Tag: Arizona Rattlers

Jungle Fever: Panthers Extend Winning Streak to Five as they Win over the Rattlers, 37-24

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

The Jungle is activated and lit up as the start of the second half takes away here at SAP Center, as the Panthers strive to keep the winning streak alive. (Photo by Michael Villanueva)

By: Michael Villanueva

SAN JOSE, Calif. – The Bay Area Panthers (9-2) delivered a strong, all-around performance on Sunday evening at SAP Center, earning a decisive 37–24 victory over the Arizona Rattlers in a pivotal Indoor Football League (IFL) Western Conference clash.

The Panthers improved to 9-2, while the Rattlers fell to 7-5 fighting for a playoff spot in the Western Conference. The Panthers are still holding onto first place in the Western Conference, while also continuing their winning streak to five games in a row.

In week 8, the Panthers fell to the Rattlers in Arizona in a game that was close to the final whistle. The final score of that game was 53-48. Led by Arizona Rattlers quarterback, Dalton Sneed going 17 for 28, 5 touchdowns, and one interception in the win over the Panthers.

This Sunday the Panthers remembered that loss in week 8 as the two teams exchanged some brutal and hard hits on each other. Both teams were unable to find the end zone throughout the first quarter, which ended in a defensive standoff. The scoreboard stayed at 0–0 after 15 minutes of play, which is an uncommon defensive display in the IFL. While the Panther secondary held firm on third down, the Bay Area front line put pressure on Arizona’s quarterbacks, forcing two punts.

Josh Jones’ short-yardage rushing score to give Bay Area the lead early in the second quarter was the Panthers’ final attempt to break the ice. Luis Aguilar scored a kick of his own to tie the game going into halftime after Arizona responded with a touchdown of their own and a field goal.

Surprisingly, both teams were tied at halftime (10–10) after scoring nearly 100 points between them in their first encounter, which the Rattlers had won 53–48. The first two quarters were characterized by strong defensive play and red zone stops, as neither team was able to establish its usual offensive rhythm.

In the second half, the Bay Area came out strong. The Panthers led 17–10 after Josh Jones again found the end zone on a planned quarterback run. The margin was increased to 24–10 a short while later when Jones came back under center and hit Tyrese Chambers in stride for a touchdown.

Axel Perez made his second field goal of the game to end the quarter after Arizona responded with a touchdown drive to cut the deficit to 24–17. The Panthers lead 27–17 at the end of three-quarters thanks to a well-balanced combination of big passing plays and ground attacks.

Heading into the final quarter here at the jungle, Arizona got off to a fast start in the fourth quarter as quarterback Dalton Sneed hooked Yo’Heinz Tyler for a touchdown pass from 19 yards out, cutting the Bay Area advantage to 27–24 and shifting the momentum back in the visitors’ way.

However, the Panthers responded right away. Joshua Tomas, a wide receiver, dashed into the end zone after quarterback Josh Jones’s wonderfully timed pitch, restoring a two-possession lead at 34–24.

When defensive back Joe Foucha jumped a route and intercepted Sneed on the next Rattlers drive, Arizona’s dreams of a comeback were gone. From there, the Panthers’ defense made many stops, resulting in turnovers on downs and preventing the Rattlers from scoring any more points.

Bay Area came alive in the jungle as they secured their victory of the season when Perez added a final field goal to put the score at 37–24. The Bay Area Panthers secured a 37–24 victory over the Arizona Rattlers on Sunday evening.

When the Panthers travel to Prescott Valley for Week 15 on Friday, June 28, to play the Northern Arizona Wranglers, they will try to continue their winning streak, which now stands at five games in a row. With a victory, Bay Area would have won six straight and would remain in a great position to earn the Western Conference’s top seed going into the season’s last stretch as the playoffs approach.

Former Retiree earns Defensive Back of the Year

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

By Emily Zahner

August 13, 2013

SAN JOSE, CA—The San Jose SaberCats gave their fans another year worth watching, posting a record of 13-6 and making the post season once again. A crushing defeat the Arizona Rattlers saw the Cats eliminated and sent packing, but that wouldn’t be the last of San Jose in the news. The Arena Football League announced on Tuesday that SaberCats DB Clevan Thomas had been named the AFL Defensive Back of the Year, as well as being a First Team All-Arena Selection.

Clevan’s selection came as a shocker to some, as he had retired from the AFL in 2008. The Cats faithful weren’t surprised at all… and upon his return in 2013, Thomas posted an incredible year with the Cats. Playing in all 18 games for San Jose, Thomas blew the lid of all sorts of records, including a career and franchise-high 15 interceptions. Most notable, Thomas set a new AFL record with six pick-6; the previous record was four. Thomas picked up the final two in a win against the Chicago Rush.

San Jose’s star DB recorded 74 tackles and recovered two fumbles throughout the season. The Cats hope to see Thomas owning the field again next year.

SaberCats fail to upset Rattlers, eliminated from playoffs

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

August 4, 2013
US Airways Center
By Emily Zahner and Kahlil Najar

PHOENIX, AZ—The San Jose SaberCats were eliminated from the Arena Football League playoffs Sunday night, as they were defeated by the defending champion Arizona Rattlers 59-49. San Jose’s QB Russ Michna completed 20 of 36 passes for 238 yards and five total touchdowns (one rushing), but mistakes cost the Cats and Michna’s impressive play was not enough to move on to the second round.

Coming in to tonight’s game, every favored team had advanced to the next round, creating an opportunity for the SaberCats to become the first upset of the playoffs. Last season, the Arizona Rattlers dealt the SaberCats a heart breaking defeat, but on the backs on QB Russ Michna and wide receivers Jason Willis and James Roe, the Cats clawed their way back into the post season to find some revenge. With the top two scoring teams in the league, this first round game was expected to be high scoring and intense. With the odds against them, the Cats would turn the ball to Michna, who began this game with a successful 4-0 record against Arizona.

In the first possession, the Cats struggled and prevented from building the momentum they were looking to carry into this game. San Jose was unable to make any forward progress, and on the turnover, the Rattlers took no time to get the first score, going up 7-0 just seconds into the game. It didn’t take the Cats long to get on the board, as the next possession they were able to convert for a score. At the end of the first, the game was tied 14-14, but it took less than two minutes into the second for the Rattlers to score again. After questionable officiating and physical play, the first half came to a close with the Rattlers leading 28-21.

A potential turning point of the game for the Cats occurred in the third quarter when Arizona’s kicker Garret Lindholm missed the opportunity for a field goal and defensive back Clevan Thomas returned the miss 49-yards for a San Jose touchdown. This turned the momentum to the Cats, and one score later, they had brought the score to 35-35. Arizona’s QB Nick Davila faltered, and threw an interception to Huey Whitaker who returned the pick-6, giving San Jose their first lead 42-35. Arizona kept pressing, and at the beginning of the fourth quarter, the score was tied 42-42.

In the fourth, the Cats turned the ball over at the one yard line that the Rattlers managed to return to regain the lead, and it was all Rattlers from there. Russ Michna had to take matters into this own hands, running for the touchdown with 3:27 left in the game, shortening the deficit to 56-49, but it wouldn’t be enough. More mistake by the defense cost San Jose, and Arizona punched their ticket to the next round with a final score of 59-49. The San Jose SaberCats end their thrilling season 13-6.

No Rush… Cats cruise into post-season

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

July 27th, 2013
SAP Arena
By Emily Zahner and Kahlil Najar

SAN JOSE, CA—In the last game of the regular season, the San Jose SaberCats (13-5) hosted the visiting Chicago Rush (10-8) in what promised to be a high caliber playoff-type game. Both teams were looking to end the season on a high note and carry the winning momentum into the post season. San Jose came out victorious, taking the win 65-40. Carried by a spectacular performance by QB Russ Michna and wide receivers Jason Willis and James Roe, the SaberCats erased all memory of last weeks’ 65-43 loss to the Philadelphia Soul.

After a kickoff return for a touchdown by the Rush, the first quarter was all SaberCats. Clevan Thomas picked off Carson Coffman one yard into the Cats end zone with less than a minute to go in the first, and returned it for a pick-6. This gave Thomas the franchise record of 14 interceptions this season for San Jose, and he wasn’t even close to being finished. By the end of the first, the score was 23-14 SaberCats. Late in the second, Thomas almost had his 15th, but the ball just tipped his fingers, giving the interception to teammate JC Neal. Going in to half, San Jose lead Chicago 37-19, carrying all the momentum. The third was a low scoring quarter, as both teams only completed one score, bringing the score to 44-26. In the fourth, Clevan Thomas brought the fireworks, hauling in another pick-6 that brought the franchise record to 15. This was his sixth of the season, making him the record holder for the most pick-6 in a season. The Cats finished strong in the fourth, sealing their 16th victory of the season by a score of 65-40.

For the first time playing against his former team, Russ Michna had a night for the ages. Michna completed 19 of 24 passes, averaging 13.5 yards per throw. With five touchdown completions, the SaberCats QB extended his streak to seven games in which he has thrown five or more TDs. Michna would be replaced by backup QB Mitch Mustain late in the fourth, presumably giving him some rest prior to the playoffs. On the other side, Chicago’s QB Carson Coffman struggled. While he threw 20 for 36, for 223 yards with two touchdowns, he was picked off three times and was sacked four times.

The SaberCats begin their 2013 Post Season next Sunday against the Arizona Rattlers in Phoenix, AZ. The Rattlers are 15-3 this season, number one in the West Division of the AFL.