It All Comes Down to This

Aug. 23,2014

By CHRIS HOPKINS

The people got what they wanted: the Cleveland Gladiators versus the Arizona Rattlers.

Cleveland, who finished the regular season with a League-record 17 wins, has been defying odds all season, especially with their late-game theatrics.

Arizona, the empire that is looking to conquer their third-straight ArenaBowl after another dominant regular season that featured a lot fewer heart-stopping fourth quarter moments than their counterpart.

The game has been billed as “Dynasty vs. Destiny”, but the players on both sides are not exactly buying into this hype.

Arizona wide receiver Tysson Poots, who was a member of last season’s ArenaBowl champion team deflects any talk of an Arizona dynasty.

“I try not to get caught up with it; I just try to look at it as another game,” Poots said. “Sure it’s another opportunity for me to lift a trophy but I’m just trying to look at it as another game and it’s just a blessing to be here.”

With a record of 9-0 in games decided by a touchdown or less, it’s easy to label the Gladiators as a team of destiny, but their signal-caller, Shane Austin believes there’s more substance to the team’s success than just lucky wins.

“We don’t really get caught up in the taglines,” said Austin. “We’re here to win a ball game just like they are and that’s been our goal all season, to win a championship. Yes, we’ve had some crazy wins which makes it seem like destiny, but our guys have worked hard so they deserve it.”

Regardless of how the game is framed, the contest will be a knockdown, drag-out war between two well-deserving teams… and the fans of Cleveland, as they have done all season, will be bringing the ruckus, led by their ringleader, Gladiators lineman Chad Schofield.

“I’ll try to be the biggest cheerleader out there—the ‘Yes Chant’ will be going strong,” Schofield said.

Unfortunately for Cleveland, Schofield will not be playing in the game after injuring his knee but with his grizzly red beard, which he has grown all season long, he will be unmistakable on the sideline. The Cleveland native understands the importance of bringing a championship home to Cuyahoga County.

“It means something extra to me because I consider myself a fan of Cleveland sports and it’s awesome being part of a Cleveland team,” said Schofield. “I just don’t even know how to describe it. It just means so much to city to bring a championship to the city. We’re a blue-collar town and we put on our hardhats and go to work.”

Arizona also realizes that they will be in unfamiliar territory, as this will be their biggest game in front of an opposing crowd in the Kevin Guy-era. However, this is not their first go-around and they will look to take the air out of the Cleveland crowd, early.

“The crowd is going to be wild and it’s going to be against us so it’s going to be a different atmosphere and we’re going to have to calm their team down and calm their fans down,” said Poots.

A veteran presence is always crucial in handling a hostile opposing crowd and the Rattlers definitely comprehend this, especially with the addition of wide receiver Chris Jackson, who last played in the AFL in 2011 with Arizona.

Jackson ranks in the top three in every major career receiving statistical category in the AFL and although the future Hall of Famer may not be quite as quick as he once was, he’s savvy enough to find a way to contribute.

“They invited me back with open arms and it’s been a lot of fun being a part of the locker room,” Jackson said. “I love my role and it’s nice to contribute.”

In his first official practice with the Rattlers after being assigned, the 39-year old immediately turned heads.

“When he came out to practice the first time, I was like ‘who is this guy that is killing these dudes that haven’t seen him before?’” Poots said.  “He was showing all of these different releases off of the line and it’s great to see a veteran of the game be successful again.”

This will not be Jackson’s first experience with AFL MVP Nick Davila throwing him the ball either, as they were on the team together in 2011. Jackson says he has noticed the “Latin Laser’s” maturation as an AFL quarterback.

“I can tell he has more confidence and he slows the game down,” Jackson said.  “He understands the game and knows where the Jack (linebacker) is going to be and makes the appropriate throws.”

The 2014 AFL MVP, Russell Athletic Offensive Player of the Year and First Team All-Arena quarterback, Davila is finally garnering the accolades he has longed deserved.

Since joining the Rattlers in 2010, he has been a staple of consistent success and his play on the field has not gone unnoticed by other quarterbacks around League, particularly Shane Austin.

“I’ve looked up to the guys that have been here, the veterans,” Austin said.  “I’ve definitely watched a lot of those guys on film and see how they carry themselves during the game as well as examining they’re different reads, how they deliver the football and their footwork.”

Austin, who finally got his change as a starter, was named to the Second Team All-Arena after his breakout season.

The two teams both have different approaches to the game — Cleveland predicated more on grinding opponents out with defense and striking on offense while Arizona is far more methodical on both sides of the ball.

The game will be a constant mental chess match between the top two teams in the AFL and without a doubt will make for another classic ArenaBowl.