ArenaBowl XXIV
Encyclopedia
ArenaBowl XXIV was the 24th edition of the championship in the Arena Football League
. The American Conference champion, Jacksonville Sharks
, defeated the National Conference champion, Arizona Rattlers
, 73–70. It was played on August 12, 2011. The game was hosted at the site of the highest remaining seed throughout the playoffs, which was US Airways Center
in Phoenix
, Arizona
, home of the Rattlers.
was scheduled to be played at the site of the highest seed who reaches the championship. Arizona finished with the best record during the regular season. In an interview with AFL Insider on May 9, AFL Commissioner Jerry Kurz
said playing ArenaBowl XXV in 2012 at a neutral site is a strong option. The ArenaBowl was played at the highest seed in the game since the AFL's inception in 1987 until 2004. From 2005 to 2008, it was at a neutral site, Las Vegas
and New Orleans. In 2010, the ArenaBowl returned to the highest remaining seed setting, as ArenaBowl XXIII
was played at the Spokane Arena, home of the Spokane Shock
, who won the game.
. The game was the highest watched Arena Football League game on the NFL Network, earning a 0.37 rating. That was up 200 percent from ArenaBowl XXIII
on NFL Network. The previous record was set a week before when the 2011 AFL American Conference Championship game earned a 0.32 rating between the Georgia Force
and Jacksonville Sharks, with the Sharks winning 64-55.
had fans design the logo for ArenaBowl XXIV in a contest. The league office picked four finalists and fans voted online.
The winner was Myk Crawford, a Spokane Shock
fan from Spokane, Washington, which was announced on April 11, 2011.
2011 was arguably Garcia's best season. He finished the year with a 71.5 completion percentage, 125.24 QB rating and 116 touchdown passes, and 4,933 yards, all career highs.
The Rattlers featured second year AFL QB Nick Davila, who topped Garcia with 117 passing touchdowns during the season. He also completed over 70 percent of his passes and threw over 4,900 yards.
His go-to receiver was Rod Windsor
, who had caught 156 passes for 1,830 yards during the season. Windsor was a member of the Cleveland Browns
roster during the AFL regular season, but was able to play due to the 2011 NFL lockout
. However, the lockout ended just days before ArenaBowl XXIV, and did not play in the title game.
. They advanced to the ArenaBowl after defeating the Spokane Shock
in the conference semifinals, and the Chicago Rush
in the conference championship.
and Georgia Force
, respectively, to advance to their first ArenaBowl. For 17-year veteran quarterback Aaron Garcia, this was his first ArenaBowl.
throwing the game winning touchdown pass to wide receiver Jeron Harvey on the final play of the game.
The Arizona Rattlers drew first blood in ArenaBowl XXIV with a two-yard run by Odie Armstrong giving the Rattlers a 7-0 lead. The teams traded touchdowns throughout the first quarter, but two missed PATs by Jacksonville gave the Rattlers a 14-12 lead. However, the Sharks got a stop and scored in between the first two quarters and took their first lead to open the second quarter, 19-14.
After both teams scored two touchdowns each in the first quarter, the teams each scored three of their own in the second quarter. However, the Rattlers scored two touchdowns in the final 55 seconds of the half, and Jacksonville kicker Marco Capozzoli missed his third PAT of the game.
The Sharks led 32-21 with less than three minutes before half, but Arizona came back to take a 35-32 lead midway through the game.
In the third quarter, both teams each scored a touchdown, but after Capozzoli's fourth and final missed PAT, the Rattlers led 42-38. The fourth quarter of ArenaBowl XXIV saw nine touchdowns and seven lead changes, with five touchdowns coming in the last 1:30.
The Rattlers led 56-53 before Garica hit Harvey to give the Sharks a 60-56 lead with 1:26. The Rattlers retook the lead after a five yard TD pass from QB Nick Davila
to WR Chris Jackson
at the 52 second mark. Twelve seconds later, Garcia hit Jomo Wilson and the Sharks led 67-63.
It appeared Arizona would score the game winning touchdowns after Davia hit Kerry Reed with a 12 yard pass with 21 seconds left in the game, until Garcia threw the game winning pass to give Jacksonville it's first ArenaBowl title (in it's second season in the AFL) with a 10 yard TD pass to Jeron Harvey with no time on the clock.
Arena Football League
The Arena Football League is the highest level of professional indoor American football in the United States. It is currently the second longest running professional football league in the United States, after the National Football League. It was founded in 1987 by Jim Foster...
. The American Conference champion, Jacksonville Sharks
Jacksonville Sharks
The Jacksonville Sharks were a professional American football team based in Jacksonville, Florida. They competed for part of the 1974 season in the World Football League, a failed attempt to launch a major professional football league in the United States in competition with the National Football...
, defeated the National Conference champion, 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...
, 73–70. It was played on August 12, 2011. The game was hosted at the site of the highest remaining seed throughout the playoffs, which was US Airways Center
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...
in Phoenix
Phoenix, Arizona
Phoenix is the capital, and largest city, of the U.S. state of Arizona, as well as the sixth most populated city in the United States. Phoenix is home to 1,445,632 people according to the official 2010 U.S. Census Bureau data...
, Arizona
Arizona
Arizona ; is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. It is also part of the western United States and the mountain west. The capital and largest city is Phoenix...
, home of the Rattlers.
Site
The ArenaBowlArenaBowl
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 scheduled to be played at the site of the highest seed who reaches the championship. Arizona finished with the best record during the regular season. In an interview with AFL Insider on May 9, AFL Commissioner Jerry Kurz
Jerry Kurz
Jerry B. Kurz is one of the founding members of arena football, and part owner of Gridiron Enterprises. He currently serves as commissioner for the Arena Football League, and had previously been the league president for 10 seasons in the af2.-Formation of AF1:...
said playing ArenaBowl XXV in 2012 at a neutral site is a strong option. The ArenaBowl was played at the highest seed in the game since the AFL's inception in 1987 until 2004. From 2005 to 2008, it was at a neutral site, Las Vegas
Las Vegas metropolitan area
The Las Vegas Valley is the heart of the Las Vegas-Paradise, NV MSA also known as the Las Vegas–Paradise–Henderson MSA which includes all of Clark County, Nevada, and is a metropolitan area in the southern part of the U.S. state of Nevada. The Valley is defined by the Las Vegas Valley landform, a ...
and New Orleans. In 2010, the ArenaBowl returned to the highest remaining seed setting, as ArenaBowl XXIII
ArenaBowl XXIII
NAPA Auto Parts ArenaBowl XXIII was an arena football game between the National Conference champion, Spokane Shock and the American Conference Champion, Tampa Bay Storm. The Spokane Shock won the game successfully defending ArenaCup X of the former af2...
was played at the Spokane Arena, home of the Spokane Shock
Spokane Shock
The Spokane Shock is a professional arena football team of the Arena Football League from Spokane, Washington, USA. They play their home games at the Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena...
, who won the game.
Television
ArenaBowl XXIV was televised on NFL NetworkNFL Network
NFL Network is an American television specialty channel owned and operated by the National Football League . It was launched November 4, 2003, only eight months after the league's 32 team owners voted unanimously to approve its formation...
. The game was the highest watched Arena Football League game on the NFL Network, earning a 0.37 rating. That was up 200 percent from ArenaBowl XXIII
ArenaBowl XXIII
NAPA Auto Parts ArenaBowl XXIII was an arena football game between the National Conference champion, Spokane Shock and the American Conference Champion, Tampa Bay Storm. The Spokane Shock won the game successfully defending ArenaCup X of the former af2...
on NFL Network. The previous record was set a week before when the 2011 AFL American Conference Championship game earned a 0.32 rating between 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...
and Jacksonville Sharks, with the Sharks winning 64-55.
Logo contest
The Arena Football LeagueArena Football League
The Arena Football League is the highest level of professional indoor American football in the United States. It is currently the second longest running professional football league in the United States, after the National Football League. It was founded in 1987 by Jim Foster...
had fans design the logo for ArenaBowl XXIV in a contest. The league office picked four finalists and fans voted online.
The winner was Myk Crawford, a Spokane Shock
Spokane Shock
The Spokane Shock is a professional arena football team of the Arena Football League from Spokane, Washington, USA. They play their home games at the Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena...
fan from Spokane, Washington, which was announced on April 11, 2011.
Pregame
The story heading into ArenaBowl XXIV was that of Sharks QB Aaron Garcia. At 40 years old, this would be Garcia's first appearance in an ArenaBowl. Garcia began his AFL career in 1995. He holds many of the AFL's all-time passing records and ended the 2011 season with over 50,000 passing and 1,078 career touchdown passes. But with all the stats, he had yet to even play in an AFL championship game before 2011.2011 was arguably Garcia's best season. He finished the year with a 71.5 completion percentage, 125.24 QB rating and 116 touchdown passes, and 4,933 yards, all career highs.
The Rattlers featured second year AFL QB Nick Davila, who topped Garcia with 117 passing touchdowns during the season. He also completed over 70 percent of his passes and threw over 4,900 yards.
His go-to receiver was Rod Windsor
Rod Windsor
Rodrickus "Rod" Windsor is an American football wide receiver for the Cleveland Browns of the National Football League. He played college football at Western New Mexico University.-College career:...
, who had caught 156 passes for 1,830 yards during the season. Windsor was a member of the Cleveland Browns
Cleveland Browns
The Cleveland Browns are a professional football team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are currently members of the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
roster during the AFL regular season, but was able to play due to the 2011 NFL lockout
2011 NFL lockout
The 2011 National Football League lockout was a lockout that lasted from March 11 to July 25. It occurred primarily during the offseason for 18 weeks and 4 days...
. However, the lockout ended just days before ArenaBowl XXIV, and did not play in the title game.
Arizona Rattlers
The Rattlers finished the regular season with a league-record 16 wins, and entered the game with an 11-game winning streak, including the playoffs. This was their first ArenaBowl appearance since 2004 when they lost ArenaBowl XVIIIArenaBowl XVIII
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...
. They advanced to the ArenaBowl after defeating the Spokane Shock
Spokane Shock
The Spokane Shock is a professional arena football team of the Arena Football League from Spokane, Washington, USA. They play their home games at the Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena...
in the conference semifinals, and the Chicago Rush
Chicago Rush
The Chicago Rush is an arena football team based in Rosemont, Illinois. It is a member of the Central Division of the National Conference of the Arena Football League. The team was founded in 2001 and is co-owned by Mike Ditka, the Hall of Fame player and coach.The Rush have qualified for the...
in the conference championship.
| Week | Date | Opponent | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | March 12 | at Jacksonville | W 55–52 |
| 2 | March 19 | Milwaukee | W 62–31 |
| 3 | March 28 | at Tulsa | W 69–20 |
| 4 | April 2 | Orlando | W 48–47 |
| 5 | Bye | ||
| 6 | April 16 | at Kansas City | W 63–49 |
| 7 | April 23 | Utah | W 67–61 (OT) |
| 8 | April 30 | at Spokane | L 69–70 |
| 9 | May 7 | at San Jose | W 65–43 |
| 10 | May 14 | Chicago | L 49–50 |
| 11 | May 20 | at New Orleans | W 61–53 |
| 12 | May 28 | Cleveland | W 63–42 |
| 13 | June 4 | at Utah | W 72–37 |
| 14 | June 11 | Iowa | W 61–41 |
| 15 | June 18 | San Jose | W 64–57 |
| 16 | June 25 | at Philadelphia | W 55–54 |
| 17 | July 2 | Spokane | W 68–46 |
| 18 | July 10 | at Pittsburgh | W 68–34 |
| 19 | Bye | ||
| 20 | July 23 | at Dallas | W 55–49 |
| – | July 29 | Spokane | W 62–33 |
| – | August 6 | Chicago | W 54–48 |
Jacksonville Sharks
The Sharks, in just their second year of existence, finished the regular season with a 14–4 record and had the best record in the American Conference, defeating the Orlando PredatorsOrlando 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...
and 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...
, respectively, to advance to their first ArenaBowl. For 17-year veteran quarterback Aaron Garcia, this was his first ArenaBowl.
| Week | Date | Opponent | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | March 12 | Arizona | L 52–55 |
| 2 | March 19 | Georgia | W 71–57 |
| 3 | March 28 | New Orleans | W 64–33 |
| 4 | April 1 | at Tampa Bay | W 54–30 |
| 5 | Bye | ||
| 6 | April 16 | at Pittsburgh | W 65–40 |
| 7 | April 23 | Cleveland | W 56–42 |
| 8 | April 30 | Orlando | W 76–55 |
| 9 | May 6 | at Philadelphia | W 58–42 |
| 10 | May 13 | Iowa | W 79–27 |
| 11 | May 21 | at Georgia | W 62–55 |
| 12 | Bye | ||
| 13 | June 3 | at New Orleans | W 62–55 |
| 14 | June 11 | at Orlando | W 68–67 |
| 15 | June 18 | Milwaukee | W 62–47 |
| 16 | June 25 | Tampa Bay | W 66–41 |
| 17 | July 2 | at San Jose | L 70–83 |
| 18 | July 9 | Dallas | L 70–75 |
| 19 | July 15 | at Kansas City | L 48–49 (OT) |
| 20 | July 22 | Spokane | W 75–56 |
| – | July 29 | Orlando | W 63–48 |
| – | August 8 | Georgia | W 64–55 |
Game Summary
ArenaBowl XXIV went down as one of the best ArenaBowls in AFL history with Jacksonvill Sharks quarterback Aaron GarciaAaron Garcia
Aaron Garcia , is a Mexican American AFL quarterback, who is currently a member of the San Antonio Talons. He played college football at Sacramento State...
throwing the game winning touchdown pass to wide receiver Jeron Harvey on the final play of the game.
The Arizona Rattlers drew first blood in ArenaBowl XXIV with a two-yard run by Odie Armstrong giving the Rattlers a 7-0 lead. The teams traded touchdowns throughout the first quarter, but two missed PATs by Jacksonville gave the Rattlers a 14-12 lead. However, the Sharks got a stop and scored in between the first two quarters and took their first lead to open the second quarter, 19-14.
After both teams scored two touchdowns each in the first quarter, the teams each scored three of their own in the second quarter. However, the Rattlers scored two touchdowns in the final 55 seconds of the half, and Jacksonville kicker Marco Capozzoli missed his third PAT of the game.
The Sharks led 32-21 with less than three minutes before half, but Arizona came back to take a 35-32 lead midway through the game.
In the third quarter, both teams each scored a touchdown, but after Capozzoli's fourth and final missed PAT, the Rattlers led 42-38. The fourth quarter of ArenaBowl XXIV saw nine touchdowns and seven lead changes, with five touchdowns coming in the last 1:30.
The Rattlers led 56-53 before Garica hit Harvey to give the Sharks a 60-56 lead with 1:26. The Rattlers retook the lead after a five yard TD pass from QB Nick Davila
Nick Davila
Nick Davila is an American football quarterback, who is currently a Free Agent of Arena Football League. He was signed by the Spokane Shock as a street free agent in 2008. He played college football at Cincinnati. Davila is of Mexican American descent.-External links:**...
to WR Chris Jackson
Chris Jackson
Chris Jackson is the name of:* Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf , born Chris Wayne Jackson, American professional basketball player* Chris Jackson , Scottish association football player, see 1998–99 Hibernian F.C...
at the 52 second mark. Twelve seconds later, Garcia hit Jomo Wilson and the Sharks led 67-63.
It appeared Arizona would score the game winning touchdowns after Davia hit Kerry Reed with a 12 yard pass with 21 seconds left in the game, until Garcia threw the game winning pass to give Jacksonville it's first ArenaBowl title (in it's second season in the AFL) with a 10 yard TD pass to Jeron Harvey with no time on the clock.