Rattlers Rundown: Arizona moves to 2-0 with rout of Shock
Mar 24, 2014, 6:40 AM | Updated: 6:46 am
PHOENIX — The Arizona Rattlers are loaded with receivers. And while Maurice Purify, Tysson Poots and Rod Windsor grab a lot of the attention — and with good reason — it’s Kerry Reed who seemingly always makes the plays that help the Rattlers win.
That was the case again Sunday as Reed, the only member of the receiving corps to play both ways, jarred the ball loose from Brandon Thompkins with just over a minute to play in the first half. Arizona’s Jeremy Kellem jumped on the ball, setting up a Nick Davila-to-Rod Windsor 4-yard touchdown pass that gave Arizona a lead they’d never relinquish in a 68-49 win over the Spokane Shock in front of 7,128 fans at US Airways Center.
For good measure, Reed would add a 21-yard touchdown reception in the third quarter and two onside kick recoveries in the fourth.
Nick Davila threw for 225 yards and eight touchdowns to four different receivers and fullback Alex Singleton ran for two more as the Rattlers pushed their record to 2-0 on the young season.
Offensive Player of the Game: Davila – The Rattlers’ quarterback had more touchdowns (8) than incompletions (5) in the contest. Davila now has 457 touchdown passes in his career, which moves him into tenth place on the league’s all-time list.
Davila connected with Maurice Purify on four touchdown throws, two went to Windsor and Poots and Reed each caught one.
Defensive Player of the Game: Kellem not only recovered the pivotal fumble in the second quarter, but intercepted Spokane quarterback Erik Meyer and had nine total tackles in the game.
Stat of the Game: After trailing 14-7 to end the first quarter, the Rattlers outscored Spokane 40-14 in the second and third quarters.
Up Next: The Rattlers head into a bye week and won’t resume their 2014 schedule until April 5 when they host the Jacksonville Sharks in Phoenix.
