While the Valley is abuzz over the start of camp for the Cardinals, ASU and Arizona, the Rattlers are nearing the culmination of their season and closing in on a shot at redemption.
Hosting the Utah Blaze at US Airways Center on Saturday in the Arena Football League's National Conference title game, the Rattlers are one win away from returning to the ArenaBowl for a second straight season.
But before the Rattlers can think about redemption for their final-seconds loss in last year's ArenaBowl, they must overcome the Blaze, led by quarterback Tommy Grady, the AFL's top passer this season. Grady leads the league in touchdowns (142, an AFL record), passing yards (5,870), completion percentage (68.2) and yards per game (326.1).
The Rattlers defense will be tasked with containing Grady, who led Utah to a 62-49 win in Phoenix on July 6, throwing seven touchdowns and no interceptions. The Rattlers' defense ranks second in the league in passing yards and first in red-zone percentage.
Rattlers quarterback Nick Davila is nearly as dangerous as Grady, particularly with top receiver Maurice Purify. But Davila will have to beat an improved Blaze defense that, after allowing 86 points in a May loss to the Rattlers, held them to 49 in their July meeting.
Davila is also coming off one of his worst career games, having thrown a career-high four interceptions in a 51-48 victory over San Jose last weekend. The offense as a whole has been down a bit the past four games, scoring less than 50 points twice after not having done so even once in the previous 15 games.
Saturday's game starts at 7 p.m. with the winner advancing to the Aug. 10 ArenaBowl in New Orleans.
