Rattlers need special teams, defense to help win opener against Shock

The Rattlers rolled out a mostly new offense Saturday night at US Airways Center.

But it was the same old Nick Davila at quarterback, and he made enough plays to help the Rattlers open the season with a 60-43 victory over the Spokane Shock before a crowd of 9,455.

Before the game, the Rattlers unveiled their third consecutive Arena Football League championship banner.

But other than Davila taking the snaps, fans had to get used to seeing new receivers, a new fullback and a patched-up offensive line.

Davila, coming off 127 touchdowns passes in an MVP season, needed to throw only two touchdown passes for the Rattlers to build a 37-27 halftime lead.

That's because fullback Mikel Benson bowled his way to two rushing touchdowns, and 6-foot-7 Markee White recovered rookie kicker Jeremy Shelley's wicked kick off the post for a touchdown.

Shelley, who won two national college championships as Alabama's kicker, needed a couple of kickoffs before reaching the net for the first time.

"I thought offensively we played well in the first half, but we came out kind of flat in the third quarter," coach Kevin Guy said. "We have to get better from Week 1 to Week 2. There was a couple of communication problems in the huddle. One play got changed. At the end of the day, we'll make those corrections."

It was basically a get-reacquainted opener.

Receiver Kerry Reed had a lower back issue before the game that kept him out.

Receiver Rod Windsor should be ready for Las Vegas next week.

Davila, however, used to throw to White and Jared Perry. Perry played just two games last year mainly because of injuries. White last played for the Rattlers in 2012.

Receiver Chase Deadder arrived late in camp in a trade, but he played better as the game went along and had three touchdown catches.

Benson, the biggest offseason acquisition who signed as a free agent after he had an All-Arena season for San Antonio, scored on three rushing touchdowns when the Rattlers' passing game broke down in the red zone.

"He's a big boy, really a weapon," said Davila, who was 21 of 36 for 246 yards and four touchdowns.

Davila had several passes dropped, a few in the red zone, which should improve when Reed and Windsor come back.

There were a couple of turning points:

The first came on Shelley's kickoff off the post that White recovered in the end zone in the second quarter to give the Rattlers a 21-13 lead after the teams began the game trading touchdowns.

The next came at the end of the half when linebacker Tyre Glasper not only sacked Carson Coffman but knocked him out of the game.

"I guess I must have put my 260 (pounds) on him and knocked him out of the game," Glasper said. "It was big because the second-string guy had some fumble issues."

Backup Jarrett Brown fumbled his first snap, which Glasper recovered.

Deadder's five-yard scoring catch with 6:52 left in the third quarter opened up a 50-27 lead.

But the Rattlers' offense bogged down the rest of the game.

Davila was sacked in his end zone for a safety that gave the Shock the ball right back.

Brown settled down to make plays with his legs and arm.

And suddenly, the Shock was within 50-43 with 11:34 left.

Shelley made his second field goal, Arkeith Brown made an interception, and the Rattlers finally scored another touchdown with 53 seconds left on Benson's two-yard run.

Three times, the Shock scored touchdowns on fourth down. But safety Jeremy Kellem played well in the final three quarters with several pass breakups and he took the ball away from Shock receiver Rashaad Carter along the wall.

"I'm not worried about wins and losses right now but doing things right," Guy said. "The wins and losses will take care of themselves."