Rattlers Beat KISS, 64-49

(photo credit: Brian Kreps/Twitter)

The Los Angeles KISS clashed with the Arizona Rattlers on Sunday night at the Honda Center. This was a crucial game for the KISS, as they were looking to make up ground on the National Conference leading Rattlers. After returning from a quick road trip, the KISS were behind 7,090 fans on Military Appreciation Night at the Honda Center. 

The Rattlers would get the ball first, as they elected to receive the ball. Quarterback Nick Davila went right to work, as he drove his team right down the field. Davila ended the nearly flawless seven play, 45-yard drive, by connecting with Chase Deadder on a 10-yard touchdown pass.

The Rattlers took the early lead over the KISS, as they led 7-0 after a drive that lasted 4:49. The KISS offense couldn’t do much on their next drive, as quarterback Pete Thomas was picked off by KJ Morton, on Thomas’s second pass of the game. 

Morton took it all the way to the promise land, as the pick six gave the Rattlers a 14-0 advantage. The KISS responded to being in a quick hole, as Pete Thomas found the promise land himself, as he ran in from two yards out to cut the KISS deficit to 14-6. However, yet another miscue by the special teams occurred, as Joey Cejudo missed the extra point, which kept the score at 14-6.

In the opening minutes of the second quarter, the Rattlers struck again. Davila found Maurice Purify in the end zone from four yards out, as the Rattlers took the 21-6 lead. On the next KISS possession, Thomas hooked up with Justin Wilson on a 39-yard touchdown pass, which cut the KISS deficit to 21-12. 

LA decided to try the two-point conversion, and quarterback Nathan Stanley, who has been out ever since he was injured against Arizona, was the quarterback for the two-point try. Stanley’s first play back wasn’t so successful, as he fumbled the ball while he was rushing, and Jeremy Kellem took the ball all the way back for a safety. Arizona now held the 23-12 advantage, as the Rattlers cashed in on yet another failed special teams play by the KISS. Arizona wasn’t done there, as Davila and Purify connected again, this time from 13-yards out, as the Rattlers now had the 30-12 advantage over the KISS. 

A few minutes later, Thomas was picked off again, and Arizona returned it all the way to the two yard line. Mykel Benson scored on a two-yard rushing touchdown, as the Rattlers had a commanding 37-12 lead over the KISS. With time running out in the half, Thomas found Donovan “Captain” Morgan on a 40-yard touchdown bomb, and Thomas was able to convert on a two-point attempt, as the KISS cut the Arizona lead to 37-20. With just seven seconds left on the clock, Davila found Purify again from six yards out, to give the Rattlers a 43-20 lead. However, the extra point was blocked by Kalafitoni Pole, and Josh Victorian picked up the ball and took it all the way to the end zone for a safety. After two quarters, the Rattlers were beating the KISS, 43-22. 

While the KISS looked overmatched in the first half, the third quarter would be a completely different story. On the first possession of the quarter, KISS fullback Rory Nixon scored on a 5-yard rushing touchdown, as the KISS now only trailed by two touchdowns. After the Rattlers turned the ball over on downs, the KISS were able to take advantage. Thomas and Morgan hooked up once again, this time from 19 yards out, as the KISS were now only trailing by a score of 43-36.

Nixon was able to find the end zone again, this time via a pass from Thomas, as the KISS were losing 43-42, after Cejudo missed another extra point. Arizona was finally able to stop the bleeding, as Davila and Benson hooked up through the air on a 34-yard touchdown pass, giving Arizona the 50-42 advantage. On the next KISS possession, Thomas found Morgan on a 43-yard touchdown pass, as LA had cut the deficit to 50-49, heading into the fourth quarter. 

After the KISS had a huge third quarter, they couldn’t use the momentum in the fourth quarter. Benson found the end zone twice from 1-yard out, as he gave the Rattlers a 64-49 lead. That would prove to be enough, as the Rattlers defeated the resilient KISS, 64-49.

Davila completed 20 of his 33 pass attempts for 251 yards and five touchdowns. Mykel Benson had seven carries for 32 yards and three touchdowns. Purify hauled in 10 catches for 103 yards and three touchdowns.

 Thomas completed 15 of his 36 pass attempts for 291 yards and five touchdowns. Thomas was also picked off four times, and he was sacked twice. Donovan Morgan caught seven passes for 146 yards and three touchdowns. Jeremy Kellem was huge on defense for Arizona, as he totaled 4.5 tackles and two interceptions for the Rattlers. Josh Victorian recorded 6.5 tackles and one interception for the KISS. 

Arizona outgained the KISS in total yardage, 289-285. Arizona had 17 first downs, while the KISS had 16 first downs. Arizona totaled 11 penalties, which cost them 81 yards, while the KISS had nine penalties, which cost them 51 yards. Both teams won’t be playing next week, as the league will have its universal bye week. Arizona (10-3), is one win away from clinching the National Conference title, and they can do so when they play the Jacksonville Sharks on Saturday July 9 at Talking Stick Resort Arena. The KISS (5-7), will next play the Tampa Bay Storm on Monday July 11 at the Honda Center.