ArenaBowl XVIII ArenaBowl XVIII saw the San Jose SaberCats and Arizona Rattlers competing for the 2004 Arena Football League championship . Until 2010 , this game marked the last time the ArenaBowl was held at the home arena of the higher - seeded team , rather than a neutral site , and 17 , 391 fans packed the sold - out America West Arena as the visiting SaberCats defeated the homestanding Rattlers , 69 - 62 in a rematch of ArenaBowl XVI . Game summary . ArenaBowl XVIII featured the league ' s two top - seeded teams and one of its more storied and bitter rivalries . The Rattlers were looking for redemption , having been demolished by San Jose 52 - 14 in ArenaBowl XVI and again falling short , 43 - 29 to the Tampa Bay Storm in the previous year ' s contest . Meanwhile , the SaberCats were seeking revenge after the Rattlers had swept them during the regular season , winning the Western Division championship and the top seed in the playoffs in the process . The game did not disappoint , as the two teams ' offenses matched each other blow - for - blow virtually all game . Perhaps the most stereotypically " arena football " of all ArenaBowl s to date , neither defense proved capable of slowing the opposing offense , and the game appeared as though it would be decided by which team had the final possession . The final play of the first half , however , proved to be decisive . Rattlers legend Hunkie Cooper had scored a rushing touchdown with seven seconds remaining in the half to tie the game at 28 . However , the SaberCats were able to get one final offensive play in before time expired , and James Roe made the most of it by catching a short pass from Mark Grieb and breaking multiple tackles en route to a spectacular 38 - yard touchdown - his fourth of the game - to end the half with San Jose leading 35 - 28 , thus preventing the Rattlers from gaining the lead with their first possession of the second half . The second half played out largely the same as the first , with the two teams again exchanging touchdowns virtually at will . With San Jose leading 63 - 56 , Arizona quarterback Sherdrick Bonner connected with receiver Siaha Burley for a nine - yard score . Rattlers coach Danny White elected to attempt to break the string of ties by attempting a two - point conversion , but San Jose defender Omarr Smith broke up a Bonner pass intended for Hunkie Cooper , leaving the SaberCats in front , 63 - 62 . White elected to attempt an onside kick to regain possession , but San Jose ' s Chuck Reed recovered the ball and quickly returned it seven yards for a touchdown . Scoring so soon could have proven costly for San Jose , as the Rattlers regained possession with 30 seconds left and trailing just 69 - 62 , thanks to a missed extra point by San Jose kicker Dan Frantz . Bonner and the Rattlers mounted one final drive , however , advancing to the San Jose five - yard line with two seconds on the clock . However , Bonner ' s final pass was incomplete , and the SaberCats emerged victorious , 69 - 62 . The game was the highest - scoring game in ArenaBowl history , with a combined 131 points being scored , shattering the five - year - old ArenaBowl XIII mark of 107 . Roe caught eight passes for 119 yards and an ArenaBowl - record - tying five touchdowns to earn Ironman of the Game honors , while San Jose quarterback Mark Grieb completed 27 of 36 passes for 328 yards and eight scores to be named Offensive Player of the Game . Bonner threw seven touchdown passes - four to Siaha Burley and three to Orshawante Bryant to lead the Rattler offense , while Arizona defensive specialist Ricky Parker was named Defensive Player of the Game . The game marked Danny White ' s last as head coach of the Rattlers , and indeed the end of an era for the franchise itself . Legendary Hunkie Cooper would see limited playing time early in the 2005 season before retiring , while White , the only coach to date in the 13 - year history of the Rattlers organization , would not be retained by new owner Robert Sarver . Additionally , defensive coordinator Doug Plank would depart to become the head coach of the Georgia Force , who he would lead to ArenaBowl XIX the following year . Meanwhile , it was the second title in three years for coach Darren Arbet and the SaberCats . Trivia . On the Arena Football League ' s 20 Greatest Highlights Countdown ( shown on arenafootball . com during the league ' s 20th season ) , this is at # 18 .