ArenaBowl VIII

Infobox ArenaBowl Old
sb_name = VIII


visitor = Rattlers
home = Predators
visitor_total = 36
home_total = 31

visitor_qtr1 = 7
visitor_qtr2 = 13
visitor_qtr3 = 7
visitor_qtr4 = 9

home_qtr1 = 10
home_qtr2 = 7
home_qtr3 = 7
home_qtr4 = 7

date = September 2, 1994
arena = Orlando Arena
city = Orlando, Florida
attendance = 14,368
mvp = Sherdrick Bonner, QB, Arizona
ironman = Barry Wagner, WR/DB, Orlando
wincoach = Danny White
losecoach = Perry Moss
network = ESPN
announcers = Tom Mees & Rick 'Doc' Walker
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Arena Bowl VIII was the Arena Football League's eighth Arena Bowl. This match-up pitted the #3 Arizona Rattlers (8-4) of the American Conference against the #1 Orlando Predators (11-1) of the National Conference. The Rattlers were in their very first Arena Bowl appearance in their three-year history, while the Predators were in their second Arena Bowl appearance in their four-season history (having lost to the Detroit Drive in ArenaBowl VI).

Game summary

In the first quarter, Orlando struck first with QB Ben Bennett completing a 5-yard TD pass to WR/LB Alex Shell, while Arizona responded with QB Sherdrick Bonner completing a 33-yard TD pass to WR/DB Cedric Tillman. The Predators would wrap up the first quarter with kicker Jorge Cimadevilla nailing a 24-yard Field Goal.

In the second quarter, the Rattlers took the lead with Bonner completing a 6-yard TD pass to WR/LB Calvin "Shakes" Schexnayder, yet the Predators retook the lead with Bennett and Shell hooking up with each other again on a 42-yard TD pass. Arizona would regain the lead before halftime with kicker Luis Zendejas getting a 23-yard and a 40-yard field goal.

In the third quarter, the Rattlers increased its lead with Bonner completing a 2-yard TD pass to WR/DB Milton Vaughn, yet Orlando kept close with Bennett completing a 38-yard TD pass to WR/DB Herkie Walls.

In the fourth quarter, Arizona added on to its lead with Zendejas kicking a 21-yard Field Goal, yet the Predators retook the lead with WR/DB Barry Wagner getting a 4-yard TD run. The Rattlers would regain the lead with Bonner and Schexnayder hooking up with each other again on a 24-yard TD pass, but the following two-point conversion failed. In the final seconds, Bennett threw a deep ball to try and get a touchdown in order to take the lead for good, but it ended up incomplete.

With the win, the Arizona Rattlers would pick up their very first Arena Bowl victory in franchise history.

Scoring summary

1st Quarter
*ORL - Shell 5 pass from Bennett (Cimadevilla kick)
*ARI - Tillman 33 pass from Bonner (Zendejas kick)
*ORL - FG Cimadevilla 242nd Quarter
*ARI - Schexnayder 6 pass from Bonner (Zendejas kick)
*ORL - Shell 42 pass from Bennett (Cimadevilla kick)
*ARI - FG Zendejas 23
*ARI - FG Zendejas 403rd Quarter
*ARI - Vaughn 2 pass from Bonner (Czyzewski kick)
*ORL - Walls 38 pass from Bennett (Langeloh kick)4th Quarter
*ARI - FG Zendejas 21
*ORL - Wagner 4 run (Cimadevilla kick)
*ARI - Schexnayder 24 pass from Bonner (Bonner pass failed)

Trivia

* On the Arena Football League's 20 Greatest Highlights Countdown (shown on arenafootball.com during the AFL's 20th season), this game was ranked #14. [http://www.arenafootball.com/mediaPlayer/video.dbml?DB_MENU_ID=&SPSID=38064&SPID=3172&DB_OEM_ID=3500&CLIP_ID=29172&CLIP_FILE_ID=33146&CONTENT_TYPE=ONDEMAND]

External links

* [http://www.arenafan.com/statistics/?page=boxscore&gameid=272 ArenaFan Box Score]