Last week, the Arizona Rattlers (3-1) picked up a 44-32 win over their state rivals, the Northern Arizona Wranglers.

After a successful trip up in Prescott, the Rattlers were back home hosting the Tulsa Oilers (1-2).

The Oilers started off with a bang.

After a surgical drive, quarterback TJ Edwards II found wide receiver Jerminic Smith Sr. on a 5-yard button hook for a touchdown making it 7-0 Oilers.

The Rattlers responded right back with a drive of their own, ending with an outside zone run with running back Ron Brown Jr. for a 1-yard touchdown, tying the game at 7.

Tulsa took the lead back quickly, as Edwards II was able to navigate a clean pocket and take off up the middle for a five-yard touchdown run, making it 14-7 Oilers.

On the next drive, quarterback Max Meylor created some Meylor magic, as he was rolling out left to evade pressure, he was able to throw against his body across the field to a wide-open Corey Reed Jr. for a 9-yard receiving touchdown making it 14-14.

Tulsa took the lead right back, as kicker Bailey Hale split the uprights from 33 yards out making it 17-14.

The Rattlers offense continued to roll as they gave Brown Jr. another outside zone at the 19-yard line which he took all the way to the house for a touchdown, making it 21-17 Rattlers.

Tulsa’s offense came right back with a 32-yard catch, and a three-yard touchdown run from wide receiver Mike Carrigan, making 24-21 Oilers.

The Rattlers offense put together another successful drive, as Meylor found wide receiver Keenan Hambrick in the endzone for a 3-yard touchdown, giving the Rattlers a 28-24 lead with 53 seconds left in the first half.

The Rattlers tried an onside kick that was unsuccessful, giving the Oilers the ball at the Rattlers’ 10-yard line.

Tulsa capitalized on the short field as Edwards II found a wide-open Spencer Tears for a 3-yard touchdown, giving the Oilers the lead back with 31 seconds left in the half.

The Rattlers were able to return fire before the end of the half, as Meylor found a receiver in the middle of the field, and Arlan Bruce bulled his way into the endzone for a 20-yard touchdown with nine seconds left.

The Oilers tried a 37-yard field goal at the buzzer, but Hale’s kick was wide right, keeping the game 35-31 Rattlers heading into halftime.

After their defense delivered a huge fourth down stop, their offense delivered a beautiful drive, ending in an Edwards II 2-yard scramble touchdown giving them a 38-35 lead.

The Rattlers offense responded right back, as they gave it to running back Kymani Clarke up the middle for a 7-yard touchdown, making it 42-38 Rattlers.

The back and forth continued as Edwards II tossed a shovel pass to a wide-open Smith Sr. to make it 45-42 Oilers.

On the first play of the Rattlers next drive, disaster struck as Meylor missed the snap, resulting in a fumble recovery from linebacker Dylan Pettway for an Oilers touchdown, making it 52-42.

The Rattlers bounced back; Meylor threw up a 50/50 ball, and his receiver Trey Odoms-Dukes came down with it for a five-yard touchdown, and the Rattlers cut the lead to three.

The Rattlers tried an onside kick, but it was unsuccessful.

The Oilers were able to get some points from the shorter field as Hale’s 34-yard field goal was drilled through the uprights making it 55-49, with 4:37 left in the game.

The Rattlers struck back late, as Clarke took an outside zone run into the endzone for a 3-yard touchdown, giving them a one-point lead with one minute left.

Head Coach Kevin Guy decided to try an onside kick, but it was unsuccessful.

Tulsa took advantage of the short field as Edwards’s pass was tipped and caught in the endzone by Smith Sr. for their third touchdown connection of the night.

Smith also caught the two-point conversion, giving the Oilers a 63-56 lead with 46 seconds left in the game.

With 10 seconds left, Meylor found a wide-open Bruce on a corner route for a 24-yard touchdown.

However, Arizona decided to go for two to seal the game.

On the two-point conversion, a scrambling Meylor found Clarke in the corner of the endzone, making it 64-63 with six seconds left.

The Oilers tried a 53-yarder for the game, and it was no good.

Postgame—Rattlers head coach Kevin Guy talked about his decision to go for two with the game on the line.

“That decision was made before they even kicked off to us,” Guy said.

With the win, the Rattlers (4-1) secured straight games.

They will travel to Vegas next week to play the 4-1 Knight Hawks.