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  Plank's Defense Throttles LA, Bryant's Record Catches Them Off Guard

Los Angeles came to town seeking to Avenge their loss last year in the playoffs to Arizona at the Staples Center. Last season in LA Siaha Burley was an Avenger, LA came close to winning but the one arm bandit from Las Vegas, Hunkie Magic Cooper hit the jackpot for the Rattlers. Not much was different in the 2004 version playoff game between these two teams.

Siaha Burley was still flying around making plays, this time in a Rattlers uniform. After spotting LA the first lead 7-0 early in the game. Burley took the LA kickoff from coast to coast to tie the game at 7-7. Just like that, Arizona was in the zone.

But the big story of the game was a kid that I said in the pre-season evaluation of the team would have a "break out" year. At the post game press conference today, coach Danny White said "They were trying to keep OB a secret, I guess the secrets out now." Yep, it tis. Orshawante "OBWONCANOB" Bryant set a Rattlers post season single game record with his 13 catches. The previous record was held by Randy Ironman Gatewood. He set that record last year on June 8th, 2003. Bryant's career record for catches in a regular season game is 14. The date, April 14 2003. The foe. The LA Avengers. See 2003 article and photos of OB.

So what has a Mustard Seed got to do with anything? I will just let you hear what Hunkie Magic Cooper said about it in response to one of my question of how his and his team mates Faith comes into play each week. "It comes into play each second. It's not something that we take lightly, our Faith. If you come out here thinking it's about football and athletic ability, you are badly mistaken. Because if you have the Faith of a Mustard Seed you can move mountains. We moved some mountains today. We know we did not do it because of our physical abilities, it's nothing that we have done, it's about God's grace."  

Then there is a defense that Doug Plank has designed to be more like an offense. It is routine for a player in his secondary to come from nowhere and intercept a pass in every game. This day was no different. In a game designed for the offense, a game that treats defense as necessary evil, Doug Plank has in just a few short seasons as an AFL defensive coach re-written the rules of engagement in Arena Football. A man that Buddy Ryan named a defense after is putting his mark on a game that until now ignored that side of the ball. Expect rule changes in the league to slow his progress down.

There are some great players in the AFL. This game one of the finest was the LA quarterback Tony Graziani. He is clearly bothered by his teams struggle to get into the final round. Here are some quotes from him. On the Game:"You cannot turn the ball over like that against this team. This was the difference in the game." Halftime adjustments: "We knew exactly what they were doing, we just shot ourselves in the foot. We made too many mistakes." During the off season: "We have to go back to the drawing board. We can't win the big games and it's frustrating."

The Rattlers played a solid game overall with only a few glitches. It was good to see the kicking game and Nelson Garner, he made very point after kick and added an 18 yard field goal in the second quarter. You may recall that earlier in the season, right after his wife and new baby arrived in town he was cut. It was a move that caused a bit of stir among some of the team's top players. That did not last long, he came back and we are all glad he and his family are here.

Running Man: Bo Dozer Kelly bammed his way in for another big touchdown. They don't give him the ball a lot, but when they do, he does a lot with it.

Catching on: Besides the great game by OB, Siaha Later Burley had 4 grabs for 30 yards and a touchdown and Top Pace Setter added 3 for 23 yards and 2 touchdowns.

Irrepressible Ricky: That would be the Copper Tops Energizer, Ricky Parker. This is a guy that played for a championship just a few years ago. In the EX-FL. He still has no ring, no one does. He has spent the past few seasons as an important part of the Rattlers, seeing duty when needed. This season he has emerged as force on the team and in the league. In this game he was in on 4 tackles and caused a fumble. Not just any fumble, not Ricky, that would be too ordinary. His was a noisy, rip the heart and the ball out kind of play.

This one play summed up why the Rattlers are the team to beat in the AFL, and have been for the last 3 years. It happened in the fourth quarter on LA's next to last possession and with a possibility, tho small that the Avengers could get back in it. Graziani completed a pass to Douglass at the Arizona 19 yard line. Nice throw, good catch. Then the play of the game happened. Parker grabbed Douglass around the legs and started pulling him down. But he was not alone, just then Hunkie Magic Cooper arrived and pummeled Douglas as Ricky was pulling, Cooper started grabbing, hitting and pulling at the ball as Douglas was being bent, his head going West toward the LA bench and his feet being yanked East to the Rattlers bench.

Douglass was prone, his only view, the rafters of AWA and falling hard, both arms wrapped tightly around the ball. About one foot from the ground as Parker and Cooper were pulling him apart, the ball came out and Mr. Breakout, Orshawante Bryant was there to cover it up. The final game book has it partly correct, the part where it says Parker was involved was true. But they completely missed Cooper's stripping the ball. This brings us to the next item.

The PAADOW AWARD: The play by Ricky Parker epitomizes the Rattler desire. He could have just knocked the guy down, but he went the extra mile and made a routine stop into a big play a turnover and a stop when it was needed most. On the next series Bonner hit Bryant to put the game out of reach and seal the win.

Hammer Drops: Bryan  Hammer Henderson had a shot at the start of the fourth quarter to steal a little glory usually reserved for Wendall Punisher Gaines. On a behind the line pass to Orshawante Bryant, OB pulled up and tossed one to a wide open Henderson in the end zone. True, the pass was ugly, but the Punisher would made the grab. The Hammer fell, so did the ball. It is not enough that he made the AFL All League team and Gaines was snubbed, no, now he is trying take his fun job from him. Good thing for everyone that Bo Dozer Kelly punched it in right away.

OB can catch, run, tackle, intercept and both cause and recover fumbles. But when it comes to throwing the ball, for now, he'll pass.

Leader Board: Sed Leader Bonner had a decent game, nothing new there. He was 26 of 33 for 227 yards and 6 touchdowns. He did have one interception.

It was a good game for all. They were in double figures in each quarter and the only real threat that LA managed to put together was in the fourth. But Parker, Cooper and Bryant squelched that. Hats off to a pretty tough classy LA team that made it a great game.

Next up for the Rattlers is a game against John Elway and his Colorado Crush on Sunday at noon at AWA.

Don't forget, the AFL is on NBC every Sunday.

The Rattlers quest for a third straight ArenaBowl began February 8, when they took on the Los Angeles Avengers at America West Arena. For season ticket information, call 602-514-TDTD or visit  azrattlers.com

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