Rattlers Record is now 2-2
RATTLERS THROTTLE DRAGONS; 62-33  
Rattlers defense holds New York’s offense without a touchdown for over 40 minutes

PHOENIX – Rattlers QB JEFF SMOKER completed 22-of-31 passes for 240 yards and five touchdowns as the playoff-guaranteed Arizona Rattlers controlled both sides of the ball in a lopsided 62-33 victory over the New York Dragons in front of 11,689 at U.S. Airways Center.

The Rattlers notched nine defensive stops in the game, including five straight in the first half. The last time the Rattlers held their opponent without an offensive touchdown in the first half was May 20, 2000 against the Albany Firebirds. In addition, the last time the Rattlers had five straight defensive stops in a game was June 9, 2001 against the Oklahoma Wranglers.

For Smoker, it was his first victory as the starting quarterback and he and the Rattler were in control the entire game. With great protection from his offensive line, Smoker completed 71% of his passes, with 2007 All-Rookie Team WR TRANDON HARVEY grabbing the lion’s share. Harvey caught eight passes for 110 yards and three touchdowns, including a 45-yard strike from Smoker.

“We showed great continuity on the offensive line,” said Head Coach Kevin Guy. “The defensive line and the pass rush were phenomenal tonight.”

The defensive line harassed New York QB Rohan Davey all night with six quarterback hurries and a sack. Rookie LB DERRICK WHITE had a stand-out night, notching a sack, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery and two pass breakups to go along with one of the quarterback hurries. First year DB ISAIAH TRUFANT, who won the game’s Defensive Player of the Game award, notched nine tackles, 1 interception, two pass-breakups, and returned a fumble for a touchdown.

“We have a lot of young guys, and we’re starting to come together as a group,” said Guy. The Rattlers dominated the first half and led 35-10 at halftime. The offense scored on all five of its possessions in the first two quarters in addition to the defense’s performance. This was the first time this season that the Rattlers scored on all of their first half possessions.

The Dragons, meanwhile, did not score their first offensive touchdown until 40:01 into the game, in the waning minutes of the third quarter. While passing for 334 yards, Davey completed less than 50% of his passes, going 21 for 43. Dragons WR Kevin Swayne caught nine passes for 187 yards and a touchdown.

BOX SCORE
                        1         2      3      4       T
New York       7         3      7     16     33
Rattlers          14        21    13    14     62

STATS
Passing
New York  Rohan Davey,  21-43, 334 yards, 3 TD’s, 1 INT
Rattlers       Jeff Smoker,   22-31, 240 yards, 5 TD’S, 1 INT

Rushing
New York     Rohan Davey, 1 rush, 7 yards
Rattlers          Asi Faoa,       7 rushes, 14 yards

Receiving
New York     Kevin Swayne, 9 rec., 187 yards, 1 TD
Rattlers          Trandon Harvey, 8 rec., 110 yards, 3 TDs

Defense
New York   Henry Taylor, 3 tackles, 2 sacks, 2 Tackles for Loss
Rattlers        Isaiah Trufant, 9 tackles, 1 FR, 1 INT, 2 PBU, 1 TD

Offensive Player of the Game          QB Jeff Smoker
Defensive Player of the Game          DB Isaiah Trufant
Ironman of the Game                       DL Wendall Gaines

The 2008 Arizona Rattlers have guaranteed their season ticket holders a trip to the playoffs. Season tickets, group tickets and premium single game tickets can be purchased by calling the Rattlers ticket hotline at 602-514-TDTD. Single game tickets are now on sale at the USAirways box office and all Ticketmaster locations. More information is available at www.azrattlers.com.

Rattlers Mauled by Sabercats
Game 3; Saturday Night March 15 2008 No TV No Radio 

SAN JOSE - The defense had six stops, the special teams contributed a
touchdown and new starting quarterback JEFF SMOKER passed for nearly 300 yards. Despite a mad scoring rush in the fourth quarter where the Rattlers
racked up nearly 30 points on the SaberCats, the team lost its first road game, 63-43.

Arizona's defense forced San Jose's potent offense into kicking four field
goals and intercepted quarterback Mark Grieb twice. DB KEYOU CRAVER, who set a Rattler season record last season in tackles, paced the field in that category again tonight, notching 12 total (11 solo). Craver also led the team with two tackles for a loss.

"I think we're getting closer," said Rattler Head Coach Kevin Guy after the
game. "It takes time to build chemistry with a young offense, and doesn't
help when don't have the same guys in the lineup from week to week. But I'm
proud of our team. We could have very easily folded up tent at the half. But
we came back and fought. We are getting closer and closer and growing as a
team."

A pair of defensive stops opened the game for both squads, but Arizona took
an early lead on a pair of plays by FB/LB ASI FAOA. Faoa slipped open on a
screen pass and rumbled for 23 yards before punching through the San Jose
defense for the touchdown.

Following a scoring run by San Jose, it was Faoa who came through again in
the third quarter after DB ARIC WILLIAMS stepped in front of a Mark  Grieb pass deep in San Jose's end of the field. Smoker completed a crossing pass to Trandon Harvey, brining the ball down to the 1, and Faoa capped it;
pounding through the goal-line.

Smoker rallied the team late with a 36 yard bomb to WR JERRIAN JAMES. Newly acquired quarterback and holder BRIAN JONES then slipped through the line on a fake extra point to add a two point conversion, brining the score within 10. After a San Jose score, it was Smoker who once again rung up a touchdown at the expense of the San Jose secondary, this time from Arizona's own one yard line, hitting WR ATNAF HARRIS for a 49 yard touchdown pass.

Arizona's defense would force San Jose into one more field goal, allowing
San Jose kicker A.J. Haglund to tie a team record in made field goals. San
Jose added seven more points as time expired.

BOX SCORE
Arizona                      7          0          7          29        43
San Jose                   10        17        12          24        63

 Game 2 Monday Night March 10 2008 on National TV ESPN  

RATTLERS DROP HOME OPENER; 65-33
WR Siaha Burley snags three touchdowns in Rattlers re-debut

PHOENIX - The playoff-guaranteed Arizona Rattlers lost their first game of the season in front of the largest season opening crowd in two years, falling 65-33 to the Los Angeles Avengers (2-0). 11,532 rabid Rattler fans got to see the Rattlers perform on the national stage, with the Russell ESPN
AFL Monday Night Football crew on hand broadcasting the game.

Starting quarterback LANG CAMPBELL started out the game strong, racking up 60 yards early and a touchdown and rushing for a second score. However, Campbell left the game in the second quarter and JEFF SMOKER came in to replace him with 2:58 left in the first half. It only took Smoker, a former standout and all Big-10 performer at Michigan State, four passes to throw his first touchdown in a Rattlers' uniform, completing a 27-yard strike to SIAHA BURLEY.

"Jeff came in and did well," said Head Coach Kevin Guy, "but it's difficult coming in to that situation midway through the game, especially if you don't give the quarterback time to throw."

Burley, the Rattlers' big off-season pickup playing in his first game of the season after missing last week's opener at Utah, caught two first half passes for 42 yards, both resulting in Rattlers' touchdowns. Last year, Burley set the all-time AFL single-season marks for catches and yards while grabbing 49 touchdowns. He finished the game with six catches for 101yards and a game-high three scores.

Rattlers' legend WENDALL GAINES had two first-half sacks of Avenger quarterback Sonny Cumbie, and added a third in the third quarter. Gaines was named the Defensive Player of the Game. The Rattlers had four total sacks as a team, with DARRELL SHROPSHIRE and ANTTAJ HAWTHORNE combining to drop Cumbie for a six yard loss.

Unfortunately for the Rattlers, the Avengers overcame many of the long yardage situations and converted a few into touchdowns. "We had them in third and long and fourth and long all night," said Coach Guy, "but we just didn't close it out."

WR/DB KEVIN NICKERSON continued to impress all around, catching six more passes for 117 yards.  On the season, Nickerson now has 15 catches for 217 yards and three touchdowns. "We're better than what we showed tonight," proclaimed Guy, "but before you can grow, you need some adversity to make you stronger. We will have to see how the team responds."

STATS
Passing
AZ       Jeff Smoker, 13/28, 220 yards, 2 TD, 1 INT
LA       Sonny Cumbie, 15/29, 267 yards, 7 TD, 0 INT

Receiving
AZ       Siaha Burley, 6 rec, 101 yards, 3 TD
LA       Timon Marshall, 6 rec, 119 yards, 2 TD

Game - 1: SALT LAKE CITY - The playoff guaranteed Arizona Rattlers are one for one. The team took down the Utah Blaze by a score of 63-62 at EnergySolutions Arena in Salt Lake City tonight.

The young team weathered a series of high and lows, down as much as two
scores in the second quarter before taking the lead late in the third. The
teams slugged it out all night, and it all came down to a defensive stand in
the game's waning seconds, forcing Utah into a missed long field goal
attempt.

"Seven rookies. Six first year players," remarked a jubilant Arizona Head
Coach Kevin Guy. "We showed mental toughness throughout the game. We got the win, and we're only going to get better."