ArenaBowl XVIII
Encyclopedia
ArenaBowl XVIII saw the San Jose SaberCats
and Arizona Rattlers
competing for the 2004
Arena Football League championship. Until 2010, this game marked the last time the ArenaBowl
was held at the home arena of the higher-seeded team, rather than a neutral site, and 17,391 fans packed the sold-out America West Arena
as the visiting SaberCats defeated the homestanding Rattlers, 69-62 in a rematch of ArenaBowl XVI
.
and again falling short, 43-29 to the Tampa Bay Storm
in the previous year's contest. Meanwhile, the SaberCats were seeking revenge after the Rattlers had swept them during the regular season, winning the Western Division championship and the top seed in the playoffs in the process.
The game did not disappoint, as the two teams' offenses matched each other blow-for-blow virtually all game. Perhaps the most stereotypically "arena football
" of all ArenaBowl
s to date, neither defense proved capable of slowing the opposing offense, and the game appeared as though it would be decided by which team had the final possession.
The final play of the first half, however, proved to be decisive. Rattlers legend Hunkie Cooper
had scored a rushing touchdown with seven seconds remaining in the half to tie the game at 28. However, the SaberCats
were able to get one final offensive play in before time expired, and James Roe
made the most of it by catching a short pass from Mark Grieb
and breaking multiple tackles en route to a spectacular 38-yard touchdown - his fourth of the game - to end the half with San Jose leading 35-28, thus preventing the Rattlers
from gaining the lead with their first possession of the second half.
The second half played out largely the same as the first, with the two teams again exchanging touchdowns virtually at will. With San Jose leading 63-56, Arizona quarterback Sherdrick Bonner
connected with receiver Siaha Burley
for a nine-yard score. Rattlers coach Danny White
elected to attempt to break the string of ties by attempting a two-point conversion
, but San Jose defender Omarr Smith broke up a Bonner pass intended for Hunkie Cooper, leaving the SaberCats in front, 63-62. White
elected to attempt an onside kick
to regain possession, but San Jose's Chuck Reed recovered the ball and quickly returned it seven yards for a touchdown. Scoring so soon could have proven costly for San Jose, as the Rattlers regained possession with 30 seconds left and trailing just 69-62, thanks to a missed extra point
by San Jose kicker Dan Frantz
.
Bonner and the Rattlers mounted one final drive, however, advancing to the San Jose five-yard line with two seconds on the clock. However, Bonner's final pass was incomplete, and the SaberCats emerged victorious, 69-62.
The game was the highest-scoring game in ArenaBowl
history, with a combined 131 points being scored, shattering the five-year-old ArenaBowl XIII
mark of 107. Roe caught eight passes for 119 yards and an ArenaBowl-record-tying five touchdowns to earn Ironman of the Game honors, while San Jose quarterback Mark Grieb
completed 27 of 36 passes for 328 yards and eight scores to be named Offensive Player of the Game. Bonner threw seven touchdown passes - four to Siaha Burley and three to Orshawante Bryant to lead the Rattler
offense, while Arizona defensive specialist Ricky Parker was named Defensive Player of the Game.
The game marked Danny White's last as head coach of the Rattlers, and indeed the end of an era for the franchise itself. Legendary Hunkie Cooper would see limited playing time early in the 2005
season before retiring, while White, the only coach to date in the 13-year history of the Rattlers organization, would not be retained by new owner Robert Sarver
. Additionally, defensive coordinator Doug Plank
would depart to become the head coach of the Georgia Force
, who he would lead to ArenaBowl XIX
the following year. Meanwhile, it was the second title in three years for coach Darren Arbet
and the SaberCats.
San Jose SaberCats
The San Jose SaberCats are a professional arena football team in the Arena Football League. They began play as a 1995 expansion team. They played in the Western Division of the American Conference. Their final coach in the original Arena Football League was Darren Arbet, who will be a part of the...
and Arizona Rattlers
Arizona Rattlers
The Arizona Rattlers are a professional arena football team based in Phoenix, Arizona. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Conference in the Arena Football League . The Rattlers were founded in 1992 as an expansion team. They play their home games at US Airways Center...
competing for the 2004
2004 in sports
2004 in sports describes the year's events in world sport.-American football:* College football Bowl Championship Series :**January 1 – Rose Bowl – USC 28, Michigan 14...
Arena Football League championship. Until 2010, this game marked the last time the ArenaBowl
ArenaBowl
The ArenaBowl is the Arena Football League's championship game. From 1987 to 2004, the ArenaBowl was hosted by either the team with the better regular-season record or the higher seeding in the playoffs. From ArenaBowl XIX in 2005 until ArenaBowl XXII in 2008, the game was played at a neutral site...
was held at the home arena of the higher-seeded team, rather than a neutral site, and 17,391 fans packed the sold-out America West Arena
US Airways Center
US Airways Center is a sports and entertainment arena located in downtown Phoenix, Arizona. It opened in 1992, and is the home of the Phoenix Suns of the National Basketball Association, the Phoenix Mercury of the Women's National Basketball Association, and the Arizona Rattlers of the Arena...
as the visiting SaberCats defeated the homestanding Rattlers, 69-62 in a rematch of ArenaBowl XVI
ArenaBowl XVI
ArenaBowl XVI was played between the San Jose SaberCats and Arizona Rattlers in San Jose, California on August 18, 2002. A game with considerable expectations given the teams' intense rivalry and respective success that year, the SaberCats surprised everyone by posting the most dominant victory in...
.
Game summary
ArenaBowl XVIII featured the league's two top-seeded teams and one of its more storied and bitter rivalries. The Rattlers were looking for redemption, having been demolished by San Jose 52-14 in ArenaBowl XVIArenaBowl XVI
ArenaBowl XVI was played between the San Jose SaberCats and Arizona Rattlers in San Jose, California on August 18, 2002. A game with considerable expectations given the teams' intense rivalry and respective success that year, the SaberCats surprised everyone by posting the most dominant victory in...
and again falling short, 43-29 to the Tampa Bay Storm
Tampa Bay Storm
The Tampa Bay Storm are an Arena Football League team based in the Tampa Bay Area of Florida. They play their home games in the St. Pete Times Forum in Tampa....
in the previous year's contest. Meanwhile, the SaberCats were seeking revenge after the Rattlers had swept them during the regular season, winning the Western Division championship and the top seed in the playoffs in the process.
The game did not disappoint, as the two teams' offenses matched each other blow-for-blow virtually all game. Perhaps the most stereotypically "arena football
Arena football
Arena football is a variety of gridiron football played by the Arena Football League . It is a proprietary game, the rights to which are owned by Gridiron Enterprises, and is played indoors on a smaller field than American or Canadian outdoor football, resulting in a faster and higher-scoring game....
" of all ArenaBowl
ArenaBowl
The ArenaBowl is the Arena Football League's championship game. From 1987 to 2004, the ArenaBowl was hosted by either the team with the better regular-season record or the higher seeding in the playoffs. From ArenaBowl XIX in 2005 until ArenaBowl XXII in 2008, the game was played at a neutral site...
s to date, neither defense proved capable of slowing the opposing offense, and the game appeared as though it would be decided by which team had the final possession.
The final play of the first half, however, proved to be decisive. Rattlers legend Hunkie Cooper
Hunkie Cooper
Hernandez James Cooper is a former American football receiver and linebacker who played for the Arizona Rattlers of the Arena Football League until his retirement in 2005...
had scored a rushing touchdown with seven seconds remaining in the half to tie the game at 28. However, the SaberCats
San Jose SaberCats
The San Jose SaberCats are a professional arena football team in the Arena Football League. They began play as a 1995 expansion team. They played in the Western Division of the American Conference. Their final coach in the original Arena Football League was Darren Arbet, who will be a part of the...
were able to get one final offensive play in before time expired, and James Roe
James Edward Roe
James Edward Roe II is a former American football wide receiver in the National Football League and the Arena Football League. He played for the NFL's Baltimore Ravens and the AFL's San Jose SaberCats where he also played linebacker.-High school career:James Roe attended Henrico High School in...
made the most of it by catching a short pass from Mark Grieb
Mark Grieb
Mark Grieb is an Arena football quarterback for the San Jose SaberCats . He was originally signed by the Anaheim Piranhas...
and breaking multiple tackles en route to a spectacular 38-yard touchdown - his fourth of the game - to end the half with San Jose leading 35-28, thus preventing the Rattlers
Arizona Rattlers
The Arizona Rattlers are a professional arena football team based in Phoenix, Arizona. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Conference in the Arena Football League . The Rattlers were founded in 1992 as an expansion team. They play their home games at US Airways Center...
from gaining the lead with their first possession of the second half.
The second half played out largely the same as the first, with the two teams again exchanging touchdowns virtually at will. With San Jose leading 63-56, Arizona quarterback Sherdrick Bonner
Sherdrick Bonner
Sherdrick Bonner is a former Arena football quarterback who is currently the offensive coordinator of the Chicago Rush in the Arena Football League.-High school years:...
connected with receiver Siaha Burley
Siaha Burley
Siaha Burley is an arena football wide receiver who is currently a free agent in the Arena Football League. He played college football at Central Florida.-High school years:...
for a nine-yard score. Rattlers coach Danny White
Danny White
Wilford Daniel "Danny" White is a former quarterback and punter for the Dallas Cowboys, an American football coach in the Arena Football League and also occasionally appears as an analyst on broadcasts of college football games. He was named the head coach of the Arena Football League expansion...
elected to attempt to break the string of ties by attempting a two-point conversion
Two-point conversion
In American and Canadian football, a two-point conversion is a play a team attempts instead of kicking a one-point convert immediately after it scores a touchdown...
, but San Jose defender Omarr Smith broke up a Bonner pass intended for Hunkie Cooper, leaving the SaberCats in front, 63-62. White
Danny White
Wilford Daniel "Danny" White is a former quarterback and punter for the Dallas Cowboys, an American football coach in the Arena Football League and also occasionally appears as an analyst on broadcasts of college football games. He was named the head coach of the Arena Football League expansion...
elected to attempt an onside kick
Onside kick
In American and Canadian football, an onside kick is a type of kick used at a kickoff or other free kick, or scrimmage kick or other kick during play, in which the ball is kicked favorably for the kicking team to avoid giving away the ball...
to regain possession, but San Jose's Chuck Reed recovered the ball and quickly returned it seven yards for a touchdown. Scoring so soon could have proven costly for San Jose, as the Rattlers regained possession with 30 seconds left and trailing just 69-62, thanks to a missed extra point
Extra Point
Extra Point is a twice-daily, two-minute segment on ESPN Radio that covers generic sports-related topical news and opinion. The AM edition airs Monday through Saturday at various times between 6 a.m. and 10 a.m. ET, and the PM edition airs Monday through Friday between 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. ET...
by San Jose kicker Dan Frantz
Dan Frantz
Daniel Lee Frantz is a former American football kicker for the Chicago Rush of the Arena Football League. He was released by them on June 3, 2008...
.
Bonner and the Rattlers mounted one final drive, however, advancing to the San Jose five-yard line with two seconds on the clock. However, Bonner's final pass was incomplete, and the SaberCats emerged victorious, 69-62.
The game was the highest-scoring game in ArenaBowl
ArenaBowl
The ArenaBowl is the Arena Football League's championship game. From 1987 to 2004, the ArenaBowl was hosted by either the team with the better regular-season record or the higher seeding in the playoffs. From ArenaBowl XIX in 2005 until ArenaBowl XXII in 2008, the game was played at a neutral site...
history, with a combined 131 points being scored, shattering the five-year-old ArenaBowl XIII
ArenaBowl XIII
Arena Bowl XIII was the 1999 edition of the Arena Football League's championship game. Played on August 21, 1999, it was played at the Firebird's home arena, the Times Union Center . It was played between the #8 Orlando Predators and the #3 Albany Firebirds...
mark of 107. Roe caught eight passes for 119 yards and an ArenaBowl-record-tying five touchdowns to earn Ironman of the Game honors, while San Jose quarterback Mark Grieb
Mark Grieb
Mark Grieb is an Arena football quarterback for the San Jose SaberCats . He was originally signed by the Anaheim Piranhas...
completed 27 of 36 passes for 328 yards and eight scores to be named Offensive Player of the Game. Bonner threw seven touchdown passes - four to Siaha Burley and three to Orshawante Bryant to lead the Rattler
Arizona Rattlers
The Arizona Rattlers are a professional arena football team based in Phoenix, Arizona. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Conference in the Arena Football League . The Rattlers were founded in 1992 as an expansion team. They play their home games at US Airways Center...
offense, while Arizona defensive specialist Ricky Parker was named Defensive Player of the Game.
The game marked Danny White's last as head coach of the Rattlers, and indeed the end of an era for the franchise itself. Legendary Hunkie Cooper would see limited playing time early in the 2005
2005 Arena Football League season
The 2005 Arena Football League season was the 19th season of the Arena Football League. The league champions were the Colorado Crush, who defeated the Georgia Force in ArenaBowl XIX. The AFL changed its playoff format to allow the top four teams per conference to make the playoffs. Previously, the...
season before retiring, while White, the only coach to date in the 13-year history of the Rattlers organization, would not be retained by new owner Robert Sarver
Robert Sarver
Robert Sarver is the current majority owner of the Phoenix Suns. He bought the NBA franchise from Jerry Colangelo in the spring of 2004....
. Additionally, defensive coordinator Doug Plank
Doug Plank
Douglas Walter Plank is a former American-football safety and coach in the National Football League. Currently, he is the head coach of the Philadelphia Soul in the Arena Football League.- Early life :...
would depart to become the head coach of the Georgia Force
Georgia Force
The Georgia Force are an Arena Football League team based in Gwinnett County, Georgia, United States that plays in the South Division of the American Conference. The team is owned by Doug MacGregor and Donn Jennings...
, who he would lead to ArenaBowl XIX
ArenaBowl XIX
ArenaBowl XIX was the 2005 championship game of the Arena Football League , and was played at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. The first-ever neutral-site title game in AFL history drew 10,822 fans to see the Colorado Crush defeat the Georgia Force 51–48 to claim the Foster ArenaBowl...
the following year. Meanwhile, it was the second title in three years for coach Darren Arbet
Darren Arbet
Darren Arbet is an Arena Football League head coach for the San Jose SaberCats. He has a career record of 109-45, including 3 titles, ArenaBowl XVI, ArenaBowl XVIII, and ArenaBowl XXI.-High school years:...
and the SaberCats.
1st Quarter
- AZArizona RattlersThe Arizona Rattlers are a professional arena football team based in Phoenix, Arizona. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Conference in the Arena Football League . The Rattlers were founded in 1992 as an expansion team. They play their home games at US Airways Center...
- Burley 29 pass from Bonner (Garner kick) - 7-0 ARI - SJSan Jose SaberCatsThe San Jose SaberCats are a professional arena football team in the Arena Football League. They began play as a 1995 expansion team. They played in the Western Division of the American Conference. Their final coach in the original Arena Football League was Darren Arbet, who will be a part of the...
- Roe 8 pass from Grieb (Frantz kick) - 7-7- - AZ - Bryant 33 pass from Bonner (Garner kick) - 14-7 ARI
- SJ - Coleman 22 pass from Grieb (Frantz kick) - 14-14
2nd Quarter
- SJ - Roe 11 pass from Grieb (Frantz kick) - 21-14 SJ
- AZ - BurleySiaha BurleySiaha Burley is an arena football wide receiver who is currently a free agent in the Arena Football League. He played college football at Central Florida.-High school years:...
26 pass from BonnerSherdrick BonnerSherdrick Bonner is a former Arena football quarterback who is currently the offensive coordinator of the Chicago Rush in the Arena Football League.-High school years:...
(Garner kick) - 21-21 - SJ - Roe 3 pass from Grieb (FrantzDan FrantzDaniel Lee Frantz is a former American football kicker for the Chicago Rush of the Arena Football League. He was released by them on June 3, 2008...
kick) - 28-21 SJ - AZ - CooperHunkie CooperHernandez James Cooper is a former American football receiver and linebacker who played for the Arizona Rattlers of the Arena Football League until his retirement in 2005...
4 run (Garner kick) - 28-28 - SJ - RoeJames Edward RoeJames Edward Roe II is a former American football wide receiver in the National Football League and the Arena Football League. He played for the NFL's Baltimore Ravens and the AFL's San Jose SaberCats where he also played linebacker.-High school career:James Roe attended Henrico High School in...
38 pass from Grieb (Frantz kick) - 35-28 SJ
3rd Quarter
- AZ - KellyMichael Kelly-Politics:*Mike Kelly , Republican member of the Alaska House of Representatives*Mike Kelly , Australian lawyer, soldier and politician*Mike Kelly , politician and U.S...
6 run (Garner kick) - 35-35 - SJ - Roe 38 pass from GriebMark GriebMark Grieb is an Arena football quarterback for the San Jose SaberCats . He was originally signed by the Anaheim Piranhas...
(Frantz kick) - 42-35 SJ - AZ - Bryant 21 pass from Bonner (Garner kick) - 42-42
4th Quarter
- SJ - WagnerBarry WagnerBarry Wagner is a retired American football player in the Arena Football League for the Orlando Predators with whom he won his first ArenaBowl Championship and the San Jose SaberCats, with whom he won two championships. He also played in the World Indoor Football League as a wide...
1 run (Frantz kick) - 49-42 SJ - AZ - Bryant 7 pass from Bonner (Garner kick) - 49-49
- SJ - Hundon 33 pass from Grieb (Frantz kick) - 56-49 SJ
- AZ - Burley 5 pass from Bonner (Garner kick) - 56-56
- SJ - Coleman 2 pass from Grieb (Frantz kick) - 63-56 SJ
- AZ - Burley 9 pass from Bonner (Bonner pass failed) - 63-62 SJ
- SJ - Reed 7 kick return (Frantz kick failed) - 69-62 SJ