Rattlers cruise to 3rd straight ArenaBowl title

Aug 24, 2014 - 2:54 AM Cleveland, OH (SportsNetwork.com) - Nick Davila tossed eight touchdown passes and the Arizona Rattlers won their third straight AFL championship after routing the Cleveland Gladiators, 72-32, in ArenaBowl XXVII.

The Rattlers became the first AFL team to win three straight ArenaBowl championships since the Detroit Drive accomplished the feat from 1988-90. Its fifth title also tied Tampa Bay for the most all time.

Davila finished 19-of-24 for 237 yards, Rod Windsor caught seven passes for 123 yards and three scores and Tyson Poots tallied nine receptions for 93 yards and a pair of touchdowns for Arizona, which took a commanding 44-13 lead into the break after outscoring Cleveland 30-7 in the second quarter.

Kerry Reed and Chris Jackson hauled in a pair of touchdown passes apiece in the triumph.

Shane Austin completed 18-of-41 passes for 201 yards and three touchdowns, while Thyron Lewis had eight receptions for 134 yards and a score for the Gladiators, who posted 19 wins this season despite winning just four games in 2013.