The last time Arizona met up with Vegas, the Rattlers clinched the victory with just 2 seconds left on the clock, edging out the Vegas Knight Hawks 39-38. In the same fashion, in just 26 seconds, the Rattlers put up 15 points to finish with another win.
Back-and-Forth Battle
Arizona struck first, capping an early drive as Shannon Brooks carried it down for a touchdown. Vegas responded quickly, as quarterback Ja’Rome Johnson found a receiver downfield for a long touchdown. The Knight Hawks missed the ensuing field goal, keeping the Rattlers ahead 7–6.
Dalton Sneed connected again with Miles for another Arizona score, but Vegas stayed within striking distance. The first quarter ended with the Rattlers up 14–13, with both teams trading efficient possessions.
Turnovers and defensive stops defined much of the second quarter. A Rattlers fumble early in the frame gave Vegas its first break of the night, but neither side capitalized until the final minute. On a crucial red zone stand, Arizona’s Ethan Caselberry broke up a key Vegas pass near the one-minute warning, one of his four breakups on the night. But with 50 seconds left, Johnson broke through, firing a touchdown pass that gave Vegas its first lead at 19–14.
Before halftime, Sneed responded with a strike to Isaiah Huston to briefly regain the lead, but Vegas had the final word, a touchdown pass to Quentin Randolph sent the Knight Hawks into the locker room up 26–21.
Arizona looked poised to retake momentum early in the third quarter as Caselberry came up with a critical interception. The offense responded with a 15-yard rumble by Shannon Brooks to midfield, but another fumble on the next play halted the drive and gave Vegas new life.
The Knight Hawks made the most of the turnover, punching in another touchdown to take a 33–21 advantage. Sneed then found Trey Dixon for a much-needed score, but Vegas matched it again, and the Rattlers ended the third quarter trailing 40–28.
Final-Minute Magic
Brooks broke loose again at the start of the fourth, scoring his second rushing touchdown to bring Arizona within five. Caselberry continued his standout night with another huge defensive stop, but the Rattlers failed to convert on the ensuing drive.
Vegas extended its lead again on a short touchdown run, pushing the score to 47–35 with just over two minutes remaining, but Arizona wasn’t finished yet.
With just 30 seconds left, Sneed connected with Miles in the corner of the end zone to cut it to 47–42. On the onside kick, Dawson Evitts’s perfectly placed ball was recovered by Davontae Merriweather, giving the Rattlers one final shot.
Sneed delivered again, hitting Huston over the middle for a big gain to the Vegas 13. With nine seconds on the clock, Sneed fired again to Huston, this time in the end zone, giving them the 1 point lead. On a gutsy two-point conversion attempt, Sneed found Miles to make it a 3 point game.
Vegas had a last-ditch 55-yard field goal attempt as time expired, but ultimately fell short, giving Arizona a win.
By the Numbers
Quarterback Dalton Sneed finished with four touchdown passes and 177 yards through the air. Huston recorded two receiving scores, while Brooks tallied two rushing touchdowns. Caselberry’s four pass breakups and one interception anchored the Rattlers’ defense.
Onto the Next
The Arizona Rattlers are on the road next week as they face the Northern Arizona Wranglers in Prescott Arizona on May 24th.
Press Release courtesy of the Arizona Rattlers – Alexa Coronado
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