PHOENIX-Despite the best efforts of Lou Couch, the Detroit Drive's comeback hopes fell short and they lost to the Arizona Rattlers in a Week 15 AFL game, 21-16.
The Rattlers got the ball first and drove 80 yards on 11 plays. Don Fawcett finished it off with a 16-yard touchdown pass to Will Meads to take a 7-0 lead with 9:17 left in the first quarter. Detroit would answer with a 7-play, 43-yard drive that ended with a 31-yard field goal by Cletis Frayer to make it 7-3 with 5:43 to go in the first. Arizona responded with a 7-play, 76-yard drive. Fawcett finished it off himself with an 18-yard touchdown to put the Rattlers up 14-3 with 2:01 to go in the first quarter.
There was no scoring in the second quarter, but that doesn't mean there was no excitement. Frayer had a 43-yard field goal attempt blocked by Kurt Tiggs who fell on it at the Rattlers 37-yard line. Tad Adler would pick off Fawcett on the next play and returned it 17 yards to the Arizona 40. But Couch would be sacked by Zeke Huntley and Madison Prunty recovered the fumble at the 46-yard line. Fawcett would get picked off again, this time by Jeffrey Wilkey at the Detroit 45-yard line. The passers then settled down and the teams would trade punts. Adrian Alphin would fake a punt late in the quarter and complete a pass to Boris Garrison, but the 8-yard gain was a yard short, and Detroit took over at their own 46-yard line. With 13 seconds left, Frayer would try a 53-yard field goal but the kick was wide and the half ended.
Following a Detroit punt to open the second half, Arizona would embark on a 9-play, 56-yard drive. Fawcett finished it off with an 11-yard touchdown pass to Arvil Stinson to give the Rattlers a 21-3 lead with 9:33 left in the third quarter. The punters would dominate the remainder of the quarter.
Detroit would finally get going in the fourth quarter with a 7-play, 69-yard drive that ended with Couch hitting Rocky Adams for a 14-yard touchdown pass. The Drive failed on the 2-Point conversion, and were down 21-9 with 12:07 remaining in the fourth quarter. Detroit recovered an onside kick, but Couch would get intercepted by Quincey Quasar at the Rattlers 7-yard line. Arizona got greedy, and Stan Florin picked off Fawcett and returned it 24 yards to the Arizona 13-yard line. But the Drive were turned away on fourth down from the 8. The Rattlers would punt, and the Drive would move 49 yards on 8 plays. Couch would hit Lowell Winfrey for an 7-yard touchdown pass to make it 21-16 with 54 seconds to go. Detroit recovered another onside kick, and managed to reach the Rattlers 12-yard line with 4 seconds to go, but Couch's pass to Todd Boyce in the end zone fell incomplete, and Detroit's comeback was snuffed out.
Arizona (5-10) gained 368 yards of total offense. The Rattlers gained 85 yards rushing on 26 carries. Fawcett led the team with 36 yards on 9 carries and a TD. He also went 18-of-36 passing for 283 yards, 2 TD and 3 INT. He was sacked once for an 8-yard loss. Meads led the receivers with 5 catches for 120 yards and a TD. The Rattlers will finish their season visiting the Albany Firebirds.
Detroit (11-4) gained 406 yards of total offense. The Drive were held to 28 yards rushing on 15 carries. Adams led the teams with 21 yards on 4 carries. Couch was 35-of-54 passing for 401 yards, 2 TD and 1 INT. He was sacked three times, losing 23 yards. Boyce led the receivers with 11 catches for 103 yards. Dave Huntley caught 10 passes for 148 yards. The Drive will wrap up the regular season hosting the San Jose Sabercats.
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