Arena Football League: Arizona Rattlers Face Utah Blaze in Key Divisional Match

After six weeks of the AFL regular season, the Arizona Rattlers will finally face a divisional rival when they host the Utah Blaze in Phoenix on Saturday.

The Blaze are within striking distance two games behind the undefeated Rattlers on the divisional leader board.

The matchup between the Blaze and Rattlers may make for one of the best games this week. According to AFL.com the Blaze are the first-ranked scoring offense and second-ranked in total offense.

That shouldn’t bother the Rattlers as they are the first-ranked scoring defense and second-ranked in total defense.

Tommy Grady is leading the Blaze as he sits ranked in the AFL’s two-spot with his air superiority. Grady has currently thrown for 1,532 yards and 33 TDs, and has also rushed for four touchdowns. His dynamic counterpart is Aaron Boone who has 699 yards, with an average of 139.8 yards per game.

Rattlers quarterback Nick Davila may not be totaling as many yards but he is also in the top 10 at No. 7. His totals are 1,402 yards and 30 touchdowns from the air and a single rushing touchdown.

Davila has two veteran receivers in Trandon Harvey and Rod Windsor that make big plays when they are most needed.

Rod Windsor will play a key role against Utah. Windsor came back to the AFL after the NFL lockout and started out a little slow, but has improved and is returning to his old scoring form.

Each week he does better than the last game and against the Command he recorded 16 receptions for five touchdowns and 217 yards. His habit of breaking tackles and turning five-yard receptions into 20-yard plays has payed dividends.

The Rattlers defense tripped and stumbled against the Kansas City Command last week but only through poorly-timed penalties and mental mistakes.

The key to containing Grady and Boone will be to utilize the same strategy they used against the Command. Grady and Boone will connect but if they are held to minimal yardage after the catch, the Rattlers could wear them out long enough for Davila to lead the offense to a major divisional victory.