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PHOENIX -- The Arizona Rattlers (9-8) outscored the Utah Blaze (7-10) 36-10 in the second half to advance to the Divisional Round with a 57-34 victory in front of 7,982 fans at the US Airways Center on Saturday night.
"I am proud that our team never quit," said Blaze head coach/general manager DANNY WHITE. "This is part of the growing process and we will use this to help us improve for next season."
Arizona QB SHERDRICK BONNER opened the scoring by finding WR/DB RANDY GATEWOOD for a nine-yard pass to give the Rattlers the 7-0 lead. The Blaze would answer when QB ANDY KELLY hit WR/DB ORSHAWANTE BRYANT on a three-yard scoring strike to make it a 7-7 game.
Touchdowns to WR/LB JUSTIN SKAGGS and OS SIAHA BURLEY helped give the Blaze a 24-21 halftime lead.
Utah began the second half with a Kelly-to-Burley connection of 41 yards to give the Blaze the 31-21 lead. The Rattlers ensuing drive finished when Bonner fumbled at the goal line to give the ball to the Blaze, but the Arizona defense sacked Kelly for a safety on the first play to make the score 31-23 halfway through the third quarter.
That was when the momentum shifted to the home team. Bonner then found Gatewood at the 4:20 mark in the third to draw the Rattlers closer at 31-30.
"It was a nine-point swing," White said. "It was too much for us to overcome."
Utah K STEVE VIDETICH added a 22-yard field goal to extend the Blaze lead to 34-30. Rattlers regained the lead when Bonner hit Gatewood again, but GARY KRAL's PAT was blocked by OL/DL JOHN CULP. The Rattlers led 36-34 with 8:14 remaining in the fourth quarter.
The Rattlers went on to score the game's final 21 points to seal the victory and send the Blaze home with their third loss in three tries against Arizona this season.
Bonner, who earned Offensive Player of the Game honors, finished the game by completing 16-of-26 passes for 238 yards, five touchdowns and one interception. Gatewood, who was tabbed Ironman of the Game, had seven receptions for 119 yards and three touchdowns, while adding 4.5 total tackles on defense. OL/DL WENDALL GAINES earned ADT Defensive Player recognition for recording 2.0 total tackles and a sack while applying constant pressure on Kelly all night.
Burley led Blaze receivers with six receptions for 116 yards and two touchdowns. Kelly finished the night by completing 22-of-33 passes for 226 yards, four touchdowns and no interceptions.
The Utah Blaze led the AFL in attendance and qualified for the postseason in just their first season. Season tickets for the 2007 are now available by logging onto www.utahblaze.com or by calling the Blaze ticket office at (801) 257-3111.
--BLAZE--
