Nick Davila and company continued their impressive offensive display by promptly scoring a touchdown after an Arizona interception. Kerry Reed was open in the corner of the endzone to draw first blood, and Fabrizio Scaccia's extra point try was successful to take a 7-0 Rattlers lead.
San Jose came right back at the Rattlers, as Chris Vedder returned a kickoff for a touchdown. The score was 7-7 with 6:54 to go in the first.
Rattlers WR Jason Geathers answered the bell with 2:43 left in the first, catching a Davila pass to give the Rattlers a 14-7 lead.
The defense should a lack of discipline in the second quarter, picking up a needless roughing the passer penalty on fourth down. Instead of the Rattlers getting the ball in great position, the SaberCats were rejuvenated on offense.
The penalty flags kept flying, and the Rattlers were on the receiving end of the penalty more often than not.
On the fated roughing the passer drive, the SaberCats scored a seeing-eye touchdown as QB Mark Grieb placed the ball perfectly on the sideline for his wide receiver.
But like they say -- if you don't like the score of an arena football game, just wait a minute. The Rattlers turned it around and immediately ran back the San Jose kick for a touchdown, taking a 21-14 lead in the process.
The SaberCats refused to lie down in the face of the home crowd's enthusiasm, evening the score at 21 shortly thereafter.
Both quarterbacks were in control of the game, and neither defense could make many stops in the first half.
Davila hit Geathers again with 3:10 left in the second half, putting the Rattlers back up 28-21.
Grieb came back with 57 seconds left in the half, connecting with Ben Nelson to knot it up at 28.
San Jose tried to get cute and attempted an onside kick. It didn't pay off, and the Rattlers recovered the ball at the SaberCats' eight-yard line with 55 seconds left.
When you're playing the division leader, you have to take risks - they should be sound decisions, however. Geathers scored yet another touchdown, his third of the half on a cross route. After every touchdown in the half, Geathers was penalized for unsportsmanlike conduct.
Arizona tried the same maneuver, and San Jose recovered the ball with 35 seconds left.
To be honest, the decisions I saw at the end of the half were questionable. That's the fun of the experience, seeing teams deal with the small field and high-scoring nature of the arena football beast.
Grieb brought San Jose back to even the score with 20 seconds left, 35-35. Marco Thomas was hit running across the back of the endzone.
The Rattlers lined up a 37-yard field goal with one second left in the half, but Scaccia's field goal went off the right netting.
At the half, there were ten touchdowns scored and only one interception. 35-35, with no end to the scoring in sight.
For fans of pure entertainment, this game has provided it in spades. Kickoff returns, penalties, cannon explosions and breakneck speed. Hopefully the Rattlers can improve their discipline for the second half, or else they may not be able defeat these Cats.