Last season the Arizona Rattlers won the IFL championship with a dominant surge in the playoffs.

This season despite some internal struggles they have continued their winning ways, starting the year off with 2 wins.

The Rattlers (2-0) would look to stay undefeated when they took on the San Antonio Gunslingers (1-1)

San Antonio would start off the game hot when running back Keyshawn Harper ran up the middle for a 10-yard rushing touchdown.

After the Rattlers turned the ball over on downs, the Gunslingers added on, when quarter back Malik Henry connected with Glen Gibbons Jr. nine ards out to make it 14-0 gunslingers.

The Rattlers would finally respond when quarterback Dalton Sneed fumbled and Rattlers receiver Jamal Miles recovered in the endzone to cut the lead to 8.

From there, the Rattlers would tack on two more touchdowns courtesy of Dalton Sneed and running back (RB) Ron Brown Jr, on the ground to put Rattlers at 20-14.

Immediately after the Brown touchdown, Malik Henry threw a 37-yard bomb to receiver Nyquan Murray to give San Antonio a 1-point lead.

That lead would not last long, as Ron Brown Jr. would get his 2nd rushing td to make it 26-21 Rattlers with 1:16 left in the first half. 

Henry would mess up San Antonio’s one minute drill when his pass was picked off by Arizona Rattlers defensive back Isaiah Huff, an interception that lead to Ron Brown Jr.’s third touchdown of the first half to give the Snakes a 32-21 lead going into half.

The Rattlers started the second half with a bit of a blunder as returner Isaiah Huston got tackled in the endzone for a one point rouge, to make it 32-22.

Both the Rattlers and Gunslingers found the endzone in their first two drives of the second half, and into the fourth quarter the Rattlers were up 46-36.

On the very first play from scrimmage in the fourth quarter, Henry would find Murray for another bomb this one was 39 yards out, which made it 46-42 Arizona.

Just when it seemed the gunslingers were going to comeback Dalton Sneed runs for 15 yards into the endzone to make it 53-42

Two plays later Malik Henry got picked off by Rashie Hodge, a turnover that led to yet another Dalton Sneed rushing touchdown.

Immediately after, Gunslinger’s Kali Rashaad returned a kickoff to the house to bring San Antonio within 12 with six minutes left. 

The Rattlers were able to chew a bit of clock and kick a 17-yard field to go up 63-48 with 42 seconds left. 

Malik Henry was able to find Nyquan Murray again in the endzone, but it was a little bit too late and when the clock ran out the Rattlers won 63-55.

Despite the win Head Coach Kevin Guy was less than pleased about the way his team played.

“Our completion percentage was not very good, I think we were 8/21, we were very undisciplined for the third game in a row, lots of unsportsmanlike conducts, it was Juco ball, I already told the team it’s unacceptable,” Guy said.

Despite the lack of passing attack, and lack of discipline the Arizona Rattlers were able to run the ball for a victory. 

The Rattlers rushed 143 yards, and nine touchdowns.

Dalton Sneed told Northeast Valley News, “Ron does a great job of hitting the little creases between the guard or when we get an outside zone going. There is positives so I don’t want to beat a dead horse, you know we did win the game, but that’s not gonna cut it,” Sneed said.

Rattlers are undefeated at 3-0 heading into their bye week. 

The Rattlers meet Northern Arizona Wranglers on April 26th.