(Phoenix, AZ) Lots of incentives went into the last home regular season game at the Snake Pit. Arizona was going for their eleventh victory of the season after starting 3-4.
The Snakes were riding a seven game winning streak and wanted to clinch the top sot in the Western Division.
Coach and President Kevin Guy, who’s already the winningest coach in franchise history was chasing his 250th all time win.
In the last two head to head games, the two teams have both been high-scoring. The Rattlers scored 60 points in the first game in late spring. In their most recent battle, both teams scored more then 60, ending in a final score of 63-62. Both of these games were all about the passing game with Rattlers QB Drew Powell and Wranglers QB Garett Kettle combining for over 700 yards in their first two meetings.
The defending champs got the ball first, faced a big third down before scoring on a bullet pass in the back of the end zone to Glen Gibbons Jr. The Wranglers used the drop kick for a two point conversion to go up 8-0.
Arizona with their first possession marched down and scored on a short pass from Drew Powell to Isiah Scott. The Rattlers decided to only go for the extra point to draw within one 8-7.
On Northern Arizona’s second possession saw the Snakes defense come up big on a fourth down and ten worth an incomplete pass to give the ball back to Arizona at the Wrangler twenty two yard line.
Arizona stepped on the gas as a three play drive culminated in a four yard run by Jager Gardner to vault the home team into the lead 14-8 to end the first quarter.
The Rattlers forced another fourth down and a fifty four yard field goal attempt which was well short and kicked out of bounds. Another stellar defensive stand by the Snakes defense.
Once again, Arizona made the Wranglers pay for their inept offense and Gardner ran two yards to pay dirt extending the lead 21-8 with 7:43 left in the first half.
For the third consecutive drive, the Rattlers forced another fourth down and came away with the ball after an incomplete pass.
A pass interference penalty in the end zone by Kishawn Walker put the ball on the two yard line for Arizona. Two plays later after a motion penalty on the Snakes, Powell took it from seven yards out and Northern Arizona found themselves in a deep hole now down 28-8 with 2:19 left till halftime.
Things went from bad to worse when Nick Watson tried to scramble and lost the ball. Defensive lineman Chris Terrell scooped up the ball ran it in from the twenty as a stunned Wrangler team didn’t know what hit them. Snakes up 35-8 with under an minute left.
Backup quarterback Garrett Kettle came in for the final possession to try to get Northern Arizona points and stop the Rattlers momentum. A forty yard field goal was successful, but the damage was done in the first half.
Halftime score 35-11 Arizona.
The defense for the Rattlers was lock down for almost the entire half while the offense scored seven touchdowns.
Coming off a bye week, Coach Guy had his guys blowing off the line like gang-busters and put constant pressure on the Wrangler signal callers. Starting quarterback Watson went 8-21 as most of his passes sailed high.
The bad news for Northern Arizona was they still trailed by three scores. The worst news was that the Rattlers by deferring got the ball first to start the second half.
Not wanting to give the ball back to the Rattlers, Northern Arizona successfully recovered the opening onside kick.
Watson came back in to start the second half and the Wranglers grabbed the momentum away from Arizona. A quick strike twenty three yard touchdown pass and a drop kick two point conversion made the score 35-19.
The Wranglers rolled the dice again by kicking and recovering their second onside kick. One play later, another touchdown but this time the drop kick sailed wide. Fourteen points scored before the Snakes event touched the ball.
The Snakes saw their lead dwindle to ten points 35-25 from a three score lead at halftime.
Now it was Arizona’s turn to struggle on offense, but a forty two yard field goal by Shane McInerney salvaged the possession and upped the score to 38-25 for the Rattlers.
The Snakes thought they had the Wranglers on their heels with a big third down play, but a wide open Ware juked the Arizona defender and scored. Another drop kick conversion was good 38-33.
Northern Arizona had outscored the Rattlers 22-3 since the start of the third quarter.
Powell rolled left and threw a sinker to Huston for the Rattlers touchdown. Back to double digits for Arizona 45-33 with 3:03 left in the third quarter.
A twenty six yard run off a play fake by Ware got NAZ out of trouble and down to the Snakes seven yard line.
Arizona’s defense woke up just in time as they stopped the Wranglers on three consecutive plays to force a field goal attempt. In the IFL, if you drop kick a field goal attempt it’s a four point play. The kick sailed wide and the Snake Pit went wild.
One play from Powell to Miles on a forty five yard reception and the turn of events saw the Snakes turn a possible eight point lead had the Wranglers made the four point kick to a nineteen point lead 52-33 and under nine minutes to play.
Northern Arizona wasn’t finished as they struck back quick with a twenty yard touchdown catch by Ryan Wisniewski. Two holding penalties on the Rattlers on the two point had the ball on the one yard line. A fake on a jet sweep with the defense not biting ended with a quarterback sack and no extra points.
With 5;57 left, the Snakes had to hold on to the ball and cut down on penalties. Arizona had been whistled for nineteen penalties for ninety yards.
At the :57 mark, Arizona iced the game with a McInerney eighteen yard field goal to make the final score 55-39.
Coach Kevin Guy did win his 250th game and the Rattler won the Western Division and will play this team from Prescott one more time next week in the Playoffs. Next week’s game will be the fourth time this season these two teams have met.
Tonight’s attendance was 9,405.
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