Richard Obert

azcentral sports

ANAHEIM – Quarterback Nick Davila said about 130 family members and friends have bought tickets to see him lead the unbeaten Rattlers against the LA KISS Sunday at the Honda Center.

But the man who means the most to him, his father, won't be there.

"Nah, he's not going to be able to go, but he'll be watching it," Davila said about his dad, who has had complications since having an artificial heart put in early this Arena Football League season.

Davila has returned home to Southern California twice this season to be with his ailing father.

This is the first time it's a work trip for the left-hander since he left to play his college career in Cincinnati then start his pro career in Spokane.

When the LA KISS started an Arena Football League team this year, Davila was excited about the prospects of going home to play before family and friends.

Davila says he will try to keep it from being an emotional return.

"It's just another game," Davila said. "That's how I'm going to treat it."

Davila felt his performance slipped last week in a 70-38 rout of Spokane. He threw interceptions to the jack linebacker on successive possessions. Without a premier quarterback the Shock's offense struggled, and the Rattlers (9-0) capitalized with eight stops, including four interceptions, two by Arkeith Brown.

The KISS (2-7) have lost six in a row, but they signed 43-year-old Aaron Garcia to lead the offense last week. And this week, they brought in new offensive linemen to protect the veteran, who has played in the league since breaking in with the Rattlers in 1995.

Coach Kevin Guy expects Garcia to be much improved after a full week with the KISS.

"We need to play better," Guy said. "We didn't play as well as we could have last week. There are some things we need to improve. Right now, we saw some chemistry problems with Mo (receiver Maurice Purify) being out.

"We're in Week 10. We shouldn't be making mental mistakes this time of year. It should be physical mistakes. I'm going to look at the practice tape and make some adjustments."

Sunday night's game

Rattlers (9-0) at LA KISS (2-7)

When: 5 p.m.

Where: Honda Center, Anaheim.

TV: Cox 7.

Scouting report: The KISS are partly owned by rock icons Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley of KISS. Former Rattlers fullback/linebacker Bob McMillen is head coach. QB Aaron Garcia joined the team last week. The KISS have lost their last six after starting out 2-1.They have broken only 40 points once during the past six games. This is the first-ever meeting between the West Division teams.