(Glendale, AZ) The Rattlers (8-5) were at home for the final time in the regular season for Native American Night. They had their work cut out for them as the San Diego Strike Force (9-4) came to the Snake Pit with a six game winning streak.
With the season winding down and three games to go, Arizona found itself in third place a game behind the Strike Force and still trying to lock up a playoff spot. The top two seeds would host the first round in the playoffs.
First Quarter
San Diego got the ball first. After a slow start, quarterback Nate Davis found a wide open receiver on the far sidelines after a Ratter defensive lapse. Rudy Johnson a backup quarterback, ran the ball in from the 1 yard line for the game’s first score and coverted the two point deuce on the kickoff for an 9-0 early lead.
Down by two scores before they even touched the ball, Arizona started their possession at their own 5 yard line. The Rattlers also started out sluggish but an illegal contact on San Diego bailed them out near midfield.
Dalton Sneed telegraphed his pass along the sidelines which was picked off by Cyrus Fagan and the Strike Force were back in business.
The usual staunch Arizona defense looked out of sorts and a step slow. The quarter ended with the Strike Force at the Rattler’s 9 yard line.
Second Quarter
San Diego went to the ground inside the 10 yard line but faced a fourth down from the 2 yard line. Davis waltzed into score on a slant run. The Strike Force putting it to Arizona, now down 16-0 at the 12:52 mark of the quarter.
Ron Brown Jr finally had the crowd up and cheering as he weaved for a coast to coast kickoff return for a touchdown to get the Snakes on the scoreboard trailing 16-7.
Even though the Rattlers were forcing San Diego into third down situations, they were always converted into first downs.
Davis to Daniels got the Strike Force another touchdown from the 19 yard line and a 23-7 lead.
Jamal Miles got Arizona into good field position after 13 yard reception in the middle of the field.
San Diego gave up two big penalties to keep the Rattlers drive alive. Sneed took it into score from 3 yards out to get within eight points 22-14 with 3:41 left in the half.
Devin Hanford returned the favor as he blew past the Arizona kickoff coverage and scored on a Strike Force kickoff return for a touchdown. San Diego pushed their lead to 29-14.
Brown Jr. nearly broke the ensuing kickoff but a saving tackle just past mild field saved the touchdown. This was a game of special teams success.
Arizona trying to steal points with under a minute left. The Rattlers won the coin toss and got the ball first in the second half.
Two consecutive penalties on the same play, one being an unsportsmanlike conduct. With nearly the entire field to go for a first down. Ball was placed at the Snakes 14 yard line and they had to get to the San Diego 2 yard line for a first down.
Coach Guy let the clock run down to :12 seconds trying not to give the Strike Force any time to score before halftime.
On a fourth down, Sneed found Jamal Miles, who barely got the ball over the goal line. The extra point was missed by Evitts and 3.9 seconds remained.
Time enough for a field goal attempt by San Diego but their kick wasn’t even close to end the half.
Halftime
Arizona clawed back to trail by nine points but their offense was not in sync for the majority of the first half.
San Diego allowed the Rattlers to get back in the game off untimely penalties but still held the upper hand.
Third Quarter
Out of the gate, the Snakes looked like their old selves and Brown Jr. took the load on his back. His 22 yard run with almost the entire San Diego team on his back trying to bring him down.
Once again, the Strike Force had Arizona where they wanted them on a third and long, but a roughing the passer flag kept the drive alive. A curl route by Corey Reed Jr. put points on the board to start the second half. Rattlers trailed just by two points 29-17. Their drive took nearly half of the third quarter with 8:00 minutes left.
On a third and four, the Rattlers bunched up their defense looking for the run, but Davis had other ideas as he completed a fly pattern to a wide open Daniels for a 33 yard touchdown. Strike Force back up 36-27.
Arizona’s offense reverted back to their first half ways as Reed Jr continued to drop passes and put his team with unfavorable situations.
The quarter ended with the Rattlers with a third and five from the Strike Force 5 yard line.
Fourth Quarter
On the first play, Yo’Heinz Tyler scored on a quick pass over the middle for the score. Sneed’s pass was overthrown on the two point attempt as the Rattlers were within three 356-33 with 14:10 left in regulation.
Coach Kevin Guy called an onside kick, but San Diego recovered the ball. This put the Rattlers defense on notice. Sensing this could be a turning point in the contest, Arizona locked down and forced San Diego to turn the ball over on downs.
With a third and ten, Sneed went deep to Reed Jr, who hauled it in just before hitting the back wall for a 26 yard touchdown. Evitts again missed a crucial extra point but the Guys from Glendale had their first lead of the game 39-16 and 8:14 left.
Again, Guy called for the onside kick and San Diego recovered and three plays later they scored to go back up 42-39 and now 5:54 to go in the game.
So it came down to who wanted this game most. San Diego had clinched a playoff coming into the game and the Snakes wanted to clinch it at home.
Another pass interference penalty against the Strike Force aided the drive. On third and thirteen, Sneed with no on open, took off and gained the first down at the San Diego 5 yard line.
Time was now a factor with 1:22 left and a third and goal from the 4 yard line. A block below the waist was assessed on Arizona to put the ball back on the 14 yard line. The one minute warning came after a gain to the 7 yard line, but that made it fourth down and goal. Tyler saved the night for the time being as Sneed found him wide open for the score and put the Snakes back up 46-43, but there was still 53 seconds left and plenty of time for San Diego.
Guy tried again to get a recovery on an onside kick and again failed. Now the Strike Force had the ball at the Arizona 12 yard line. An incomplete pass but an unsportsmanlike penalty gave San Diego the first down at the 6 yard line.
A short run to the 2 yard line and a timeout by Arizona with 28 seconds left and a third and goal. The Rattlers defensive line stacked up San Diego shy of the goal line two consecutive times to get the ball back on downs and this one was over.
Arizona came from behind to win on a night that they didn’t play their best on offense but got the job done with smothering defense clinching their playoff berth.
Wrap Up
Sneed was very inconsistent tonight often overthrowing or throwing behind receivers. Corey Reed Jr. had several dropped passes, but Jamal Miles and Yo’Heinz Tyler picked up the slack at key moments of the game, especially in the final quarter.
The Snakes have two regular season games remaining, both on the road. Next Saturday, they face a 3-10 San Antonio team that would like nothing else but to spoil Arizona’s opportunity to grab that #2 seed in the playoffs. After that, a rematch with the Strike Force in Oceanside on July 27th and that should be nothing short of a war with seeding that may still be up in the air.
Tonight’s attendance was 9,541 creating a raucous atmosphere inside the Snake Pit to finish off a great home season.
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