Last week in Tucson, the Rattlers once again lost a nail biter, on their one-minute drill at the end of the game down seven; Drew Powell threw an interception, moving the Rattlers to 7-5.

They were looking to avoid three straight losses, against the struggling 2-10 New Mexico Chupacabras.

After a combined 64 points in the last two losses, Arizona head coach Kevin Guy decided to put Max Meylor back under center replacing Powell.

“We thought he gave us the best chance to win tonight, so we played him,” Guy said. “We’ll see where it goes.”

Despite the two-game slide, the Rattlers headed into the game with a chance to clinch a spot in the postseason. All they needed was a win and a San Antonio loss and they once again would make the playoffs.

The Rattlers started off hot and early, as on the second play from scrimmage they ran a toss play for wide receiver Corey Reed Jr. who took it around the edge and into the endzone for a 10-yard rushing touchdown, making it 7-0.

The Rattlers hot start continued, as on the kickoff kicker Matthew Cook split the uprights for a deuce, making 9-0 Rattlers.

The Rattlers offense got the ball right back and delivered as they ran a speed option on the 4-yard line. Meylor elected to pitch it running back Kymani Clarke, who took it in for a touchdown, making 16-0 Rattlers.

The Rattlers continued their momentum, as New Mexico’s quarterback Donovan Porterie’s pass was picked off by defensive back Yahsyn Mckee and returned all the way to the 1-yard line.

Despite some undisciplined penalties, the Rattlers were able to capitalize on the interception.

On 3rd and goal at the 6-yard line, Meylor was under pressure and started scrambling for his life. During the scramble he found a wide-open running back Ron Brown Jr. for a touchdown, making 23-0 Rattlers in the first quarter.

On the kickoff Cook drilled yet another deuce, making it 25-0.

The Chupacabras finally got on the board as kicker Kevin Macias’ 35-yard field goal attempt split the uprights, making it 25-3 Rattlers.

The Rattlers responded right back, as Guy called Meylor’s number, and he delivered with a 4-yard run into the endzone to make it 32-3 Rattlers.

The Rattlers got the ball back and continued to pile on, this time with a handoff to wide receiver Jayden Horace, extending their lead to 36 points with 46 seconds left in the half.

New Mexico’s one-minute drill was unsuccessful as Porterie was once again picked off by Mckee giving the Rattlers the ball back with four seconds left.

The Rattlers, being at their own five, threw up a hail mary which was picked off by defensive back Gleson Sprewell keeping it 39-3 at half.

The Chupacabras struck first as running back La’James White took the snap and ran up the middle for a 2-yard touchdown, cutting the lead to 39-10.

The Rattlers first drive of the second half ended in disaster, as Meylor was sacked he coughed up a fumble which was recovered by New Mexico linebacker Jamall Thompson, who took it to the house, cutting the lead to 22.

The Rattlers offense bounced back right after; Meylor found a wide-open Reed Jr. in the back of the endzone for a 12-yard touchdown, making 46-17 Rattlers.

The Rattlers defense delivered again as Porterie was picked off for the third time, this time by defensive back Davontae Merriweather.

The Rattlers continued the beatdown, as on fourth and seven Meylor scrambled and found a wide-open Clarke who went untouched into the endzone for a 19-yard touchdown pushing the lead back up to 36.

The Rattlers kept pouring it on as Horace took a jet sweep 15 yards to the house to

extend the lead to 43 with 1:55 remaining.

The Chupacabras were able to get in the endzone in garbage time as White took another wildcat snap into the endzone; the two-point conversion was no good making it 60-23, which ended up being the final score.

Vegas beat San Antonio on a last second hail mary, which officially put the Rattlers back in the playoffs.

“It’s our standards, I mean we expect to be in the playoffs,” Guy said.

The win moves the Rattlers 8-5, and in possession of the third seed and two games behind the Vegas Knight Hawks.

The Rattlers will go on the road next week to San Diego to play the #1 seed Strike Force.