The Rattlers beat the Vegas Knight Hawks 50-47.

After a huge win last week over the Bay Area Panthers, The Arizona Rattlers were in sole possession of first place in the West, 0.5 game ahead of The Panthers.

The goal on Saturday—keep their lead in the West intact against the Vegas Knight Hawks.

On Saturday the Rattlers got the ball first, and they took their first drive to a success, when RB Shannon Brooks broke free from 14 yards out to put the Rattlers up 7-0.

The Knight Hawks responded with a 35-yard bomb to receiver Quentin Randolph from Jarome Johnson. The PAT was missed making it 7-6.

Both teams scored on their next drives making it 14-13 at the end of the first quarter.

Arizona had the ball to start the second quarter, they were able to drive to the one, and then QB Dalton Sneed missed a backward pitch resulting in a fumble, recovered by Vegas cornerback Darius Williams.

Vegas didn’t capitalize on the turnover as Rattlers defensive lineman Kevin Simes Jr. blocked a field goal to keep the score. 

Rattlers turned the ball over on downs, giving Vegas the ball with 2:47 left in the half and Vegas would finally end the scoring drought when QB Ja’Rome Johnson used his legs and got in the endzone from four yards out. 

Another missed extra point would make it 19-14, Vegas, with 53.6 left.

The Rattlers were given fantastic field position because of an onside kick recovery.

Dalton Sneed found Isaiah Huston in the back of the endzone for a six-yard touchdown giving the Snakes a two-point lead with 36.9 remaining in the half.

Vegas would be able execute a phenomenal one-minute drill ending in a Quentin Randolph 11 yard receiving touchdown to make it 26-21 at halftime.

At the start of the half the Rattlers defense made a huge play, on the first play from scrimmage Ja’Rome Johnson got picked off by Ethan Caselberry.

The Rattlers didn’t capitalize on the turnover, two plays after the interception, Dalton Sneed fumbled a handoff and it was recovered by linebacker Jemal Williams.

Vegas would strike shortly after, when Ja’Rome Johnson found a wide-open Antonio Wimbush in the endzone, to put them up by 12.

The Rattlers answered quickly, as Dalton hit Trey Dixon on a wide-open post for a 33-yard touchdown to make it 33-28.

Vegas brought it right back to 12, as Ja’Rome Johnson connected with Quentin Randolph for the third time.

At the start of the fourth quarter, the Arizona handed it off to Shannon Brooks and he took it in for an 8-yard touchdown. Vegas was leading by 5.

Both defenses came up huge exchanging fourth-down stops.

Until finally, running back Antonio Wimbush got a two-yard rushing touchdown, putting Vegas up 47-35 with 2:57 remaining.

The Rattlers didn’t give up when Dalton Sneed found Jamal Miles along the barricade in the endzone for a seven-yard touchdown. Putting them down five with 26.5 seconds to go, and desperately needing an onside kick.

The onside kick was recovered by the Rattlers giving them the ball with 23.3 seconds.

Three plays later Dalton Sneed found Isaiah Huston in the endzone for a touchdown, and the Rattlers were up 50-47.

With 6.5 seconds on the clock, there was still time for Vegas to try and kick a field goal to tie.

Kicker Ben Derby needed to kick a 53 yarder to tie it, and the kick went wide left. 

After the game Rattlers head coach Kevin Guy downplayed the comeback.

“I wouldn’t call it a miracle we practice those things, and we execute them. We knew exactly what we were gonna do in those situations and we did a good job of executing,” Guy said.

With the win The Rattlers move to 6-1 and one game ahead of everyone in the West.

Rattlers meet the Northern Arizona Wranglers next week.