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| Photo Credit: Arizona Rattlers/Twitter |
Looking on paper, the Jacksonville Sharks (1-3) weren't supposed to compete with the Arizona Rattlers (4-0) on Saturday night. Arizona's been winning by at least 30 points a night, and Jacksonville couldn't even beat Los Angeles. However, the two teams gave a crowd of more than 8,300 a track meet and a game to remember, with Arizona winning in overtime, 75-68.
After 136 points in 60 minutes, neither team could resolve anything. Thus, for the first time since Week 19 of the 2011 season, and the first time ever at home, there was bonus football for the crowd to enjoy. It didn't take long for Arizona to get the advantage, as a Greg Reid holding penalty set up two quick passes, finishing the drive with a Nick Davila pass to Maurice Purify in the end zone. David Hyland gave the Sharks good field position on the kick return, but the defense that eluded Arizona for most of the night clamped down in style, forcing a 3rd-and-8 where Tiger Jones bobbled the potential game-tying catch in the end zone, and as in classic fashion for offensive games, Arkeith Brown made the defensive play by intercepting Tommy Grady to end the game and to keep his team unbeaten.
The pick capped off a tremendous, tightly contested night where neither team led by more than two scores. While there were some great near plays on defense early (Hyland nearly intercepting Davila, then former Rattler Antron Dillon batting down a pass), both teams found the end zone early and often. After the first four possessions, Jacksonville had a slim 14-13 lead thanks to a missed Marcus Smith extra point.
The track meet continued, as there were seven players that did all the scoring. Both fullbacks (Derrick Ross and Mykel Benson) found the end zone, but the Sharks' trio of Spiderman (Roger Jackson), Superman (Joe Hills), and Tiger Jones countered everything that Mo Purify and Rod Windsor threw at the defense. Halfway through the second quarter, the teams were tied at 20 after Tyree Glasper partially blocked Marco Capozzoli's extra point.
Like against Orlando, Jacksonville had an opportunity to achieve a double score when it looked like they would have the ball last before halftime. However, after letting Spiderman weave through defenders to complete a 16-yard catch and run on 3rd-and-9. Arizona clamped to get the first stop of the night for either team. Defending the end zone to force 4th-and-11, and when Spiderman couldn't haul in a catch, the Rattlers had the advantage.
Purify broke through the defense to give Arizona a 34-20 lead with 18 seconds left, just enough time for Tommy Grady to find Superman in the end zone as time expired. When Spiderman sprinted 35 yards to the end zone to start the third quarter, the game was tied yet again. Before both offenses could be fully off and running, however, LaRoche "Action" Jackson did something that hadn't been done in quite a while. Cutting off a receiver at the goal line, Action dove for a Nick Davila pass and caught it as he went to the ground, the first interception in 224 Davila passes (including the playoffs). After Spiderman converted a 3rd-and-11, the Crockpot caught fire, as Derrick Ross took the ball and ran 33 yards to give the Sharks a 41-34 lead halfway through the third quarter.
That would be the last stop for either team in regulation, as Davila and Tommy Grady continued their duel. Just when either team was out of it, receivers did just enough to bail them out. One example was on a key drive just inside the one-minute warning. With the game tied at 62, Jacksonville found themselves at 2nd-and-8 at the Rattlers' 9-yard line. Instead of forcing the defense to use more timeouts, the Sharks again opted to pass. 2nd-and-8 quickly became 4th-and-8, and Superman rose to the occasion yet again, catching a pass in the end zone for a 68-62 lead after Marco Capozzoli's 3rd missed extra point of the season, all in the last two weeks.
The final few minutes were also punctuated by onside kicks, as both teams were looking to steal possessions to seal the game, or at least let the other team score quickly to get the ball back. The strategy nearly paid off to perfection as Mykel Benson scored his third touchdown of the game, but Marcus Smith matched the missed extra point, leaving a tie game at 68.
With 23 seconds left, the Rattlers decided to kick it deep. David Hyland, who had a good game on special teams all night, made a crucial mistake when he fumbled the kickoff along the boards, and Marquis Floyd snagged the ball to give Arizona a chance at a chip shot field goal and a win. Jacksonville did challenge the call, but lost, costing them a timeout.
When all seemed lost, it was lights, camera, Action, as LaRoche Jackson picked Davila again with six seconds left to give Jacksonville time for a miracle play. The miracle nearly sounded the death knell, as Superman fumbled the hook and ladder, and Kerry Reed was tackled at the six-yard line to set up overtime.
Both quarterbacks had stellar nights, as Tommy Grady completed 25 of 40 passes for 340 yards, eight touchdowns, and one interception, while Nick Davila lived up to his nickname of the Latin Laser completing 35 of 50 passes for 390 yards, eight scores of his own, and the two Jackson interceptions.
The ground game was more prevalent, as well. Mykel Benson finished with seven carries for 29 yards and three scores for Arizona, while the legend of Derrick Ross continued, as he ran seven times for 45 yards and his long score.
The game nearly ended with five 100-yard receivers, as Rod Windsor (15-165-3, game highs in catches and yards), Maurice Purify (9-151-5), Tiger Jones (11-144-2), and Joe Hills (11-102-5) all broke the barrier, while Roger Jackson (6-94-1) came up just short.
There wasn't much flair on defense, aside from the three interceptions and fumbles. Allen Chapman, Arkeith Brown, and KJ Morton all registered 2+ pass breakups for the Rattlers, while Alvin Ray Jackson, Greg Reid, David Hyland, and Antron Dillon all notched at least one (Jackson's and Hyland's came on pick attempts). Reid led the game with nine total tackles, while he, Hyland, and LaRoche Jackson were the only defenders with at least six.
The Sharks now start a long road trip, as they head south to take on the Tampa Bay Storm in the first of two Sunday meetings this season. It's a May Day matchup, with kickoff set for 2:00 p.m.
