Finding a Place in AFL History

June 6, 2014

BY CONNOR GOMER
The NBA has the ‘96 Bulls led by Michael Jordan to the best record in the history of the league. The NFL has the ‘72 Dolphins, who are still the only team to go undefeated in NFL history. The MLB has the 1927 Yankees with Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig, one of the best hitting duos to ever walk on a baseball field, guiding their team to a World Series victory. The AFL has… well, maybe the 2014 Arizona Rattlers.
Even though it is only Week 13, the Rattlers are proving to be one of the greatest teams in AFL history. In Week 12, with a 51-42 win over the San Jose Sabercats, the Rattlers clinched the West Division championship, tying them with the 1994 Orlando Predators for the second best start in AFL history. In 1994 the Predators leapt out to an 11-0 start before dropping the final game of the regular season to the Tampa Bay Storm and ArenaBowl VIII to the Arizona Rattlers. How do this year’s Rattlers compare to one of the better teams in AFL history?
The Predators were led by two AFL Hall of Famers in quarterback Ben Bennett and wide receiver Barry Wagner. When looking just at the statistics, not many can compare to this duo. However, Arizona’s quarterback, Nick Davila is putting up Hall of Fame caliber numbers himself.

	1994 Ben Bennett	2014 Nick Davila
Yards	2,256	2,834
Completion Percentage	67.8%	69.2%
Touchdowns	45	81
Interceptions	9	6
QBR	121.2	129.52

The stats don’t lie. Keeping in mind Davila has played in just 11 games this season, while also being replaced by backup Jason Murrietta numerous times during blowout victories; he still leads Bennett in every passing category. The edge Davila gives the Rattlers in each game appears undoubtedly greater than the effect Bennett had on the Predators.
Davila has also done a great job of spreading the ball around. Rod Windsor, Maurice Purify, Kerry Reed, and Tysson Poots have combined for 200 receptions this year. They may not be Barry Wagner, but their combined total for touchdown receptions is the most by any trio of wide receivers in the AFL this season. Here is the breakdown of the four best wide receivers each team has.

2014 Rattlers
	Rod Windsor	Maurice Purify	Kerry Reed	Tysson Poots	Total
Receptions	75	55	36	34	200
Yards	944	775	413	458	2,590
Touchdowns	25	21	19	13	78
1994 Predators
	Barry Wagner	Billy Owens	Herkie Walls	Chris Ford	Total
Receptions	85	46	39	22	192
Yards	1,242	633	492	303	2,670
Touchdowns	28	16	4	4	52

The Rattlers four wide receivers have more receptions and touchdowns than the 1994 Predators. These statistics speak volumes to how dynamic the Rattlers offense is this year. A Week 13 win would tie Arizona with the 2002 San Jose Sabercats for the best start in AFL history at 12-0. The 2002 SaberCats cruised past the competition during the regular season against a respectable schedule. They ended up winning ArenaBowl XVI in an undisputed, 52-14, victory over the Arizona Rattlers.

	2002 SaberCats	2014 Rattlers
Average margin of victory	15.57	17.72
Record against teams over .500	2-1	6-0
Winning percentage of opponents	0.521	0.436

Every great team in the history of sports – whether it is the 1996 Bulls, 1972 Dolphins, or 1927 Yankees – have all had one thing in common: they finished out the year with a championship. Winning championships is certainly not unknown territory for the Rattlers, who are seeking their third consecutive title this year. Tonight, the Rattlers will try and move one step closer to their goal of winning the ArenaBowl and making history with a 12-0 start as they take on the Portland Thunder, and maybe inch their way into further conversation as one of the greatest teams in AFL history.