Rattlers Defend the Desert, Win 53-48 Against Panthers
(Glendale, AZ) The Rattlers were averaging IFL leading 50.8 points per game and 261.4 yards per game.
Bay Area allowed the fewest Points Per Game at 29.8.
Rattlers defense was 6th in the league while Bay Area had the 4th best offense.
In 2023, current Rattlers Quarterback Dalton Sneed led the Bay Area Panthers to their the IFL championship.
Last season, Sneed led Arizona to their IFL Championship but lost both contests to the Panthers. Could he win against his former team?
Both teams came in at 4-1 and are 3-3 head to head. This was a battle for the 1st place in the Western Division.
Bay Area won the coin toss and elected to defer to the second half.
The Rattlers had tons of penalties, but found out after game from Coach Kevin Guy that they sustained excessive injuries from the game last week and during the week at practice. They had to make a ton of roster moves.
Jamal Miles, Cory Reed Jr. and YoHeinz Tyler were all hurt during game in Tucson last week. Backup quarterback Drew Powell was away from the team for personal reasons and will miss several weeks. Rasheed Hodge was released to make room, but they intend to bring Hodge and Powell back. Coach Guy’s reiterated that the other guys are not guaranteed of getting their jobs back after injuries.
Jordin Parker signed this week and had only been here two days. His chemistry improved with Sneed during game. Sneed discussed ability to trust guys who work hard.
Coach Guy’s decision to have defensive back Ethan Casselberry kick due to a Dawson Evitts injury. Casselberry played soccer in high school and found out he would be kicking only on Thursday. He only attempt one extra point, which he made at end of game.
Coach Guy’s had said they expected Bay Area to attempt deuces and drop kicks, so the game plan was to go for two points anyway.
The IFL’s parity this season is remarkable.
First Quarter
Arizona received the opening kickoff and newly signed Jordin Parker ran it back to near mid-field, but a block in the back by Brian Smith brought it back half the distance from the spot of the foul and the possession began on their own 6 yard line.
With three minutes gone in the game, the Rattlers struck first with a 7 yard touchdown run by Isaiah Huston. After the play, Michael Brown was called for the first of many unsportsmanlike conduct calls. Bay Area chose to enforce it on the extra point, which was no good. Rattlers 6-0.
Panthers quarterback Josh Jones connected with Joshua Tomas on two consecutive routes, one for a big gain down to the 2 yard line and the second catch for a touchdown. Their extra point was good and Bay Area led 7-6.
On the Rattlers next possession they faced a 4th and 12, Sneed hit Trey Dixon for 23 yards and two plays later, Sneed ran a misdirection from the 1 yard line into the end zone for their second score. The two point conversion by Ron Brown Jr made it 14-7.
Bay Area on the ensuing drive, on a 2nd and goal from the 15 yard line, Jones hit Tomas again for the touchdown to tie it up at 14-14.
Penalties on kicks continued to plague the Rattlers.
Second Quarter
Arizona had the ball 4th and 2 at midfield, Sneed rose up to toss a jump pass over a mosh pit of players to his receiver, but was yanked down by the defender and the ball dropped into the hands of a Panther, the game’s first turnover.
The Panthers failed to capitalize on their good fortune, following an intentional grounding penalty and further loss of yardage made it 3rd and 21. Jones, threw from his own end zone, was intercepted by Ethan Caselberry. Offsetting unsportsmanlike conduct penalties were called after the play, which would come back to impact the Rattlers later in the game.
Sneed’s 7 yard scoring pass to Isaiah Huston in the back of the end zone put the Snakes back up 20-14, as the two point conversion no good.
Bay Area’s quick strike offense again scored in two plays on a Joshua Tomas 3 yard touchdown run. The extra point gave the lead back to the Panthers.
The kickoff attempt was to squib the ball but was kicked short and caught by the Rattlers front line and excellent field possession at the Bay Area 12 yard line. A Panther pass interference penalty in the end zone gave Arizona the ball at the 2 yard line. Sneed, on a quarterback keeper slithered in for the score with 55 seconds left. Again they failed on the two point conversion and a 26-21 lead.
Just before the halftime, Rattler defensive lineman James Nyamwaya was hit with his second unsportsmanlike penalty and was ejected from the game. However, the Arizona defense forced a turnover on downs for one final attempt before halftime. The drive from deep in their own territory stalled and on 4th and 10 and Caselberry’s first field goal attempt was no good.
Halftime
With a slew of penalties and a revamped roster, the Snakes were fortunate to be ahead.
Third Quarter
Bay Area received second half kickoff. From the Rattler 15 yard line, Jones hit Tyrese Chambers for another touchdown and the Panthers regained a 26-28 lead.
Penalties continued to plague Arizona and the game’s fifth unsportsmanlike conduct call negated big gain by Brooks pushing the ball back to their own 18, 1st and 25. The playoff level atmosphere continued and Bay Area was hit with a roughing the passer call. Sneed made them pay on the next play by connecting from 17 yards out with Jordin Parker. The try for a two point conversion failed but the Rattlers had a 32-28 lead.
The Panthers answered back in this see-saw battle with another quarterback to wide receiver connection between Jones and Tomas from the 5 yard line after a high flying catch by Trevyon Alexander on the preceding play. Bay Area was up now 35-32.
Arizona drove down the field to end the quarter with a third and goal from the 10 yard line.
Fourth Quarter
Sneed’s pass to Ron Brown, Jr. was good for a touchdown and the two point conversion was also good, Snakes up 40-35.
More special team miscues as Arizona was whistled for an offsides penalty on the kickoff, which gave the Panthers good field position. On 3rd down, Omari Alexander was called for pass interference in the end zone. From the 2 yard line, Jones ran it in for the score and Bay Area regained the lead 42-40.
Arizona’s next drive, Sneed hit Trey Dixon from 11 yards out but the two point conversion failed.
The defense held Bay Area with 1:57 left in the game. The Rattlers got the ball back on the turnover on downs. With 46.2 seconds remaining, Sneed hit Huston on a slant route from the 13 yards out and Ethan Caselberry’s first extra point attempt was good to make it a two possession game with a 53-42 lead.
Bay Area wasn’t done as their explosive offense scored with 28 seconds left as Jones hit Tosin Oyekanmi for the touchdown. The Panthers attempted the drop kick two point conversion, but it was unsuccessful still trailing 53-48.
A last gasp onside kick attempt went out of bounds and the Snakes were able to run out the final 28 seconds for the victory and sole possession of first place in the West.
Article by Joanna Riggle – 602 Sports Talk
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