Nick Davila shines as Arizona Rattlers win in Jacksonville
May 4, 2014, 2:45 AM | Updated: 3:46 am
If any defense in the Arena Football League has the blueprint to stop the Arizona Rattlers’ offense, they’ve yet to employ it.
The Rattlers’ offense was once again unstoppable in a 70-61 win over the Jacksonville Sharks at Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Coliseum Saturday night.
Arizona scored touchdowns on 10 of 11 possessions Saturday, thanks to a masterful performance from Nick Davila.
The Rattlers’ gunslinger completed 24-of-31 passes for 389 yards and 10 touchdowns — the final coming on a 10-yarder to Rod Windsor with just :51 left in the game.
The only time the Rattlers didn’t visit the end zone was on their final possession where they successfully melted the clock.
Davila put up huge numbers, but the other star for head coach Kevin Guy was two-way standout Kerry Reed. Inserted into the lineup because of an injury to receiver Tysson Poots, Reed caught seven passes for 85 yards and four touchdowns. Three other receivers scored for the Rattlers — Windsor and Maurice Purify each had two touchdowns while Nick Miller had one.
On defense, Reed made the play of the game, knocking down a fourth-down pass from Jacksonville quarterback R.J. Archer with 3:52 left in the fourth quarter. The Rattlers led by just eight points at the time.
With the win, the two-time defending Arena Bowl champions pushed their record to 7-0, keeping them one of only two undefeated teams in the league. The Cleveland Gladiators (6-0) had a bye in Week 8.
The Rattlers’ 7-0 record also marks their best start in franchise history.
Noted
• Davila reached double-digits in touchdown passes for just the second time in his storied career. He had 11 scoring strikes in an 86-70 shootout win over the Utah Blaze in Week 11 of 2012. In his last three games, Davila has 28 touchdown passes and just one interception.
Up Next
The Rattlers play on the road again, visiting the Portland Thunder for the first time ever. Portland has won back-to-back games, but both on the road. They are 0-3 at Moda Center. Kickoff is set for 7:00 p.m. Arizona time next Saturday, May 10.