Rattlers Get Key Stop, Beat Sharks 69-67

The Arizona Rattlers are starting to get used to instant classics whenever they face the Jacksonville Sharks.

The Rattlers stopped a two point conversion with nine seconds left and won their fifth straight game, defeating the Sharks 69-67 on Saturday night.

In front of 11,874 fans at the Talking Stick Resort Arena, the Rattlers and Sharks staged yet another classic game, something that has been accustomed since they met in that classic game that was ArenaBowl XXIV.

Arizona led the entire night, but could never fight off the pesky Sharks.

Trailing 69-61 with 12 seconds left, Tommy Grady found Joe Hills in the endzone to get the Sharks to within two, but they could not get the two point conversion.

Instead of an onside kick, the Sharks kicked deep with 4.8 seconds left, and the Rattlers ran out the remaining clock.

The Rattlers move to 11-3 and will host the 12-2 Orlando Predators next Monday night.

Rattlers Bye Week Report

As the Arena Football League celebrates the Fourth Of July, there are several teams who are in good position heading for the playoffs.

One of those teams is the Arizona Rattlers, who are streaking towards the finish line with a 10-3 record, atop the National Conference. Looking for redemption after their run of three straight titles ended last season, Arizona has already clinched a first round home playoff game and has its sights set on Arena Bowl XXIX.

At this point in the season, the Rattlers have many positives. They have one of the leagues best quarterbacks in Nick Davila. They have a dangerous receiving corp led by Rattlers’ all-time leading receiver Rod Windsor, and they have a defense that has been able to change games, including two weeks ago in their win over Philadelphia.

As many positives as there are, the Rattlers also have concerns.

For one, they are just 1-2 against the top two teams in the AFL- the Orlando Predators and Philadelphia Soul. They were blown out in their first meeting with the Predators and they ended strong but started slow against the Soul in Philadelphia, though they were able to gain revenge with an 80-63 win on June 24.

The other concern is can the Rattlers defense continue to shine without Kerry Reed. Reed has been the heart and soul of the Rattlers defense, but after being lost with an injury earlier this year, the Rattlers have had to have others step up on defense. To this point, it has worked, but can they keep it up through the playoffs?

The Rattlers start the second half of the season on July 9 against the Jacksonville Sharks.