to decrease Pittsburgh deficit to five points. The Rattlers ended the first half with the lead, 47-42.
The Power received the ball to begin the second half and quickly found the end zone with Lesue’s third touchdown grab of the night and giving the Power their first lead over the Rattlers, 49-47. Arizona answered with Davila to Purify for a touchdown and to regain the lead, 54-49. The teams went on to exchange touchdowns to end the third quarter with the Rattlers up, 61-56.
In the fourth quarter, Pittsburgh was unable to stop Arizona’s offense and the Rattlers ended the game on top 73-69.
The Pittsburgh Power hit the road next week traveling to Cleveland, OH, for a rematch against East Division rivals Cleveland Gladiators on Saturday, April 26. Kickoff at the Quicken Loans Arena is scheduled for 7:00 pm ET.
ARI- Rod Windsor 14 pass from Davila (Ratanamorn Kick), 13:14, 7-0
PIT- Shaun Kauleinamoku 14 pass from Grady (Rauch Kick), 10:21, 7-7
ARI- Maurice Purify 45 pass from Davila (Ratanamorn Kick), 09:00, 14-7
ARI- Tyson Poots 3 pass from Davila (missed PAT), 04:02, 20-7
ARI- Alex Singleton 8 run (Ratanamorn PAT), 00:00 27-7
PIT- Shaun Kauleinamoku 27 pass from Grady (Rauch Kick), 11:43, 27-14
ARI- Arkeith Brown 54 kick return (Ratanamorn Kick), 10:54, 34-14
PIT- Aaron Lesue 43 pass from Grady (Rauch Kick), 09:08, 34-21
ARI- Tyson Poots 15 pass from Davila (Ratanamorn Kick), 05:33, 41-21
PIT- Shaun Kauleinamoku 22 pass from Grady (Rauch Kick), 04:13, 41-27
ARI- Nick Purify 35 pass from Davila (missed PAT), 03:06, 47-28
PIT- Virgil Gray 54 kick return (Rauch Kick), 02:22, 47-35
PIT- Aaron Lesue 4 pass from Grady (Rauch Kick), 00:05, 47-42
PIT- Aaron Lesue 6 pass from Grady (Rauch Kick), 13:22, 47-49
ARI- Maurice Purify 7 pass from Davila (Ratanamorn Kick), 11:33, 54-49
PIT- Aaron Lesue 8 pass from Grady (Rauch Kick), 06:44, 54-56
ARI- Rod Windsor 9 pass from Davila (Ratanamorn Kick), 03:08, 61-56
PIT- Aaron Lesue 5 pass from Grady (Rauch Kick), 13:21, 61-63
ARI- Rod Windsor 17 pass from Davila (blocked PAT), 08:50, 67-63
ARI- Tyson Poots 18 pass from Davila (missed PAT), 01:49, 73-63
PIT- Aaron Lesue 11 pass from Grady (blocked PAT), 00:19, 73-69
