Arizona Rattlers win ArenaBowl XXVI 48-39

Joe Kauffman
Saturday August 17, 2013

The Arizona Rattlers are winners of ArenaBowl XXVI. Lindholm's field goal proved to be the clinching scoring, making it a two-score game. Philadelphia put up a tremendous effort, but it wasn't enough to beat the Rattlers, who have won their fourth ArenaBowl in franchise history and their second straight by the count of 48-39.

0:23 4Q: The Arizona Rattlers tack on a field goal by Garrett Lindholm to make it a two-score lead at 48-9. The Philadelphia Soul will get the ball back with no timeouts.

0:37 4Q: Arkeith Brown put a hit on Tiger Jones forcing an incomplete pass on fourth down. The Arizona Rattlers get the ball back with the lead.

0:53 4Q:  The Philadelphia Soul recover a Rod Windsor fumble at the Soul 1 yard line, down six.

3:43 4Q: Derrick Ross Scored on a one yard touchdown run but Carlos Martinez missed his third extra point of the afternoon. The Arizona Rattlers lead sits at 45-39 as we near the one minute warning.

8:49 4Q: Tysson Poots scored a 14 yard touchdown after the Philadelphia Soul defense left him wide open. The Arizona Rattlers extend their lead to 45-33 as the midpoint of the fourth quarter approaches.

11:31 4Q: Dan Raudabaugh hit Tiger Jones for a 12 yard touchdown pass to pull the Philadelphia Soul back within five points at 38-33 Arizona Rattlers.

13:34 4Q: Rod Windsor is wide open in the corner of the end zone, catching a 13-yard pass from Nick Davila to extendthe Arizsona Rattlers lead over the Philadelphia Soul to 38-27.

3:08 3Q: The Arizona Rattlers get another defensive stop as Jeremy Kellem intercepted a Dan Raudabaugh pass in the end zone. A penalty on the return puts their starting position at the 3 yard line.

6:21 3Q: Kerry Reed made two Soul players miss on his 19 -yard touchdown pass from Nick Davila. The Arizona Rattlers regain the lead late in the third quarter 31-27.

9:36 3Q: Ryan McDaniel continues his exceptional game with his 10th catch of the afternoon. The 12 yard touchdown pass from Dan Raudabaugh gives the Philadelphia Soul their first lead of the game. After a missed Carlos Martinez extra point, the Soul lead 27-23.

HALF: On the final play of the first half Rod Windsor appeared to score a touchdown at the front of the end zone to give the Rattlers a two-score lead going into halftime. A replay review overturned the call on the field after it was determined that Windsor bobbled the ball and did not gain possession while he was in the end zone, and that he was down at the one yard line. The Rattlers go into halftime up 24-21.

0:26 2Q: Garret Lindholm kicked an 18-yard field goal to give the Arizona Rattlers a 24-21 lead.  The drive began at Arizona's own 9 yard line followin an onside kick by the Philadelphia Soul.

0:52 2Q: Dan Raudabaugh hit Tiger Jones for an 11 yard touchdown pass on the first play after the one minute warning. The game is tied 21-21 as we near the midpoint of ArenaBowl XXVI.

1:00 2Q: #WOOM

5:47 2Q: Maurice Purify makes a beautiful catch, then makes 3 Soul defensive backs miss on his way to a 47-yard touchdown run. The Arizona Rattlers take a 21-14 lead. This was the longest touchdown pass since ArenaBowl XI when the Rattlers'  Donnie Davis hit Calvin Schexnayder for 49 yards on the way to a championship.

8:29 2Q: Derrick Ross rumbles in for a 1 yard touchdown run. The point after tied the score at 14. Ryan McDaniel caught three receptions on the drive.

13:35 2Q: Rod Windsor makes a a one handed grab in the end zone for a 22-yard touchdown pass from Nick Davila. The Arizona Rattlers take a 14-7 lead early in the second quarter.

End 1Q: The Philadelphia Soul sack Nick Davila on the final play of the first quarter. The score remains  7-7, with each team recording 1 stop in the first quarter.

0:28 1Q: The Arizona Rattlers return the the favor as Virgil Gray intercepts a fourth down pass in the end zone by Dan Raudabaugh and returns it 24 yards.

4:40 1Q: Rayshaun Kizer records the first stop fo the game with an interception off the net thrown by Nick Davila.

7:45 1Q: The Philadelphia Soul answer quickly with a Dan Raudabaugh 15-yard touchdown pass to Ryan McDaniel. The game is tied at 7.

10:48 1Q: The Arizona Rattlers strike first as Nick Davila hit Maurice Purify in the end zone for the first touchdown of the game. The Rattlers take the early 7-0 lead.

1:03pm: The game is underway.

T - 2:00: The Philadelphia Soul called tails and won the coin toss. They elected to defer to the second half, and the Arizona Rattlers will receive to begin the game.

T -15:00: The 26th edition of the Arena Football League's championship game is set to kick off at 1pm ET. The Arizona Rattlers are being introduced to the crowd. The Philadelphia Soul are being introduced next.