This was the Rattlers (6-3) first game since the inaugural IFL Cup, in which they placed second, losing to the Vegas Knight Hawks 48-44.
Head Coach Kevin Guy once again threw Drew Powell in under center for the fourth straight game over Max Meylor.
In Powell’s three starts, the Rattlers were 2-1, averaging 58.3 points per game.
“We gave Max, what six games at the beginning,” Guy said. “We felt like he was a little uncomfortable, and you know playing in the West and the East is just different.”
The Rattlers started off the game with a beautiful open drive, ending with an outside zone run from running back Ron Brown Jr. for a 2-yard rushing touchdown making it 7-0.
On the kickoff, kicker Matthew Cook drilled his kick right through the uprights, making it 9-0 Rattlers.
The Wranglers responded right back with a drive of their own, but the Rattlers defense held strong forcing Northern Arizona to take a field goal, as Wranglers kicker Manny Higuera drilled the 26-yard attempt making it 9-3 Rattlers.
The Rattlers offense came right back with a huge play. Under pressure, Powell rolled to his left and threw across his body to a wide open Arlan Bruce IV for a 37-yard catch and run.
The next play, the Rattlers ran a toss play for running back Kymani Clarke that he ran in for a 1-yard touchdown, making it 16-3 Rattlers.
The Wranglers responded, as quarterback Anthony Garrett found a gap in the middle of the defense and took it for a 4-yard rushing touchdown, making it 16-10 Rattlers.
The Rattlers offense was able to get in field goal range on their next drive, giving kicker Cook a 28 yard try; Cook’s kick went right down the middle to push the Rattlers lead up to 9.
The Wranglers offense once again delivered, as Garrett threw up a 50/50 ball to wide receiver Marlon Cook Jr. who made a spectacular catch over the barrier for a 15-yard touchdown. Higuera missed the extra point, making 19-16.
On 4th and 11 of the next drive, Guy decided to go for it, and the decision paid off, as Powell found receiver Trey Odoms-Dukes on a go route for a 29-yard touchdown, putting the Rattlers up by 10.
The Wranglers responded with a big play of their own, as Garrett found Cook Jr. in the endzone for the second time, this one from 19 yards out, making it 26-23 Rattlers with 43 seconds left.
Higuera drilled the kickoff through the uprights for a deuce, making it 26-25.
Despite having no timeouts, the Rattlers managed to have a successful one-minute drill, as Powell found Bruce IV on a short little zig route for a 3-yard touchdown, making it 33-25 with 12 seconds left in the half.
Cook put the kickoff through the uprights for his second deuce of the game making 35-25.
The Rattlers defense came up huge before half, as Garrett was picked off by defensive lineman Carson Taylor, giving the Rattlers a 28-yard field goal opportunity before halftime.
Unfortunately for the Rattlers Cook’s kick missed right, keeping it 35-25.
The Rattlers defense delivered to start the second half, as Garrett tried to force a throw to the endzone, which was picked off by defensive back Yahsyn Mckee Sr., giving the Rattlers prime field position.
The Rattlers offense capitalized on the turnover, as Clarke took an outside zone run 12 yards to the endzone, making it 42-25.
After the Rattlers defense forced a turnover on downs, Arizona drove all the way down the field, and on 4th and goal, Powell found Odoms-Dukes on a slant route for a 7-yard touchdown, making 49-25.
After yet another turnover on downs, Guy decided to let Meylor get the last nine minutes of the game, ending Powell’s night.
Powell finished the game 16/20 with 218 passing yards and three touchdowns.
Meylor made the most of his first drive as he found Bruce IV on a slant route for a 7-yard touchdown, giving the Rattlers a commanding 56-25 lead.
Northern Arizona made a change at quarterback as well; Demarcus Bryant immediately made an impact as he found Cook Jr. in the endzone for a 22-yard bomb cutting the lead to 24 with 2:40 left.
However, it ultimately amounted to nothing, as the Rattlers were able to run out the rest of the clock and win 56-32.
This win moves the Rattlers to 7-3 as they hold the third seed in the Western Conference.
The Rattlers will have a bye next week, before coming back home to host the Fishers Freight.
