The 2013 Arena Football season is in the books, as Arena Bowl XXVI has come and passed. For the second straight season it was the Philadelphia Soul and the Arizona Rattlers who did battle on the game's biggest stage for its most glamorous prize.....the Foster Trophy. Were the Rattlers able to make it two in a row, or did the Soul even the score!?
Carlos Martinez kicked the ball deep to Arkeith Brown who made a twelve-yard return to begin Arena Bowl XXVI. Nick Davila led the Rattler offense onto the field and began the game's first drive with consecutive completions that quickly moved the ball to Philadelphia's ten-yard line. After back-to-back incompletions Arizona was faced with fourth and goal at the eight-yard line, but still managed to strike first when Davila found Maurice Purify across the end zone for an eight-yard touchdown. Dan Raudabaugh took over at his own five-yard line and got off to a great start. He completed all of his first three passes to Ryan McDaniel, highlighted by a fifteen-yard strike that tied the game at seven. Nick Davila looked to have picked up right where he left off with three completions to three different receivers to start Arizona's second possession, but an incompletion on first down setup second-and-goal at Philadelphia's eight-yard line. The Soul made the first game-changing play when Davila's pass sailed over Maurice Purify's head and bounced of the rebound nets into Rayshaun Kizer's arms. Dan Raudabaugh and Ryan McDaniel continued their early connection with two completions for 35 yards to quickly move the ball to Arizona's fifteen-yard line. The Rattlers made a quick adjustment that cooled off Raudabaugh, who threw back-to-back incompletions and then hit Andrae Thurman for a seven-yard gain on third down. On fourth-and-three Raudabaugh fired a pass into the end zone, but it was off target and Virgil Gray snatched an interceptions; retuning it to Arizona's 24-yard line. We went to the second quarter with each side having score a single touchdown and recording an interception. The pace picked up with the change of period as Rod Windsor began the quarter with a six-yard reception, then caught a 21-yard touchdown on the next play to give Arizona the lead back. Philadelphia tied the game with a six-play scoring drive that saw Tiger Jones make his first catch of the game and Ryan McDaniel haul in three more passes for 27 yards. Derrick Ross then plunged into the end zone for the game-tying touchdown on the next play. The Soul looked to be on their way to a second stop when a first-down incompletion and a sack setup third-and-fourteen, but Davila wouldn't have any of that when he found Maurice Purify on a crossing route and watched it turn into a 47-yard touchdown. The Soul kept their calm and once again responded with a seven-play, 33-yard drive that ended on Tiger Jones' nine-yard touchdown catch to retie the game with 52 seconds left in the first half. The Rattlers recovered Carlos Martinez's onside kick at Philadelphia's nine-yard line, but the Soul defense made a crucial stand to force Garrett Lindholm to attempt and make an eighteen-yard field goal. Dan Raudabaugh and the offense took the field at their own five with 26 seconds to work, but a one-yard completion to McDaniel and two incompletions quickly ended the threat of a last-second touchdown. Carlos Martinez was sent on to try a 59-yard field goal, but Attajj Hawthorne got a hand up and blocked it to give the Rattlers one final play inside the ten. On a play that could drastically change the ball game, the Soul caught a break when Davila's pass to Rod Windsor fell shy of the end zone and kept the score 24-21 at the intermission.
Philadelphia took its first lead of the game when Raudabaugh found Ryan McDaniel for a twelve-yard touchdown to cap off a seven-play drive to begin the third quarter. The Rattlers didn't trail for long as Kerry Reed brought in a 19-yard touchdown four plays later to put them back in front midway in the third. Arizona created some separation on the next series when Jeremy Kellem intercepted an end zone pass intended for McDaniel. Nick Davila directed a six-play, five-minute drive that gave the Rattlers a 38-27 lead on Rod Windsor's twelve-yard touchdown catch. Dan Raudabaugh responded with three quick completions, cutting the margin to five on a thirteen-yard touchdown to Tiger Jones with 11:31 left in the game; the extra point was missed. Arizona only needed three plays to answer back when Davila found Tysson Poots for a fourteen-yard score. The Soul had little room for error and Raudabaugh answered the call by completing five of six passes on the ensuing drive that setup another one-yard touchdown run by Derrick Ross with 3:34 remaining; Carlos Martinez missed his third extra point of the half that left the margin at six. Arizona recovered the ensuing onside kick and did a great job of running the clock down to the one-minute warning. This championship game took a drastic turn when on the first play inside the warning Rod Windsor got the ball on a receiver-sweep and as he turned the corner was hit which caused him to fumble the ball, giving Philadelphia a chance to steal this one at the end. All of a sudden the Soul where tasting a potential title, but after an eight-yard completion to Emery Sammons to start the drive Raudabaugh's next two passes fell to the ground and created a fourth-and-two with 41 seconds. On the play of the game Dan Raudabaugh quickly fired a pass to Tiger Jones, but Arkeith Brown laid the boom and knocked the ball harmlessly to the ground to force a championship-saving stop on downs. The Rattlers trimmed the clock down to 23 seconds and Garrett Lindholm drilled a championship-clinching 24-yard field goal to make the dream become a realization. The game and season ended when Tiger Jones caught a ten-yard pass and was tackled in-bounds, allowing the final seconds to tick off and strike zero and officially crowning Arizona as back-to-back Arena Football League champions.
The Arizona Rattlers survived a great game, that was on CBS, to win the franchise's fourth total and second straight championship in a thrilling 48-39 victory over Philadelphia for the second consecutive season. Rod Windsor earned Arena Bowl MVP honors with ten receptions for 145 yards and two touchdowns. The Arena Bowl XXVI champions are the Arizona Rattlers.
Stat Leaders:
Philadelphia (14-7) - eliminated Arizona (18-3) - AB 26 Champs
Dan Raudabaugh 31-51, 306 yds, 4 TD, 2 Int Nick Davila 20-29, 315 yds, 6 TD, Int
Derrick Ross 4 rush, 23 yds, 2 TD Rod Windsor 10 rec, 145 yds, 2 TD
Ryan Mcdaniel 13 rec, 137 yds, 2 TD Maurice Purify 4 rec, 83 yds, 2 TD
Tiger Jones 8 rec, 73 yds, 2 TD Tysson Poots 3 rec, 50 yds, TD
Emery Sammons 7 rec, 53 yds Kerry Reed 19-yd TD rec
Rayshaun Kizer Int Jeremy Kellem 10 tackles, Int
Bryan Robinson/Ko Quaye 0.5 sack Virgil Gray 9.5 tackles, Int Attajj Hawthorne blocked FG
Garrett Lindholm 6-6 PAT, 2-2 FG (24)
The 2013 Arena Football season is officially in the books and it ended with the Arizona Rattlers going back-to-back and being crowned Arena Bowl XXVI Champions!
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