The Arizona Rattlers season was the 19th season for the franchise in the Arena Football League. The team was coached by Kevin Guy and played their home games at US Airways Center. The Rattlers made the playoffs with a 10–6 record, fourth best in the National Conference, but were defeated by the top-seeded Spokane Shock in the conference semifinals, 49–57.
Standings
Regular season schedule The Rattlers opened their season on the road against the Gladiators on April 3. They will host the Rush on April 17 for their first home game of the season. The conclusion of the regular season was at home on July 31 against the Barnstormers.
Week Day Date Kickoff Opponent Results Location Report Score Record 1 Saturday April 3 7:00 pm at Cleveland Gladiators W 61–56 1–0 Quicken Loans Arena 2 Bye 3 Friday April 16 10:30 pm Chicago Rush L 56–70 1–1 US Airways Center 4 Friday April 23 10:30 pm Tulsa Talons W 77–76 2–1 US Airways Center 5 Saturday May 1 7:30 pm at Tampa Bay Storm L 61–62 2–2 St. Pete Times Forum 6 Friday May 7 10:30 pm Spokane Shock L 56–63 2–3 US Airways Center 7 Bye 8 Friday May 21 8:05 pm at Iowa Barnstormers W 52–48 3–3 Wells Fargo Arena 9 Saturday May 29 9:05 pm at Utah Blaze W 83–58 4–3 E Center 10 Saturday June 5 10:30 pm Milwaukee Iron W 68–67 (OT) 5–3 US Airways Center 11 Friday June 11 10:30 pm Oklahoma City Yard Dawgz W 56–55 6–3 US Airways Center 12 Saturday June 19 10:30 pm Bossier–Shreveport Battle Wings W 79–50 7–3 US Airways Center 13 Saturday June 26 7:05 pm at Jacksonville Sharks W 66–50 8–3 Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena 14 Friday July 2 10:00 pm at Spokane Shock L 36–37 8–4 Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena 15 Saturday July 10 8:00 pm at Chicago Rush L 50–55 8–5 Allstate Arena 16 Friday July 16 10:30 pm Utah Blaze W 48–20 9–5 US Airways Center 17 Saturday July 24 8:00 pm at Tulsa Talons W 61–51 10–5 BOK Center 18 Saturday July 31 10:30 pm Iowa Barnstormers L 47–67 10–6 US Airways Center All times are EDT
Playoff schedule Round Day Date Kickoff Opponent Score Location Report NC Semifinals Friday August 6 11:00 pm at Spokane Shock L 49–57 Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena All times are EDT
Final roster 2010 Arizona Rattlers roster Quarterbacks
Fullbacks
Wide receivers Offensive linemen
Defensive linemen Linebackers
Defensive backs
Kickers Injured reserve
Team suspended currently vacant
Refuse to report
Other league exempt currently vacant
Inactive reserve currently vacant
Recallable reassignment currently vacant
rookies in italics Roster updated August 3, 2010 22 Active, 10 Inactive
Regular season
Week 1: at Cleveland Gladiators
The Rattlers' special teams returned 7 kickoffs for 212 yards and 3 returned for touchdowns against a Gladiators team that gave up only one kickoff return for a touchdown in the last season they competed. Arizona's Rod Windsor was the most common target for quarterback Nick Davila, with 13 catches for 175 yards and 2 touchdowns. Davila himself completed 26 passes for 273 yards and 4 touchdowns.
Week 2: BYE
Week 3: vs. Chicago Rush
Week 4: vs. Tulsa Talons
Rod Windsor's eighth touchdown of the night was the game winner for the Rattlers. On the final play of the game, on an untimed down, Windsor received a pass from Nick Davilla and hustled down the left side of the field, escaping two Tulsa defenders before reaching the end zone. Both teams went back-and-forth throughout the contest, with neither leading by more than one score at any point. The Rattlers finished with 419 yards of total offense, provided mostly by Nick Davilla who threw for 413 yards and 8 touchdowns. Windsor finished with 230 receiving yards, 6 touchdown receptions, and 2 rushing touchdowns. With the win, the Rattlers gave the Talons their first loss, while improving their own record to 2–1.
Week 5: at Tampa Bay Storm
Although they trailed nearly the entire night, the Rattlers stayed in it, but came up short in the end. Tied at 48–48, the Rattlers gave up a touchdown to the Storm, however the Storm's kicker missed the extra point. Arizona scored on the next play from scrimmage, and following a successful extra point, took a 55–54 lead. Tampa Bay would take the lead back on a 37-yard passing touchdown, but rather than try another extra point, attempted a two-point conversion and made it, giving them a 62–55 lead. On Arizona's next drive covered 48 yards in just over a minute, ending with a touchdown with 7 seconds left. Instead of kicking an extra point, which would have tied the game, the Rattlers opted to go for two. Nick Davilla's pass to Anthony Mix was incomplete, although the Rattlers felt a defensive interference penalty should have been called on the play which would have given them a second chance at the conversion. No penalty was called however, and Arizona's ensuing onside kick was recovered by the Storm, effectively ending the game. Davilla finished the game with 314 yards and 7 touchdowns. J.J. McKelvey caught for 127 yards and 3 touchdowns.
Week 6: vs. Spokane Shock
Week 7: BYE
Week 8: at Iowa Barnstormers
Week 9: at Utah Blaze
Week 10: vs. Milwaukee Iron
Week 11: vs. Oklahoma City Yard Dawgz
Week 12: vs. Bossier–Shreveport Battle Wings
Week 13: at Jacksonville Sharks
Week 14: at Spokane Shock
Week 15: at Chicago Rush
Week 16: vs. Utah Blaze
The win, coupled with a loss by the Iowa Barnstormers, clinched a playoff berth for the Rattlers.
Week 17: at Tulsa Talons
Week 18: vs. Iowa Barnstormers
Playoffs
National Conference semifinals: at Spokane Shock
References