PHOENIX -- The five-time champion Arizona Rattlers (15-3) will make yet another ArenaBowl appearance after Saturday's 82-41 victory over the Cleveland Gladiators (8-10) National Conference title game.
The Rattlers will make their league-leading 10th appearance to the ArenaBowl after taking the conference crown for the fifth time in six seasons, 82-14 in front of a season-high 15,103 fans at the Talking Stick Resort Arena.
"For us, five out of six years, it's awesome," Rattlers Owner and CEO Ron Shurts said. "We're getting this thing done. The fans here really put it together, they're the best."
The Rattlers' ArenaBowl opponent will be determined in Sunday's American Conference championship game between the Philadelphia Soul and the Jacksonville Sharks. ArenaBowl XXIX will be at the Gila River Arena in Glendale on Aug. 26th.
Arizona's punched its ticked thanks in part to stifling defense that forced five turnovers. Defensive Back Jeremy Kellem led the night with 6.5 tackles, two forced fumbles and two interceptions, one of which was returned for a touchdown.
Offensively, the Rattlers were just as unstoppable, doubling up the Gladiators with 82 points. Quarterback Nick Davila completed 20 of his 27 passes for 222 yards and seven touchdowns.
Like they have all season, the Rattlers started fast, scoring on their first drive with a one-yard touchdown rush by fullback Mykel Benson. After a four-and-out by Cleveland, Arizona once again got on the board with a five-yard touchdown pass from Davila to wide receiver Anthony Amos.
The Gladiators were able to get on the board at the end of the quarter with a one-yard pass from quarterback Arvell Nelson to wide receiver Quentin Sims. The quarter ended with the Rattlers up 14-7.
Arizona was able to score again early in the second with 13-yard touchdown pass from Davila to wide receiver Rod Windsor. On Cleveland's next drive, defensive back Kellem picked off a pass from Nelson and returned it 35-yards for the score.
Cleveland got their second score of the game off of a 29-yard touchdown pass from Nelson to Sims. The Rattlers turned right around and scored off of a 35-yard touchdown pass from Davila to wide receiver Maurice Purify. After another four-and-out by Cleveland, the Rattlers again scored from a six-yard touchdown pass from Davila to Purify. With the one-minute timing rules in place, the Rattlers attempted an onside kick, which was returned eight-yards by Joe Powell for the score.
Arizona scored one more time at the end of the half from another one-yard rush by Benson. The half ended with the Rattlers holding a commanding 48-20 lead.
The third quarter was not much kinder to the Gladiators. They scored their only points of the quarter off a three-yard pass from Nelson to Sims. The Rattlers responded with a pair of touchdown passes, both from Davila to Purify. The third quarter ended with a score of 61-27 Rattlers.
Arizona would show no signs of slowing down as they scored on the first play of the fourth quarter with a 14-yard touchdown pass to Rod Windsor. Beavers responded with a 58-yard kick return touchdown. Cleveland would recover an onside kick and score later that drive with a 17-yard Manley run to bring the score to 68-41.
However, it would be too little too late for a Gladiators comeback. The Rattlers added two more scores from Boyd to Amos to end the game.
