By Kahlil Najar

Phoenix – The San Jose SaberCats (7-4) lost for the first time in five games to the last team to defeat them, the Arizona Rattlers (11-0), 51-42. With the win, the Rattlers were able to secure their fourth straight National Conference West Division championship. Starting Quarterback Nathan  Stanley went 11 for 23 with 146 yards passing and three touchdowns. Dominique Curry led the team with two touchdowns tonight and Rod Harpe rand Jason Willis scored a touchdown each.

The SaberCats turned the ball over on downs on their first possession and the Rattlers quarterback Jason Murrieta capitalized on that and was able to get the ball to wide receiver Rod Windsor to give the Rattlers a 7-0 lead. The Cats responded back on an eight-yard touchdown pass from Stanley to Curry to make it a 7-7 game after one quarter.

A Clevan Thomas interception gave the ball back to San Jose in the top of the second and Stanley was able to connect with Curry again for a 14-7 lead. After a San Jose turnover on down, the Rattlers sacked Stanley and forced a fumble, and it was recovered by Rattlers defensive back Arkeith Brown for a touchdown to tie the game at 14.Then with 3.1 seconds left in the first half Murrieta found Kerry Red in the end zone and gave the Rattlers a 21-14 lead going into the half.

After an interception by Simeon Castille on Murrieta tied the game at 21 to start the second half, the Rattlers scored 16 unanswered points including touchdowns to Miller and Windsor and a safety that was award as Arizona defensive lineman Cliff Dukes got to Stanley and sacked him in the end zone to make it a 37 – 21 game. The Cats shrunk the lead to nine points on a Stanley 1 yard tun to bring the score to 37-18 after three quarters.

In the fourth Stanley connected with Wilis and Harper for 14 points but Nick Davila, who came in for relief of Murrieta gave the Rattlers a pair of touchdowns to Windsor and Reed  and kept the lead at nine points, 51-42.

The Cats come back home on June 7th to take on the LA Kiss on their very first trip to the SAP Center.