WEST VALLEY CITY, Utah – Despite the fact that the Arizona Rattlers tied a franchise record by scoring 83 points in a wild 83-58 victory over the Utah Blaze, defense was the story for the men in copper and teal in this vital division match-up Friday Night at the E-Center.
For the Rattlers (4-3), the defense made seven total stops in 12 Utah possessions, including three turnovers on down, a forced field goal, and three recoveries of the Blaze’s seven fumbled snaps, one of which ended up in the end zone for an Arizona touchdown. The ferocious unit, which hadn’t recorded a sack in the first five games, upped the total to five in the past two games after getting two more tonight and held Utah (1-6) to just six points in the deciding fourth quarter.
“I thought the defense played well,” said HEAD COACH KEVIN GUY, “We have some things to clean up, but it’s all part of the growth process.”
DL MARCUS PITTMAN recovered two of the fumbles, one on a fourth down, and the other for a miraculous touchdown at the end of the first half. With just seven seconds left in the second quarter, Utah fumbled the snap on the 24-yard line and the ball was kicked and batted around by multiple players, all the way back into the end zone where Pittman fell on top for the unlikely touchdown to give the Rattlers a 48-39 halftime lead.
DL RON JONES and LB DARRELL SHROPSHIRE combined on a sack in the third quarter and DL ALEX GUERRERO picked up another later in the second half. The defense held Utah’s offense to just 37 points and allowed only 13 points in the second half, six of which came on a meaningless score with under a minute to play. Utah’s defense scored 21 of the team’s points as DL Caesar Rayford scored three defensive touchdowns, two on battled-ball interceptions and one on a fumble return.
QB NICK DAVILA did not let the unfortunate defensive plays ruin his night, however, as he had another record-pacing game with 335 yards on 28-of-37 passing and team record-tying nine touchdowns. Davila’s backup, QB BILLY FARRIS stepped in late and showed the team that he would be an able replacement if needed by completing his first career pass and throwing a touchdown on his first AFL series. Farris finished 2-for-3 with 21 yards and that touchdown, which went to WR ROD WINDSOR.
"Nick great job managing offense,” said Guy, “and I thought the offense did a great job in execution except for the three turnovers.”
The rookie Windsor was also back in top form after a merely human performance last week, hauling in 15 passes for 152 yards and six touchdowns despite having only four catches for 44 yards at the half. Windsor remains on pace to make a run at the all-time league records for receptions and yards in a season.
In his first game back from a four-week stint on the injured reserve, WR TRANDON HARVEY again proved why he was an AFL All-Rookie selection in 2007 and a rising star in 2008 with eight catches for 140 yards and two touchdowns.
FB JOHN BOOKER, playing his first game in that position, recorded his first career touchdown on a one-yard run and later caught a six-yard pass from Davila. Rookie K FABRIZIO SCACCIA, playing in his first AFL game as well, made 11-of-12 extra points.
“Fabrizio did an outstanding job,” said Guy, “he only missed one kick and that was on a bad snap.”
With the win, the Rattlers moved to within one game of division leading Spokane. The Rattlers will now return home to the U.S. Airways Center for three straight games, leading off against one of the league’s best teams. Next week’s game against the 5-2 Milwaukee Iron will be a true test of grit and determination for a team ready to make a push for the playoffs.
Catch the action live on Saturday, June 5 at 7:30 pm on AZ-7/ Channel 13.
GAME NOTES
The Rattlers 83 points were tied for the most in team history and the most scored since 4/20/07, also against the Blaze in Utah in an 83-69 Arizona win… Davila’s nine touchdowns is tied for the team single-game record, done four times and last by Sherdrick Bonner in that same Utah game on 4/20/07… DL ANTTAJ HAWTHORNE recovered the third fumble for the Rattlers… The Rattlers improved to 6-2 all-time against Utah and 4-0 all-time in Utah… WR JJ MCKELVEY caught five catches for 54 yards and a touchdown in his first game back in Utah since his monster year for the Blaze in 2007.
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