Week 19 Game Preview: Arizona Rattlers (13-3) at San Jose Sabercats (15-1)

Wednesday July 29, 2015

 Phoenix, Ariz. – The Arizona Rattlers (13-3) will hit the road for their final regular season game away from the Snake Pit when they visit the league-leading San Jose Sabercats (15-1) on Friday, July 31st at 7:30 PM at the SAP Center.

The Rattlers are coming off of a big division win against the Los Angeles KISS (5-11) Sunday night. The Arizona Rattlers started the game firing on all cylinders, and led 34-7 at halftime. Defensively, the Rattlers were led by Tyre Glasper who earned the J. Lewis Small Playmaker of the Week award for his strong defensive effort, and the Cutter’s Catch of the Week for his one handed interception off L.A.’s quarterback Danny Southwick.

Los Angeles tried to orchestrate a comeback after halftime.  Southwick fed off the momentum created from the last second pick six thrown by Rattlers quarterback Nick Davila in the first half and threw seven touchdown passes in the final 30 minutes. That, however, was not enough to overcome the 27 point first half deficit.

The Rattlers and Davila rebounded late in the third and produced five straight scoring drives the rest of the way. With the victory, Arizona is now 5-0 against the KISS since they entered the league in 2014.

On Friday, the Rattlers will enter the SAP Center in San Jose after a very short week, having played on Sunday. San Jose on the other hand will be well rested from a Week 18-bye. Arizona came up short the last time they faced the SaberCats, losing 34-56. Davila did not play in that match after suffering a foot injury the week before in L.A.

The Rattlers and the SaberCats are arguably the biggest rivalry in the AFL.  In over a decade, this game has played a huge part in who plays in the ArenaBowl, and who has to stay home.  In the last 12 ArenaBowls, nine of them included either Arizona or San Jose.  ArenaBowl XVI and XVIII pitted the two teams against each other.

Friday’s game will begin at 7:30 PM PDT and will be nationally broadcasted on the CBS Sports Network.