PHOENIX-In a week where the remaining undefeated teams suffered their first defeat, it seems appropriate that the remaining winless team finally found their way onto the "W" side of the ledger. The Arizona Rattlers scored two late touchdowns to notch their first win of the season over the Los Angeles Avengers, 27-17 in a Week 5 AFL game.
The game did not start out well for the Rattlers, as they were forced to punt on their first possession, and Igor Keough returned it 57 yards to the Arizona 22-yard line. But Arizona's defense stiffened, and after three plays, the Avengers had to settle for a 36-yard field goal by Carmon Grimes to put Los Angeles up 3-0 with 11:19 remaining in the first quarter. On the Rattlers' ensuing drive, they moved the ball 74 yards on 10 plays, finishing it with a 6-yard touchdown pass from Don Fawcett to Arvil Stinson to give Arizona a 7-3 lead with 5:55 left in the first. The Avengers would punt on their next drive, but recovered a fumble at the Rattlers' 16 late in the first. Grimes would attempt a 31-yard field goal, but it was blocked by Lloyd Barisch who scooped it up and returned it to the Avengers' 46-yard line.
Arizona couldn't make much out of the block, and Pancho Barrow would miss a 50-yard field goal attempt early in the second quarter. Los Angeles took over and drove 60 yards on 5 plays. Juan York finished off the drive with a 9-yard touchdown pass to Chip Kindrick with 10:23 remaining in the half to put the Avengers up 10-7. After the kickoff went out of bounds, the Rattlers would go 33 yards on 5 plays, ending the drive with a 49-yard field goal by Barrow to tie the game at 10 with 7:33 remaining in the half. Kirby Hudspeth returned the short kickoff to his own 40, and on the next play, York threw a 60-yard strike to Keifer Dance for an Avengers touchdown that put them up 17-10 with 7:09 remaining in the second. Will Meads fielded the ensuing kickoff for the Rattlers and returned it 63 yards to the Avengers 23-yard line. But after three plays netted -5 yards, Barrow would miss a 45-yard field goal attempt. The Avengers would punt, and Arizona found themselves on their own 6 with 3:23 to go in the half. But Fawcett would execute a 13-play, 86-yard drive that ended with Barrow connecting on a 25-yard field goal with 1 second left to make it 17-13 at the half.
The second half was a pretty sloppy affair. After Los Angeles punted, Arizona's Melvin Jones fumbled and Courtney Harrelson recovered for the Avengers at his own 49. York would have a pass intercepted by Whitey Teel of the Rattlers, who returned it to the Avengers' 43. After the teams traded punts, Fawcett attempted to drive the Rattlers downfield but was sacked by Vic Cowan and fumbled. Archie Umsted recovered for the Avengers at the Arizona 46. The teams would again trade punts as the third quarter ended.
The punt exchange continued into the fourth quarter, as neither offense seemed able to gain much headway. Midway through the quarter, Kindrick fumbled and Quincey Quasar recovered for the Rattlers and his own 49. The Rattlers were faced with a 4th-and-5 at the Avengers' 16 with 5:51 left in the game. Jones received a handoff and only gained four yards on the play, turning it over on downs. But Arizona got a break when Noland Delta interecpted a York pass at the Avengers' 19-yard line. Four plays later, Fawcett hit Stinson for a 1-yard touchdown pass, their second TD connection of the day, to go up 20-17 with 2:50 to go. Chris Harrell intercepted York on the first play of the Avengers' next drive at the 24-yard line. With that, the Rattlers would do something that they had not yet done all season, score a rushing touchdown. Pablo Cadwell did the honors, scoring from 6 yards out, to put Arizona up 27-17 with 1:52 remaining in the game.
Arizona (1-4) gained 362 yards of total offense. The Rattlers gained 154 yards rushing on 27 carries. Jones led the team with 78 yards rushing on 12 carries. Fawcett was 31-for-47 passing for 243 yards and 2 TD. He was sacked three times, losing 35 yards. Speedy Crowley led the Rattlers with 7 receptions for 39 yards. Stinson caught 3 passes for 17 yards and 2 TD. The Rattlers host the Nashville Kats next week.
Los Angeles (2-3) gained 237 yards of total offense. The Avengers gained 96 yards rushing on 25 carries. York gained 44 yards on 5 carries to lead the team. Kindrick was held to 37 yards on 13 carries. Kindrick did lead the team with 7 receptions for 62 yards and a TD. York was 12-for-28 passing for 141 yards, 2 TD and 3 INT. Next week, the Avengers host the Tampa Bay Storm.
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