SYS_MESSAGE

Jacksonville, Fla. – The Arizona Rattlers extended their season-high winning streak to six games by opening their brutal road trip on the right track with an all-around impressive victory over the Jacksonville Sharks, 66-50 at Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Stadium.

After a three-game home stand that resulted in three wins, the Rattlers (8-3) embarked on a three-game road trip against three division leaders with a combined record of 23-8 starting with the now 7-4 Sharks.

The Rattlers defense dominated right out of the gates, shutting the Sharks out in the first quarter and allowing a season-low for a half 10 points to allow the team to jump out to a 14-point halftime lead. The defense made four stops in five first-half possessions including an acrobatic interception by LB KELVIN MORRIS on the first drive of the game. The Rattlers then forced Jacksonville into three field goal attempts, two of which were missed, thanks to well-time sacks by DL ANTAJJ HAWTHORNE and DL RON JONES. Rookie K FABRIZIO SCACCIA, playing in just his fifth game, finished the first-half scoring with a 20-yard field goal, the first of his young career.

The Rattlers record-breaking rookie WR ROD WINDSOR continued to shock and awe as he set his fourth single-season mark in the past two games. Last week, Windsor set the team rookie records for most receiving yards in a season (1,412) and receiving touchdowns (30) as well as the AFL rookie record for receptions in a season (122). Tonight, Windsor, who had 15 catches for 187 yards and three touchdowns including a highlight reel catch as he leaped into the stands for a touchdown, set the team’s all-time record for receptions by any player, a record previously held by Calvin Schexnayder who caught 136 balls in 1998. Windsor now has 138 catches for 1,661 yards and 35 receiving touchdowns and is on pace to shatter the league records for both receptions and yards receiving.

The Rattlers were in control the entire game with leads as high as 21 points but had to fend off a furious Jacksonville rally in the fourth quarter to hold onto the win. The Sharks cut the lead to 15 late in the final frame and then recovered an onside kick on the ensuing kickoff. Despite a big sack from LB DARRELL SHROPSHIRE, Jacksonville went in for another score and cut the deficit to eight.

Fortunately for the Rattlers, backup QB BILLY FARRIS, who was in the game after starter NICK DAVILA was ejected in the third quarter, was up to the challenge. After the Rattlers recovered another onside kick, Farris threw a strike to Harvey for the score to give the visiting squad a virtually insurmountable lead of 59-44. Farris finished with 62 yards on 4-of-6 passing and two touchdowns and led the team to three scores in his first three drives before running out the clock on his fourth and final drive. Davila was stellar again before exiting the game, completing 19-of-30 passes for 208 yards and five touchdowns thru three quarters. WRs JJ MCKELVEY and TRANDON HARVEY each caught four passes for 42 yards and two touchdowns.

DL ALEX GUERRERO sealed the game with a sack, stripping Sharks quarterback Aaron Garcia of the ball which Ron Jones recovered, allowing the offense to run the clock out.

The Rattlers travel up to Washington for the most important game of the season so far against West Division rival Spokane. The Shock (9-2) not only lead the Rattlers by one-game in the division, but also hold the best record in the entire league. Earlier in the season, Spokane narrowly beat Arizona in Phoenix by seven points as the Rattlers had a first and goal at the three-yard line with under 15 seconds to play but couldn’t punch it home due largely in part to an un-called illegal rush by Spokane on the final play of the game.

Tune-in to the game, and every non-televised Rattlers game, on NiftyTv by going to NiftyTv.com.

GAME NOTES

Hawthorne’s sack was his second in as many games and fourth on the season… Farris threw two touchdown passes for the second straight game and now has six touchdown passes and no interceptions on the season… Scaccia has now made 43-of-46 extra points for a percentage of 93.5%, second all-time among Rattler kickers… FB JOHN BOOKER scored on a two-yard rush giving him three total touchdowns on the season (2 rush, 1 receiving)… The Rattlers six-game winning streak is the longest since they won 10 straight in 2004… The Rattlers have scored over 60 points in seven of the team’s 10 games this season, their most since doing it 10 times in 16 games in 2003…

BOX SCORE

Passing

Arizona – Nick Davila, 19-30, 208 yards, 5 touchdowns, 1 Int.

Jacksonville – Aaron Garcia, 19-33, 282 yards, 5 touchdowns, 1 Int.

Receiving

Arizona – Rod Windsor, 15 catches, 187 yards, 3 touchdowns.

Jacksonville – Bernard Morris, 4 catches, 96 yards, 2 touchdowns.

Arizona – Ron Jones, 2 tackles, sack, fumble recovery.

Jacksonville – Bernard Morris, 6 tackles.