Rattlers throttle Orlando to move to 5-1
Apr 29, 2013, 4:01 PM | Updated: 4:21 pm
The Arizona Rattlers have to be wondering when a visiting team is going to give them a game at US Airways Center.
Nick Davila threw six touchdown passes and fullback Odie Armstrong ran for four more as the Rattlers handed the Orlando Predators an 82-42 beating Sunday afternoon.
With the win, the Rattlers pushed their record to 4-0 at Ak-Chin Field. Their average margin of victory in those four wins has been 31.2 points.
The Rattlers continued employing their winning formula — a defense that continues to force turnovers handing the ball back to an offense that is functioning at a high level.
Arizona took the opening kickoff and scored on their first possession when Davila found Kerry Reed on a 19-yard touchdown strike.
On Orlando’s first possession, Rattlers defensive back Marquis Floyd picked off quarterback Kyle Rowley and returned the ball to the Predators’ eight-yard line. Three plays later, Davila connected with Rod Windsor on a three-yard touchdown pass.
Orlando’s second possession also resulted in a turnover when Rowley’s pass was picked off by Virgil Gray who made a diving interception after a deflection. Gray would return the ball to the Orlando 23-yard line.
Davila hooked up with Jared Perry on a scoring pass on the Rattlers’ first play of the possession and at 21-0 the rout was on.
Davila completed 17-of-20 passes for 197 yards and six touchdowns in just over three quarters of work. In his last two games, the lefty from Cincinnati has completed 39-of-46 passes (85%) for 475 yards, 15 touchdowns and no interceptions.
The Rattlers defense intercepted Rowley three times, including a one-hander by Arkeith Brown, who returned it 51 yards for a touchdown to cap the day’s scoring.
The level of competition increases for the Rattlers in Week 7, as they travel to Jacksonville (6-0) to take on the Sharks — the league’s lone remaining undefeated team.