Two weeks ago, the Rattlers snapped a four-game losing streak with a 48-28 win against Green Bay Blizzard giving Arizona a much-needed boost. 

The Rattlers (8-5) were looking to make it two in a row against the San Diego Strike Force (9-4)

Currently, the Rattlers are in third place in the west.

Arizona had the chance to secure a playoff spot with a win and a Tucson loss the Sugar Skulls played the Wranglers at the same time.

San Diego started off hot, when utility player Rudy Johnson scored a one-yard rushing touchdown, making it 7-0.

Immediately after the PAT on the kickoff, kicker Ernesto Lacayo put it through the uprights for a deuce to make it 9-0.

The start would get from bad to worse when quarterback Dalton Sneed got picked off by defensive back Cyrus Fagan. A few plays later San Diego quarterback Nate Davis executed a perfect read option for a 2-yard touchdown putting San Diego up 16-0.

The Rattlers finally responded on the kickoff, running back Ron Brown Jr. took the kickoff to the house to cut the lead to nine. 

San Diego responded right back, Davis found receiver Dallas Daniels on a perfectly executed out and up for a 19-yard touchdown. The two-point conversion was unsuccessful— regardless, the Strike Force were up 22-7.

The Rattlers offense struck right back with a Sneed three-yard rushing touchdown to make it a one score game, 22-14.

It was a one score game for exactly one-play, on the kickoff, Strike Force defensive back Devin Hafford made a house call putting the San Diego up 29-14 with 2:57 left in the half.

The Rattlers next drive started with disaster, a hold from lineman Kristopher Straughter and an unsportsmanlike conduct from Corey Reed Jr., made the Rattlers start first and 35, despite this they were able to go down and score with a Sneed to Jamal Miles seven-yard connection to make it a 29-20 game heading into half.

Rattlers head coach Kevin Guy told the media, “When we watched the film, we saw that when teams are in that situation, they were gonna play a little looser, and that’s when you got to stay in front of the chains and try to get it down into a third or fourth down situation.” 

The Rattlers started off the second half with a bang, when Sneed found Reed Jr. in the endzone for a touchdown, cutting the lead to two. 

Davis and the Strike Force, responded with a 38-yard bomb to Daniels to make it 36-27.

The Rattlers next drive was a success, quarterback Sneed, found receiver Yo’Heinz Tyler from five yards out. The two-point conversion was unsuccessful, making it 36-33.

The Rattlers tried an onside kick, which was unsuccessful. 

A couple plays down and Sneed found Reed Jr. on a post for the second connection of the day, this one from 26 yards out, giving the Rattlers their first lead of the game, 39-36.

Interestingly, the Rattlers decided to onside kick with the lead, which was again unsuccessful. 

But this one cost them, when running back Edward Vander ran it up the middle for a one-yard touchdown, with 5:54 left in the game.

Still, there was enough time for Sneed and Tyler to connect for the second time in the endzone, giving the Rattlers a 46-43 lead with 53 seconds left.

The Rattlers decided to onside kick again and another unsuccessful attempt was met by boos from the fans.

Guy defended the decision, “We don’t have to recover the onside kick, we shortened the field and take their space away, and shorten the clock—it’s that simple.”

Despite this on fourth down at the one Rudy Johnson ran left and was met by Rattlers defense icing the game. 

The Rattlers move to 9-5 with the win.

Tucson ended up losing 61-55, meaning the Rattlers clinched the playoffs.

The Rattlers (9-5) will go to San Antonio next week to play the Gunslingers (4-10).