Richard Obert

azcentral sports

ANAHEIM – Quinn Pitcock's first play with the Rattlers had a big impact Sunday.

The former Ohio State defensive lineman blind-sided 43-year-old quarterback Aaron Garcia, bruising his ribs and knocking him out of the game on the LA KISS' second series.

Marquis Floyd then intercepted backup Tyler Hansen's fourth-down pass for a touchdown. Floyd intercepted another pass that he returned out of his end zone to the LA 1, and the Rattlers cruised to a 70-25 rout at the Honda Center.

"It was a good way to get rid of the jitters," said Pitcock, who missed the first nine games with a knee injury suffered in camp.

The Rattlers, 10-0 for the first time in franchise history, scored three unanswered touchdowns after the KISS (2-8) took the early 7-0 lead with the aid of two defensive penalties.

They have won their past three games by 29, 32 and 45. They own an eight-game lead over second-place LA in the West Division with eight games to play.

"I thought our defense set the tone," coach Kevin Guy said. "We got some interceptions. The offense scored on every possession. I was very pleased with how they played, as well."

About the only thing that didn't go well was Casey Barth's kickoffs, which came short of the net.

It got so easy for the Rattlers that on the first play of the second half Nick Davila lofted a pass that found Rod Windsor so wide open that Windsor made a light jog into the end zone for a 45-yard touchdown.

At that point, with a 42-19 lead, the Rattlers could start planning for next week's home game against the San Jose SaberCats, the only National Conference team that appears to pose a serious threat to the two-time defending ArenaBowl champions.

Kerry Reed caught four touchdown passes and Davila threw six touchdown passes in three quarters.

Davila, who was 16 of 25 for 236 yards and no interceptions, didn't play in the final quarter with the game so out of hand.

This was a homecoming of sorts for Davila, who had about 130 family members and friends in attendance. It was also a chance for him to see his ailing father, too sick with a heart illness to be at the game.

KISS coach Bob McMillen felt the blow Garcia took in the ribs from Pitcock turned the game.

The KISS were only 3 for 7 in the red zone. They don't have a true fullback, using an extra lineman in the backfield for extra protection for Garcia. When Garcia returned midway through the second quarter, and the Rattlers ahead 28-13, he had to get subbed out near the Rattlers' goal line for Hansen because Garcia was afraid to absorb another hit in the ribs, McMillen said.

"A.G.'s ribs were bothering him," McMillen said. "We were hoping to come out in the second half and get a stop, and they get a 45-yard touchdown on us."

Garcia was supposed to have the Midas touch since the KISS acquired him two weeks ago in a trade with the Jacksonville Sharks.

LA signed a couple more linemen to better protect Garcia against the Rattlers.

Garcia, who took another big hit from Cliff Dukes, struggled and missing targets, while the Rattlers rolled up three- or four-play scoring drives. Hansen came in for Garcia in the final quarter because of ineffectiveness.

It could have been worse, but after a while Guy ran a conservative offense, opting for screen passes to run the clock.

"Defensive stops cause separation, and that's what we've been doing," Floyd said.