SPOKANE, Wash. -- The World Champion Arizona Rattlers do not have too many losing streaks, and after Saturday's win against the Shock in Spokane, they have one less. Going into Spokane, the Rattlers were 1-5 in Washington, with that single win coming in 2012.
The Rattlers came into the game down another quarterback when Arizona got sudden word this week that quarterback BJ Coleman quit the team. With reigning MVP quarterback Nick Davila still on Injured Reserve, first time Rattlers' quarterback Shane Boyd took over the team, and had no trouble spreading the ball around, throwing 7 touchdowns to four different receivers.
Wide receiver Markee White led all Rattlers' receivers with 3 touchdown passes, including a one-handed fingertip touchdown grab that earned him the Cutters Catch of the game.
Arizona's fullback Mykel Benson had another big game, running for 19 yards on 5 carries, and had 2 touchdowns, one on the ground and one in the air.
Arizona's defense also stepped up in a big way Saturday night. Linebacker and return specialist AJ Cruz was all over the field with 10.5 tackles and a tipped pass to go along with his 50 kick return yards. Defensive tackle Anttaj Hawthorne added another sack in the first. Defensive back Jeremy Kellem caught his seventh interception late in the 4th quarter which essentially ended the game. Kellem's interception, along with his team leading 11 tackles earned him the Riddell Defensive Player of the Game.
Defensive back Marquis Floyd also had a big night, intercepting a pass from Spokane quarterback Warren Smith and returning it 17 yards. This interception tied him with Los Angeles KISS defensive back Rayshaun Kizer for third all-time with 57 career interceptions.
Spokane's Smith had a strong night in a losing effort, throwing for 319 yards and running for 42 more. He also threw for 6 touchdowns and ran in for another touchdown, which was the AFL Highlight of the Game. He did, however, have two big interceptions that proved to be costly.
