The Arizona Rattlers started the new IFL season 2-3.

They beat Iowa and Northern Arizona, but lost to Bay Area, San Diego and Vegas.

On Sunday afternoon, they hosted the Jacksonville Sharks, the team’s third game in their new digs, Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale, where they moved during the offseason.

The Sharks joined the IFL from the NAL this year and have yet to win a game in their new league.  They have the lowest scoring offense in the league, averaging 28.3 points per game.

The first half was a see-saw battle that featured six lead changes.

The half ended with both the Rattlers and Sharks scoring in the last minute, heading into the locker room with Arizona leading 26-21.

The Sharks came out of the halftime break swinging when wide receiver Isaiah Johnson took the second half kickoff to the house.

Arizona answered right back as wide receiver Jamal Miles made a crazy touchdown catch, running into the wall on 4th down to put the Rattlers up by four.

Shortly afterwards, Arizona quarterback Dalton Sneed would use his legs to find the end zone, putting the Rattlers up by 11.

After the Sneed touchdown, it looked like the Rattlers were going to pull away to victory, but Sharks defensive back Harrison Poole picked off Sneed, which led to Boom William’s second touchdown of the game to make it 39-35.

Sneed talked about the mistake after the game.

“On the negative side, I can’t turn the ball over, in the 4th quarter… you know with six minutes left—we’re in an opportunity to go down and put the game away and as a leader and quarterback—you can’t turn the ball over,” Sneed said.

The Rattlers would eventually pull away late in the game, scoring 16 unanswered points to hand the Sharks their fifth loss of the season, 55-35.

Arizona coach Kevin Guy talked about his decision to stay aggressive instead of running out the clock.

“I can only Coach one team, can’t worry about the other team, can’t worry about their feelings,” Guy said.  “You know what… if you can beat us by 100, you better damn well do it.”

The Rattlers won, thanks to phenomenal quarterback play from Dalton Sneed, who is returning from injury.

Sneed put up 176 passing yards, with two touchdown passes to Jamal Miles and two more on the ground.

“Having Dalton back is good for us.  He brings an extra dynamic to the team and our offense,” Miles said.

With the win on Sunday, the Rattlers move to 3-3 heading into their bye week before traveling to Tucson to play the Sugar Skulls on May 11.