The Arizona Rattlers (1-1) started their season even as they took a brutal 63-42 loss last week against Fishers Freight.
They were looking to bounce back against the 0-1 San Antonio Gunslingers.
The Rattlers defense got off to a hot start, as a strong pass rush led to a fumble from Gunslingers quarterback Joaquin Collazo and a recovery from defensive back Kenneth Gallop, giving the Rattlers a short field for their first drive.
However, the Rattler squandered the drive, as they tried a handoff to wide receiver Trey Odoms-Dukes who was immediately stripped by San Antonio defensive linemen Nick Evans giving the ball right back.
Once again, the Rattlers defense would come up big early as Collazo’s pass over the middle was tipped and picked by Gallop, giving the Rattlers the ball back.
The Rattlers struck first; quarterback Max Meylor found a wide-open receiver Corey Reed Jr. in the endzone for a 26-yard touchdown, making it 7-0.
After San Antonio turned the ball over on downs, the Rattlers led a beautiful drive down the field, ending in a Meylor 1-yard touchdown giving the snakes a 14-0 lead.
San Antonio’s offense finally broke through as running back KJ Smith took a toss play 11 yards into the endzone for a rushing touchdown cutting the Rattlers lead to seven.
The Rattlers’ next drive was stalled, as kicker Matthew Cook missed a 20-yard field goal wide left giving the Gunslingers the ball with 1:47 left in the first half.
San Antonio led a successful 1-minute drill, ending in a 21-yard field goal from kicker Tyler Huettel making it 14-10 heading into half.
The Rattlers started off the second half with a bang, as Meylor found Reed Jr., for the second time of the night, this one from 7 yards out. Cook missed the PAT, so the Rattlers led 20-10.
After a turnover on downs, the Rattlers got the ball back at the Gunslingers 8-yard line, On the first play of the drive Meylor took it himself on an option play into the endzone for an 8-yard touchdown, making it 27-10.
San Antonio’s offense finally got back on the board as Collazo found a wide-open receiver Austin Upshaw in the endzone for a 9-yard touchdown, cutting the lead to 10.
On the next drive, The Rattlers tried a run up the middle with running back Kymani Clarke, but he fumbled, and the ball was recovered by linebacker Kendre Gant giving the Gunslingers the ball at the 4-yard line.
The Gunslingers delivered on the very first play of the drive, as Collazo found receiver Deion McShane for a 4-yard touchdown and all of the sudden it was a three-point game.
The Rattlers offense responded, from the 8-yard line Meylor took a quarterback draw into the endzone for his third rushing touchdown of the day, making it 34-24 Rattlers.
After the Rattlers defense forced a turnover on downs, The rattlers went with Clarke on a halfback toss, and he took it in from six yards out making it 41-24 with 4:23 left in the game.
San Antonio immediately struck back as McShane took the kickoff 45 yards to the house, making it 41-31 with 3:39 left in the game.
Even then, the Gunslingers onside kick attempt was unsuccessful.
The Rattlers were able to take advantage of the short field and tack on a Cook 21-yard field goal, making it 44-31 with 1:22 remaining.
The Rattlers defense forced a turnover on downs and ran out the clock to secure their second win of the year.
Although pleased with the result, head coach Kevin Guy spoke about his young team’s early season growing pains.
“They’re learning,” Guy said. “We need to teach right now because it’s the beginning of the season, so we’re gonna make some mistakes early, we may drop a couple of games, we knew that when we made the decision (to get younger in the off season) but we’re not winning the championship this early in the season, We’re winning at the end of the season.”
The Rattlers (2-1) hit the road next week to face their in-state rivals, the Northern Arizona Wranglers.
