(Phoenix, AZ) The six-time World Champion Arizona Rattlers earned sweet revenge on Saturday night, taking down the Massachusetts Pirates 59-29 in a rematch of the 2021 United Bowl, where the Rattlers fell 37-34 in a heartbreaker.
Saturday’s night win also earned Arizona its first-ever win over Massachusetts, as the Rattlers fell 66-44 to the Pirates on July 18 in addition to their United Bowl loss in September.
Defense steps up
The Rattlers put together a dominant defensive display on Saturday night against Massachusetts.
Arizona’s defense scored two touchdowns, both of which were key in extending the Rattlers’ lead. First, Arizona defensive back Brandon Ezell picked off Massachusetts quarterback Alejandro Bennifield deep within the Pirates’ own territory, and took it into the end zone nine yards to give the Rattlers a 35-13 lead.
“Any time you can get a score from the defense, it helps the team,” Rattlers defensive lineman Chris McAllister said. “It changes the whole situation of the game. [The pick six] opened it up before the half.”
The next Massachusetts possession, Arizona forced another defensive touchdown. After a big 27-yard run by Pirates running back/wide receiver Deddrick Thomas, Bennifield fumbled the handoff to Thomas on the next play. The ball was picked up by Rattlers defensive back Davontae Merriweather and taken 44 yards for a touchdown to give Arizona a 42-13 lead.
“We were just a lot more physical,” Winfrey said.
Despite recording just one sack in the game, the Rattlers put consistent pressure on Bennifield, leading him to make plays outside the pocket, which occasionally led to a Pirates penalty.
“I thought our guys were pretty physical upfront,” Rattlers head coach Kevin Guy said.
Arizona also added an interception with 8:16 left in the fourth quarter via the hands of defensive back Dillion Winfrey.
“That was a pitch and catch, I did nothing, just caught the ball,” Winfrey said of the play.
He also credited the Rattlers defensive line.
“That front four… those guys make those interceptions happen,” Winfrey said.
Oh, how sweet it is
The vibe around practice leading up to Saturday was strangely quiet given the matchup the Rattlers faced.
No one wanted to confront the 2021 United Bowl loss head on ahead of the big game against the Pirates. But after the Rattlers’ 30 point win, Winfrey finally broke.
“I’m still a little bitter about it because we dropped the ball in the championship game, but at the end of the day, we come out and play Rattler football,” he said. “I’m gonna celebrate with my teammates for the next hour or two, but we’re looking forward to Frisco.
“This is exactly what we expected it to be like. When we play Rattler football … we could have beat them by more than 30.”
Winfrey said getting up for Saturday’s game was no problem at all given the stakes. The rematch seemed to be like the silent elephant in the room beforehand. Now, the beast has been conquered.
“If I put too much on a game, it’d be a lot for me mentally,” Rattlers quarterback and 2021 IFL MVP Drew Powell said. “Now that the game is over, when I go out, that’s when I’m going to show my a**.
“It’s my turn.”
Guy was hesitant to address the subject head-on.
“That was last year’s team and this is this year’s team,” he said. “Obviously, they beat us in our house for the championship game, but a lot of the players are different. We’re more focused on this year and what this team can accomplish.”
Before saying the Rattlers are moving on to their next game, he apologized.
“I hate to give the coach’s speak,” Guy said.
Rush attack gets the job done
Arizona ran for 105 yards on Saturday night against the Pirates, opting to utilize a method of attack that worked decently well in its two losses to Massachusetts last year. In 2021’s two losses to the Pirates, Rattlers quarterback Drew Powell ran for a combined 138 yards and six touchdowns.
The Pirates employed an aggressive five-man box for most of Saturday, yet the Rattlers overcame it.
“[Massachusetts was] really worried about us running the football,” Guy said.
In Arizona’s rebound game on Saturday, Powell led the Rattlers in rushing with 47 yards and two touchdowns while running back Shannon Brooks added 38 yards and a score.
“Tonight the offensive line showed us how they move downhill,” Powell said. “I’m proud of them.”
Press Release courtesy of the Arizona Rattlers – Hunter Hippel
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