(Glendale, AZ) The second home game of the 2024 season was back in Glendale after a two week road trip.
Arizona had faced the San Diego Strike Force seven previous times and had won all seven games.
The Snakes boast a high powered offense, but so far a porous defense losing to the Bay Area Panthers 47-41 two weeks ago. A bye week followed.
San Diego won the toss and elected to receive the ball first. The. Strike force marched the ball down field, but a key interception by Connor Taylor at the Rattlers five yard line turned them away.
Arizona on their first possession was highlighted by a Glen Gibbons Jr wide out reverse to the short side of the field for fifteen yards. The Strike Force defense stiffened and forced a thirty one yard field goal for a 3-0 Arizona lead with 5:40 left in the opening quarter.
Rattlers attempted an on sides kick, but SanDiego recovered at the twenty yard line. Two plays later, Jordan Kress caught a low pass from Nate Davis near goal line but the point after was wide. San Diego 6-3 at the 4:01 mark.
The Strike Force went for the “Deuce” on the kickoff but missed.
Snakes had the ball at the San Diego nine yard line when the first quarter ended 6-3.
On a dive play to the left side, CJ Odom was smacked at the goal line, fumbled and recovered it in the end zone for a touchdown. Snakes up 10-6 with 13:03 until halftime.
It didn’t take long for the Strike Force to regain the lead on a long run by Chance Bell up the near sideline for thirty two yards into score and make it 13-10 San Diego.
On their second kickoff, Steve Artigue put it right through the uprights for a “Deuce” and two points to add to their lead 15-10.
Both teams showed they could move the ball but this Rattlers team has seen lapses in offense that force them to kick field goals. Dawson Evitts knocked it through from twenty three yards out to cut the deficit to 15-13 at the 5:40 mark.
On a third and ten for San Diego, Devontae Merriweather tried to jump the route by Rudy Johnson and lost the gamble that allowed him to go thirty yards untouched for the score and a 22-13 Strike Force led late in the quarter.
Arizona needed to get points prior to halftime. Using the clock stratigectly, the Snakes scored on a three yard reception to Gibbons but the try for two points failed. Strike Force up 22-19.
A last second field goal attempt by San Diego almost the length of the field, fell way short and both teams hit the halftime locker room still at 22-19.
On the second half kickoff, Artigue tried to sneak a “Deuce” in but failed which put the Snakes at midfield to start their opening drive.
Coach Kevin Guy went for it on fourth and three from the eighteen yard line and it was picked off by San Diego. A field goal would have tied the score.
Johnson called his own number and scooted into the end zone untouched for a 29-19 lead at the 9:21 mark in the third quarter. The Rattlers defense was showing its weakness in coverage assignments.
After it appeared the Rattlers drive would stall after a couple of penalties, Brown found Gibbons in the back of the end zone for a much needed touchdown to draw close 29-26 a the 3:39 mark.
San Diego on its next drive was gaining big chunks of yardage and blazed down the field and went in from the half yard line to extend their lead
In one of the best drives of the young season, the Snakes showed what the Arizona faithful was waiting for scoring on a long pass to Gibbons Jr to get the score back to manageable 35-32 with 13:53 left in the contest.
The Strike Force duplicated the Rattlers in scoring on a long pass to go back up by two scores 41-33 even though the two point conversion was not converted.
Lorenzo Brown replaced Kettle at quarterback and it paid immediate dividends as Kettle caught a touchdown pass from Brown, but once again, the try for two points failed. Snakes had 8:27 to go to pull this one out.
The Rattlers defense couldn’t make a stop and San Diego scored on a three yard run and back to a two possession lead 48-39 as the clock was at 6:08.
With a third down from the Strike Force’s eight yard line, Brown got picked off in the end zone and returned for a San Diego touchdown to put the score out of reach at 55-39 barring a miracle comeback and only 1:09 left in the game.
Jamal Miles got a late touchdown for Arizona, but it wasn’t enough with about a half a minute left.
The final score San Diego 55 Arizona 45
CJ Odam and Jamal Miles sustained injuries in the game but the their extent hadn’t been determined.
Arizona will try to get back on track in Des Moines Iowa next week against the 0-3 Barnstormers.
Today’s attendance was 8,716 as the Arizona Diamondbacks were also at home in Phoenix today.
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