(Glendale, AZ) The Rattlers came into this game with an unbelievable opportunity with top seed Bay Area losing 36-31 to the fourth seed Las Vegas in San Jose last night. That meant if Arizona wins tonight they would host the Western Conference title game next Saturday in the Snake Pit.
The Snakes got the two seed with the strength of schedule tie breaker over San Diego after splitting their two regular season games. Arizona led the all time series 10-2 with one of those losses that came last week on the regular season finale in Oceanside.
Another perk for the Rattlers is that if they can reach the National Championship Game, it’s just 100 miles down the 10 freeway in Tucson.
First Quarter
San Diego won the coin toss and differed to the second half. Rattlers got the ball first.
Consecutive penalties by San Diego to start the game put Arizona in great field position at the Strike Force’s 20 yard line. Sneed set the table with a misdirection scramble that put the ball on the 1 yard line. San Diego stacked up the fourth down run to get the ball on downs.
On their first play, quarterback Nate Davis attempted a throw in the back of the end zone and lost the ball. Kevin Simes Jr, recovered the ball in the end zone and Arizona made amends for their turnover. Rattlers up 7-0 at the 9:17 mark of the opening quarter.
San Diego on their second go around got out of early trouble again just outside their own end zone, with a sideline reception at midfield. With room to work, Davis combined runs and short passed to move into the Rattlers red zone. Edward Vander tied the score 7-7 with a 1 yard run with just under four minutes left in the quarter.
Dalton Sneed again used his legs to put the ball at the San Diego 5 yard line for a first and goal.
Second Quarter
On the first play, Sneed ran it to the corner from 4 yards out and scored to put the Snakes back up 14-7.
Davis came right back using the underneath stuff to move the chains. An illegal defense on Arizona put the ball down at the Rattlers 5 yard line. On third down, John Maldonado hauled in a pass at his feet to tie it up again 14-14 with 8:32 left in the half.
San Diego continued to get untimely penalties to put the Ratters in great field position. With the ball at the 9 yard line, Sneed the “go to” guy got the ball down to the 5 yard line. A play later with no one open in the pattern, Sneed tucked it away and scored to go back on top 21-14.
Interestingly enough, Arizona signed kicker Nick Belcher just hours before the game to shore up the kicking game which had been spotty all season long.
The Strike Force continued to get lousy field position on kick returns as Arizona’s special teams held them at the 5 yard line for the third time in the contest.
Davis threw a pass that ricocheted off Dallas Daniels right into the hands of Arthur Jackson who was in the right place and waltzed into the end zone to tied it up at 21-21.
With under a minute left, Sneed rolled right and went back across the field to the left to find Isaiah Huston on risky pass. A touchdown pass to Huston was called back because of a hands to the face penalty on Arizona with only 3 seconds left.
Arizona needed to steal some points before halftime to keep the Strike Force as the chasers. San Diego would get the ball to begin the second half. Belcher’s 36 yard kick wasn’t close and wide right.
Halftime
With the missed Rattlers field goal and the score tied, San Diego succeeded in possibly flipping the game to make the Snakes chase them in the second half if they could score on the opening possession of the second half.
Third Quarter
San Diego came out smoking on the first play from scrimmage Jackson caught a 30 yard pass from Davis and the Strike Force had their first lead of the game 28-21.
Undeterred, Ron Brown Jr slithered his way from 9 yards out got the Rattlers back even 28-28 with just under ten minutes left in the quarter.
San Diego got a gift on an unsportsmanlike call on the Rattlers after the touchdown and an offsides penalty on the kickoff put the balk at the Arizona 2 yard line to start their possession.
Then the Strike Force began to go backwards after a pentalty, but a curl pattern on second down put San Diego back on top 35-28 midway through the quarter.
The Snakes needed to keep pace and Sneed hit Reed Jr with a laser pass, but Belcher missed an all important extra point and Arizona trailed by one point 35-34 with 4:08 left in the quarter.
San Diego faced a fourth down from the Rattler 10 yard line, Coach Kevin Guy brought pressure and forced Davis to throw short of the line of gain. Strike Force Coach challenged the spot and won for a first down, but then Coach Guy challenged the catch. The replay appeared to show the receiver trapped the ball and Arizona won the second challenge to give the ball over to the Rattlers on downs. That was the break they needed.
Fourth Quarter
Arizona got bailed out with an illegal defense call on third down to move the chains and keep the drive alive.
San Diego closed the door and stopped the Rattlers on fourth down to get the ball back. Every play on every possession now was key and no room for error.
San Diego had a chance to make it difficult for Arizona to keep pace and a pass interference call that gave the Strike Force the ball at the 2 yard line. Dallas Daniels busted in from the 2 yard line for. 42-34 lead with 8:58 left in the game.
Arizona needed to score on all their remaining possessions and come up with a defensive stop.
Sneed threw a 33 yard pick at the goal line but got a reprieve on a roughing the passer penalty on the Strike Force front line. Automatic first down at the San Diego 11 yard line. Now, from the 3 yard line, Sneed three plays netted 2 yards. Do or die on a 4th down and goal, Shannon Brooks finally took it in to score. Snakes went for two points but failed.
With 2:12 left, San Diego had a 42-40 lead and the ball.
Arizona needed a miracle, and possibly got one when their onside kick was recovered. Down by two, they didn’t want to leave fate up to a new kicker.
Reed Jr. went to the turf to haul in a pass at the 15 yard line. A series of runs that gained 3 yards put the pressure squarely on Sneed to deliver. Huston climbed the ladder to haul in the pass for a touchdown. Rattlers went for two points but an offensive pass interference call nullified the play.
Coach Guy once again challenged that the Strike Force linebacker didn’t declare his blitz. The challenge was lost and that forced the Snakes to try a two point play from the 18 yard line. San Diego dropped everyone except two lineman. Sneed had an eternity to throw the ball as the receivers weaved for the conversion and a 48-42 lead with 39 seconds left.
San Diego still had enough time to come back. With 7 seconds left the ball seemed to not get snapped in play prior to the clock expiring. Coach Guy challenged. The result of the play prior to the challenge was a touchdown that would give San Diego the win. There was also a flag thrown that ended up an illegal defense against Arizona.
After the challenge, the officials sad the ball was snapped in time and the touchdown stood. San Diego added the extra point and pulled out a 49-48 win to advance to the Western Conference Championship Game nest week.
Wrap Up
It all came down to the missed extra point by Belcher early in the second half that forced Arizona to chase for most of the second half.
The Rattlers season came to a close with a few questions for next season. Will Dalton Sneed return at quarterback? How many players will be released ot traded? Time will tell.
Tonight’s attendance was 6,232.
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