RATTLERS VENOM

Rattlers dominate Steel in 2016 AFL season opener

Apr 2, 2016, 9:37 AM

The Arizona Rattlers opened the 2016 Arena Football League season in convincing fashion, destroying the Portland Steel 80-28 Friday night at Moda Center.

Receiver Rod Windsor and fullback Mykel Benson each scored four touchdowns and Arizona’s defense scored three times en route to head coach Kevin Guy’s seventh win in eight season openers as Rattlers head coach.

It’s hard to believe, but Portland actually had the lead in this game. On the Steel’s first possession, quarterback Danny Southwick hit receiver Nick Truesdell on a 38-yard scoring strike. Truesdell, however, sprained his right ankle on the play and did not return.

Arizona struck back. Nick Davila hit Windsor on a 12-yard touchdown pass — the first of four scoring connections between the two before halftime.

But the story was really Arizona’s defense. Defensive back Arkeith Brown had a 38-yard interception return for a touchdown with 5:20 in the first quarter that gave the Rattlers a 12-7 lead. Later in the first half, newcomer Damien Borel recovered a fumble in the end zone for a score that bolstered Arizona’s lead to 33-14. And veteran Kerry Reed completed the defensive hat trick with a 13-yard interception return for a touchdown on a play where defensive tackle Anttaj Hawthorne hit Southwick’s arm as he threw, causing an errant pass.

Guy, in his normal fashion, wasn’t entirely pleased after his team’s 52-point win.

“We’ve got a lot of work to do,” Guy told CBS Sports Network in a postgame interview. “There are some areas that I’m not real happy with, we’ve got to grow as a team, so we’ll address it.”

One area that needs improvement is the kicking game. The Rattlers failed on four extra point attempts. Kicker Alex Zendejas flat-out missed two attempts, one was blocked and the other was a busted play after a bad snap and hold.

“Extra points, that’s the big thing that jumped out to me tonight,” Guy said. “We had this issue last year, I’m about tired of it. We’ll get it corrected. We changed both snappers in there, we had some balls roll back and didn’t get the laces out — Ace Ventura, laces out — so, we’ve got some work to do.”

Arizona went through three kickers last season. Zendejas, Jeremy Shelley and Fabrizio Scaccia hit on only 80 percent (112-of-140) extra point attempts during a season that ended in a playoff semifinal loss to San Jose.

The Rattlers play their second straight road game next Saturday in Anaheim against the L.A. KISS.

Rattlers Venom

Follow @Vincemarotta...

Vince Marotta

Arizona Rattlers will look a lot different in their 25th anniversary season

The Arizona Rattlers are back, but will look a lot different in 2017. They've joined a new league and will feature an entirely rebuilt roster.

7 years ago

Arizona Rattlers receiver Chase Deadder in the end zone after catching a 10-yard touchdown pass fro...

Vince Marotta

Rattlers roll continues with road win against L.A.

The Arizona Rattlers continued their mastery of the L.A. KISS with a 64-49 road win Sunday afternoon in Anaheim.

8 years ago

Rattlers receiver Dan Buckner (12) is congratulated by teammate Chase Deadder after recovering a ki...

Vince Marotta

Rattlers use furious second-quarter flurry to bury Philadelphia

The Arizona Rattlers scored 27 points in under six minutes and used that as the fuel to beat Philadelphia 80-63 Friday night.

8 years ago

...

Vince Marotta

Nick Davila’s eight TD passes key Ratters’ rout of Portland

The Arizona Rattlers were glad to be home after a daunting stretch of road games, and showed it in a rout of the Portland Steel Saturday night.

8 years ago

Follow @Vincemarotta...

Vince Marotta

Rattlers end road woes with win over Gladiators in Cleveland

A rare three-game road losing streak came to an end as the Arizona Rattlers outlasted the Cleveland Gladiators 77-62 Friday night.

8 years ago

...

Vince Marotta

Rattlers surge past KISS in Anaheim

The Arizona Rattlers demolished another opponent Saturday night, taking apart the LA KISS 69-28 in Anaheim.

8 years ago

Rattlers dominate Steel in 2016 AFL season opener