After a rough 1-3 start, the Rattlers have caught fire picking up wins in 6 of their last 7 games.
They will look to keep that hot streak going as they host the 7-3 Northern Arizona Wranglers in a huge western conference matchup.
Currently, the Rattlers are in 4th place in the west and a half a game behind the Wranglers for 3rd place.
The Rattlers already beat the Wranglers in week one back in Prescott, so they will be looking for the season sweep back home in their house.
The Snakes had a rough start to the game, on their first drive quarterback Dalton Sneed found Corey Reed Jr. in the endzone for a touchdown, however, it was called back for a false start by center Cole Carter, which led to a turnover on downs.
With that being said after a rough first drive, the Rattler’s offense would explode with 5 touchdowns in 5 drives.
This would be in huge part to the Sneed Reed connection as they combine for 3 of Sneed’s 4 TD passes in the first half.
“We know he can fly, he’s a big body and we knew that if they played man that they would have Reed one on one, and just let him do the rest, he’s a phenomenal playmaker, just happy to have him on our side of the ball,” Sneed said.
Their last one of the half would put the Rattlers up 35-20
On the last play of the half the Wranglers had the ball at the 5-yard line, Quarterback Josh Jones tries a back shoulder fade to the endzone, but it was shut down by a beautiful pass breakup by Rattlers cornerback Omari Alexander to keep the score at 35-20 at the half.
Head Coach Kevin Guy told Northeast Valley News, “The stop right before halftime defensively, was just huge,” Guy said.
The Wranglers started off the second half hot as Quarterback Joshua Jones took it in himself from 8 yards out and to cut the lead to 7.
The Rattlers offense would leave right where they left off in the first half as Dalton Sneed would find his running back Shannon Brooks in the flats for an 8-yard touchdown, and that would put them back up by two touchdowns.
Every time it looked like the Rattlers would pull away the Wranglers would go back down and score again.
As it got down to the wire the Wranglers found themselves down by 15 yet again, until wide receiver Arsia McCorker ran for a 6-yard touchdown with 2:17 remaining, after the 2-point dropkick they found themselves down 56-49 and in desperate need of an onside kick recovery.
They do the onside kick, and it ends up being recovered Isaiah Huston of the Rattlers, The Rattlers run out the clock and hang on to win 56-49.
They were able to win thanks to a massive performance from quarterback Dalton Sneed who ended up with 195 passing yards and 7 touchdowns.
“He was motivated because he didn’t feel he played well in San Diego, so I knew Dalton was going to respond,” Coach Guy said.
With the win the now 8-4 Rattlers move up to 3rd place in the western conference, just a half=game behind the Vegas Knight Hawks.
They conveniently go to play the Knight Hawks next week in Vegas.
The playoff race is getting tight with 6 weeks left to play.