ArenaBowl XI
Encyclopedia
ArenaBowl XI was the Arena Football League's eleventh ArenaBowl. The game featured two American Conference teams, the #2 Iowa Barnstormers
(11-3) against the #1 Arizona Rattlers
(12-2). Iowa was coming off of losing ArenaBowl X
to the Tampa Bay Storm
and were still looking for their first championship title, while Arizona was making its second appearance after winning ArenaBowl VIII
against the Orlando Predators
three seasons ago. Now, they were trying to acquire their second league title.
completing a 30-yard touchdown pass to OS Lamont Cooper.
In the second quarter, Arizona lead off the period with FB/LB Bob McMillen
getting a one-yard touchdown run, whle Iowa kicker Mike Black
nailed a 25-yard field goal. The Rattlers would begin to take command with QB Donnie Davis
(who was filling in for an injured Sherdrick Bonner
) completing a 4-yard touchdown pass to WR/LB Hunkie Cooper
, while the Barnstormers' only response was Black kicking a 20-yard field goal. Immediately afterwards, the Rattlers continued striking as Hunkie Cooper would return the kickoff 56 yards for a touchdown to end the half.
In the third quarter, Arizona continued its domination as Davis got a one-yard Quarterback sneak run for a touchdown, while Hunkie Cooper returned an interception 30 yards for a touchdown. Iowa's only response from the period was Warner completing another 30-yard touchdown pass to Lamont Cooper. Afterwards, the Rattlers wrapped up ther period with Davis completing a 49-yard touchdown pass to WR/LB Calvin Schexnayder
.
In the fourth quarter, the Barnstormers tried to fight back with WR/DB Willis Jacox
getting a one-yard touchdown run, yet Arizona wrapped the game up with Davis and Schexnayder hooking up with each other again on a 28-yard touchdown pass, while Brenner would put on the finishing touches with a 44-yard field goal. All that was left of Iowa's attack was Warner completing a nine-yard touchdown pass to WR/LB Leonard Conley.
With the win, the Rattlers got their second Arena Bowl title in franchise history.
2nd Quarter
3rd Quarter
4th Quarter
New York Dragons
The New York Dragons were an Arena Football League team based in the New York metropolitan area. The team was founded in as the original incarnation of the Iowa Barnstormers, and relocated to New York in . They played in New York until 2008, when the league folded...
(11-3) against the #1 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...
(12-2). Iowa was coming off of losing ArenaBowl X
ArenaBowl X
ArenaBowl X was the Arena Football League's tenth ArenaBowl. The game featured the #2 Tampa Bay Storm of the National Conference against the #1 Iowa Barnstormers of the American Conference. Both teams ended their regular seasons at 12-2, yet Iowa had a better conference record...
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....
and were still looking for their first championship title, while Arizona was making its second appearance after winning ArenaBowl VIII
ArenaBowl VIII
ArenaBowl VIII was the Arena Football League's eighth ArenaBowl. The game featured the #3 Arizona Rattlers of the American Conference against the #1 Orlando Predators of the National Conference...
against the Orlando Predators
Orlando Predators
The Orlando Predators are an Arena Football League team based in Orlando, Florida that was founded in 1991. Their playoff streak is currently 19 seasons in a row, as of the season, becoming the ArenaBowl champions in 1998 and 2000...
three seasons ago. Now, they were trying to acquire their second league title.
Game summary
In the first quarter, the Rattlers slithered first with Kicker Anthony Brenner getting a 19-yard Field Goal, yet the Barnstormers responded with Quarterback Kurt WarnerKurt Warner
Kurtis Eugene "Kurt" Warner is a retired American football player. He played quarterback for three National Football League teams: the St. Louis Rams, the New York Giants, and the Arizona Cardinals. He was originally signed by the Green Bay Packers as an undrafted free agent in 1994 after playing...
completing a 30-yard touchdown pass to OS Lamont Cooper.
In the second quarter, Arizona lead off the period with FB/LB Bob McMillen
Bob McMillen (American football)
Robert James "Bob" McMillen, Jr. is an American Arena Football League coach for the Chicago Rush. He is a retired Arena football player, formerly a Fullback/Linebacker for the Chicago Rush of the Arena Football League.-Early years:McMillen attended Immaculate Conception High School where he...
getting a one-yard touchdown run, whle Iowa kicker Mike Black
Mike Black
Michael David Black is a former American football offensive tackle in the National Football League for the Philadelphia Eagles and the New York Giants. He played college football at California State University, Sacramento and was drafted in the ninth round of the 1986 NFL Draft....
nailed a 25-yard field goal. The Rattlers would begin to take command with QB Donnie Davis
Donnie Davis
Donnie Davis was the starting quarterback for the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets in 1993 and 1995...
(who was filling in for an injured 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:...
) completing a 4-yard touchdown pass to WR/LB 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...
, while the Barnstormers' only response was Black kicking a 20-yard field goal. Immediately afterwards, the Rattlers continued striking as Hunkie Cooper would return the kickoff 56 yards for a touchdown to end the half.
In the third quarter, Arizona continued its domination as Davis got a one-yard Quarterback sneak run for a touchdown, while Hunkie Cooper returned an interception 30 yards for a touchdown. Iowa's only response from the period was Warner completing another 30-yard touchdown pass to Lamont Cooper. Afterwards, the Rattlers wrapped up ther period with Davis completing a 49-yard touchdown pass to WR/LB Calvin Schexnayder
Calvin Schexnayder
Calvin 'Shakes' Schexnayder Calvin 'Shakes' Schexnayder Calvin 'Shakes' Schexnayder (born November 11, 1969 in Fresno, California is a former American football wide receiver in the Arena Football League. He played college football at Washington State....
.
In the fourth quarter, the Barnstormers tried to fight back with WR/DB Willis Jacox
Willis Jacox
Willis Jacox is a former professional American football player.Jacox attended the University of North Dakota in the mid 1980's, where he played both wide receiver and kick returner. Following his collegiate career, Jacox was signed by the Saskatchewan Roughriders of the Canadian Football League...
getting a one-yard touchdown run, yet Arizona wrapped the game up with Davis and Schexnayder hooking up with each other again on a 28-yard touchdown pass, while Brenner would put on the finishing touches with a 44-yard field goal. All that was left of Iowa's attack was Warner completing a nine-yard touchdown pass to WR/LB Leonard Conley.
With the win, the Rattlers got their second Arena Bowl title in franchise history.
Scoring summary
1st Quarter- ARI - FG Brenner 19
- IOW - Copper 30 pass from Warner (Black run)
2nd Quarter
- ARI - McMillen 1 run (Brenner kick)
- IOW - FG Black 25
- ARI - Cooper 4 pass from David (Brenner kick)
- IOW - FG Black 20
- ARI - Cooper 56 Kickoff Return (Brenner kick)
3rd Quarter
- ARI - Davis 1 run (Brenner kick)
- ARI - Cooper 30 Interception Return (Brenner kick)
- IOW - Cooper 30 pass from Warner (Black kick)
- ARI - Schexnayder 49 pass from Davis (Brenner kick)
4th Quarter
- IOW - Jacox 1 run (Black kick)
- ARI - Schexnayder 28 pass from Davis (Brenner kick)
- ARI - FG Brenner 44
- IOW - Conley 9 pass from Warner (Warner pass failed)