LAS VEGAS -- The Arizona Rattlers suffered their first loss of the season Saturday, losing 70-53 to the Las Vegas Outlaws at the Thomas & Mack Center.
Arizona (1-1) was without wide receivers Rod Windsor and Kerry Reed for the second straight game, and also was without All-Arena defensive back Marquis Floyd.
Special teams showed up big Saturday night for the Rattlers, both good and bad. Defensive back AJ Cruz showed why the Rattlers were happy to acquire him, once he was released by the Los Angeles KISS, as he returned a kickoff for a touchdown. On the flip side, kicker Jeremy Shelley missed two field goals, both of which were returned for touchdowns, and an extra point.
Arizona started off fast with a 36-yard kick return from Cruz, followed by a 6-yard touchdown pass from Nick Davila to wide receiver Markee White.
Outlaws quarterback JJ Raterink responded with a four-play, 37-yard touchdown drive that was capped with a 10-yard run by Raterink.
Rattlers fullback Mykel Benson put Arizona back on top when he rumbled for a 29-yard touchdown run, which is the longest run for an Arizona Rattler since 2008.
After Las Vegas again responded with an 8-yard pass from Raterink to wide receiver Ladon Hudson, the Rattlers scored with a 22-yard pass to White. Shelley missed the point after, leaving the score at 20-14 at the end of the first quarter.
With strong defensive play by Arizona, the Outlaws' first drive of the second quarter stalled after four plays. The Rattlers were able to widen their lead to 27-14.
The teams traded punches for the rest of the second quarter, but with 2 seconds left in the half, Arizona attempted a 32-yard field goal. It missed and was fielded by wide receiver Gerald Young, who returned it 52 yards for a touchdown. This was the first time the Outlaws took the lead, and they never relinquished it.
The second half started with the teams again trading scores with the Outlaws starting it off with a 3-yard run by quarterback Sean Brackett. Cruz returned the next kickoff for a touchdown.
Early in the fourth quarter, with the Rattlers trailing 49-47, Shelley missed from 31 yards, and that attempt was returned for a touchdown by Young.
The Outlaws intercepted Davila on the ensuing possession and drove for a touchdown on an 8-yard pass from Raterink to wide receiver Terrence Campbell.
Arizona was able to score once more with a touchdown pass from Davila to White, but with the failed 2-point conversion and only 2 minutes to go, the game was out of reach.
