Arizona Rattlers Press Release
PHOENIX – The Arizona Rattlers matched their best start in franchise history without a loss Saturday night, defeating the improving San Antonio Talons, 69-59, in front of 8,567 fans at Ak-Chin Field at US Airways Center.
In winning for the seventh time in eight meetings against San Antonio (1-6), Arizona improved 6-0, equaling its best undefeated start which occurred in 2011. The Rattlers now have won 10 straight dating back to the last regular-season game of 2013 (84-45, at Iowa).
Arizona never trailed in this West Division matchup. The Rattlers scored on the game’s first play from scrimmage when wide receiver Tysson Poots caught a 24-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Nick Davila, earning Poots the Cutters Catch of the Game. But nothing would come easy after that. San Antonio kept the pressure on in the second half, never letting Arizona take more than a 10-point lead.
It took an onside kick return for a touchdown by Jack linebacker Kerry Reed with 1:43 left, and defensive back Arkeith Brown’s second interception in the final minute to close the deal. Arizona now is 34-5 since 2011 when playing at Ak-Chin Field.
Brown, who also had five tackles, was the Riddell Defensive Player of the Game. His first interception, which came in the second quarter off a tipped pass that he juggled three times before securing the ball, was the AFL Highlight of the Game.
Reed was the J. Lewis Small Playermaker of the Game after he totaled two touchdown catches and five tackles, to go along with his onside kick return for a score.
Davila had another solid outing, completing 20 of 30 passes for 306 yards and nine touchdowns. He also had nine touchdown passes in last week’s 73-69 win over the Pittsburgh Power. He now has thrown 47 scoring passes in six games. Davila was intercepted for only the fourth time this season, late in the second quarter by San Antonio defensive back Kyle Whitehurst.
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Three of his touchdown passes went to wide receiver Maurice Purify, the Russell Athletic Offensive Player of the Game. Purify finished with nine catches for 145 yards. The rest of the team’s receiving corps of Reed, Poots and rookie Nick Miller caught two apiece. Miller, a local product of Mesa’s Red Mountain High School, was making his first start in place of the injured Rod Windsor. Miller also showed tremendous speed as the team’s kick returner, piling up 68 yards on two returns.
Shane Boyd did his best to lead the Talons to their second straight victory after last week’s 68-33 win over the New Orleans VooDoo. The former Houston Texans quarterback and University of Kentucky star completed 19 of 28 passes for 272 yards and six touchdowns, but he was intercepted twice. He also rushed for another score.
Boyd’s main target, wide receiver D. J. Stephens, finished with 10 catches for 155 yards and four touchdowns.
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