The LA KISS went scoreless on their final three possessions, with quarterback Pete Thomas throwing two interceptions, after cutting the Arizona Rattlers lead to one point in a 64-49 loss in an Arena Football League game today at Honda Center.
In a game the KISS never led, Thomas’ 43-yard touchdown pass to Donovan Morgan with one minute, eight seconds left in the third quarter cut the Rattlers lead to 50-49.
Mykel Benson ran one yard for a touchdown on Arizona’s ensuing possession. Arkeith Brown intercepted a pass by Thomas on the second play of the next drive and returned the ball 15 yards to the KISS 20-yard line.
Benson ran 19 yards to the KISS 1-yard on the Rattlers’ first play, then ran one yard for his third touchdown on the next play, giving Arizona (10-3) a 64-49 lead with 7:53 to play.
The KISS (5-7) turned the ball over on downs and Thomas threw his fourth interception of the game on their final two possessions.
Thomas entered the game with just two interceptions. He completed 15 of 36 passes for 291 yards and five touchdowns and ran two yards for a first- quarter touchdown before a crowd announced at 7,090.
Rattlers quarterback Nick Davila, a former standout at Damien High School in La Verne, completed 20 of 32 passes for 251 yards and five touchdowns, with one interception. Davila leads the league with 88 touchdown passes.
The Arizona offense scored touchdowns on each of its first four possessions to lead 14-6 at the end of the first quarter and 43-22 at halftime. The Rattlers also scored on K.J. Morton’s 19-yard interception return in the first quarter.
Both teams scored defensive two-point conversions. KISS holder Nathan Stanley fumbled a snap in the second quarter which was recovered by Jeremy Kellem who ran for a two-point conversion.
Kalafitoni Pole blocked a conversion kick by Arizona’s Alex Zendejas later in the second quarter. Josh Victorian recovered the ball and ran for the two-point conversion.
The KISS are 0-8 in their three seasons against the Rattlers, including two losses earlier this year.