Another solid outing for Donovan Morgan!!
(Anaheim) – The KISS allowed 28 straight points to start the second half as a once respectable game quickly turned into a rout and Arizona blitzed LA 70-25 Sunday at the Honda Center. The two teams are heading in opposite directions as the KISS (2-8) lost their seventh straight while the Rattlers won for the tenth consecutive time this year to remain perfect at 10-0.
The KISS actually scored first on an Andres Vargas two-yard run to finish their first drive of the contest, but after that it was all Rattlers. Arizona outscored LA 70-18 the rest of the way. The Rattlers led 35-19 at the half and then boat raced the KISS in the third quarter.
“People have to step up their game. I trust everybody in that locker room and I’m convinced we will fix it,” said KISS head coach Bob McMillen. “And again if they don’t then we will find somebody that will.”
Not the home debut that Aaron Garcia was thinking about.
A.J Cruz returned 10 kicks for 270 yards and did give the KISS some spark but wasn’t pleased with the result. “It’s hard to be happy when you lose. I can say I played well, etc. but the bottom line is that we lost. I’m only happy when we win,” Cruz said. “We need each and every player to give 100 percent effort. We need to hold each other accountable, myself included. We have to figure out how to have every player give a total effort. We need to be cohesive.”
Aaron Garcia, in only his second game with the KISS, started but got hurt in the first quarter giving way to Tyler Hanson. Garcia returned later. Hanson was ineffective throwing two interceptions, including one that was returned for 15 yards for a touchdown by Marquis Floyd to give Arizona a 14-7 lead.
Hanson tossed another pick on the next series that was returned to the LA one. Alex Singleton punched it in from there and faster than you can say J.J. Raterink it was 21-7 Rattlers.
Hanson scored on a one yard run on the ensuing series to get the KISS within 21-13 but Arizona immediately responded.
Nick Davila connected on touchdown passes to Kerry Reed and Nick Miller from 19 and six yards respectively in the second quarter to increase the lead to 35-13. Garcia returned to throw a 14 yard touchdown pass to Donovan “Captain” Morgan to close out the half as Arizona took a 35-19 lead into the break.
The Rattlers then came out and buried the KISS in the third. Reed hauled in two more scoring strikes form Davila of five and 14 yards and Singleton crossed the goal line again this time on a 13 yard pass from Arizona from backup quarterback Jason Murrietta.
Singleton scored again late in the game on a five-yard run to round out the scoring as the Rattlers put on a seventies show.
Garcia completed 13 of 25 for 173 yards, one touchdown and an interception for the KISS while Hanson struggled at 2 of 9 for 11 yards, two interceptions and a score. Morgan, who has been the KISS’ best receiver all year, had eight receptions for 89 yards and a touchdown.
Reed was the bread and butter guy for Arizona with seven catches for 101 yards and four touchdowns. Davila completed 16 of 25 for 236 yards and six touchdowns.
“I’m not going to say we will go undefeated the rest of the way but as a team we’re focused on getting better and putting forth our best effort,” Cruz said. “There is no way it’s down hill from here. We’re competitors. We will not give up.”
The KISS will take next week off with a bye before traveling to San Jose June 7 to try to right the ship against the Sabercats.
AZ 14 21 21 14 70
LA 7 12 0 6 25
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