(Glendale, AZ) The Snakes returned home after their thrilling 51-47 comeback win in Green Bay to stay undefeated (2-0).
On top of the huge road victory, quarterback Dalton Sneed was named the IFL Offensive Player of the Week. Sneed threw for 6 touchdowns and has an even dozen two games into the season.
The San Antonio Gunslingers (1-1) came to Glendale in a three way tie for second place with Vegas and Bay Area. The Gunslingers were idle last week, but got their first victory March 30th on the road in San Jose against Bay Area 28-21.
First Quarter
San Antonio kicked off as the Rattler won the coin toss and elected to defer to the second half.
Quarterback Malik Henry had to go to the air as the stingy Rattler defense shut down their run game. With two passes San Antiono was at the Snakes ten yard line, Running back Keyshawn Harper crossed up the Arizona’s front line and went into score virtually untouched for a 7-0 Gunslinger lead.
Arizona’s first crack at the ball started deep in their own side of the field. The possession didnt go well as two passed right on the money were dropped and the Rattler went four and out.
With the first break of the game, Malik Henty’s pass went nine yards to Glen Gibbons and the Gunslingers were up 14-0 before the seats got warm.
Kicker Tyler Huttel kicked his second squib kickoff that handcuffed the return team and the Rattlers again started at 10 yard line.
Arizona’s initial first down came at 4:51 on the clock. Sneed got the team out of dungeon with a completion to Cory Reed jr.
The Rattlers Ron Brown coughed up the ball just shy of the goal line but fan interference allowed Arizona to maintain possession An unsportsmanlike conduct penalty was also assessed to the Gunslingers. The next play also resulted in a fumble, but Jamal Miles fortunately recovered in the end zone for the touchdown. On top of that, Dawson Evitts missed the extra point atttempt.
San Antonio still up 14-6 in a mistake prone first quarter for the Snakes.
Henry’s 29 yard pass to Harper got them into the Red Zone. Then it was San Antionio’s turn to fumble and Snakes’ Rashawn Yates got the ball back just prior to the end of the first quarter.
Second Quarter
Sneed, still had perfect passes dropped as in the first quarter, but used his legs to counteract the drops.
The line of scrimmage at the 14 yard line, San Antonio was flagged for interference in the end zone that placed the ball at the 2 yard line. Sneed again, took it in himself to score at the 9:24 mark until halftime. Evitts made his point after touchdown this time and drew Arizona within one point 14-13.
Gunslingers’ Jordan Jones was ejected from the game after his second unsportsmanlike penalty. Things went south from there as the Rattlers’ defense forced a fourth down and fourteen. With a near interception, Arizona took the ball back on the turnover.
Sneed looked to score on the first play, but his pass right on the money was dropped again for the fourth time in the first half.
Ron Brown Jr. hit the edge on a sweep to score from 9 yards out and Arizona had their first lead of the game 20-14 with 3:22 left till halftime.
San Antonio’s second played from scrimmage, Henry threw a 37 yard fly route to NyQuan Murray for a touchdown to regain the lead 21-20 .
Gunslingers attempted an onside kick but the Rattlers recovered at the 7 yard line. Two plays later, Brown Jr. slanted right and scooted in untouched to give the Snakes the lead 26-20 after the two point attempt failed.
With 1:14 it was Arizona’s turn to try the onside kick which failed and put the Gunslingers in position to steal points just prior to the half. That was not to be as Henry’s pass was picked off by Isaiah Huff and took it all the way to the San Antonio 19 yard line with 35 seconds left.
Arizona’s Coach Kevin Guy didn’t want to leave any time on the clock for a fluke Gunslinger score, so with 5.5 seconds left Brown Jr. Went to his shoetops to haul in a low pass for the touchdown with no time left on the clock and a 33-21 lead for the Rattlers.
Halftime
In a chess match of coaches, each team tried to steal points with under a minute left in the first half.
Third Quarter
The opening kickoff, San Antonio kept using the squib kick and it paid off to score a rouge (1 point) when Miles had difficulty fielding the ball and was tacked in the end zone to make the score 33-22.
The Rattlers first possession from scrimmage saw Sneed use the ground games using Brown Jr. and Miles to move the ball. On a third and two from the two yard line, Sneed called his own on a delayed draw to score. Arizona up 39-22. That opening drive consisted of all run plays.
San Antonio scored a touchdown on one play, a 39 yard deep post to Glen Gibbon to avenge the Snakes’ score.
The back and forth affair just as in the first half saw some spectacular plays. Neither team wanted to give an opening for the other.
Huston with a long kickoff return to the 7 yard line after another squib kick put Arizona in position to score again and Brown Jr. slammed it in from two yards and Arizona kept their foot on the pedal 47-36.
San Antonio said “hold on,” Kali Rashad ran the kickoff back 50 yards to keep pace with the Rattlers 46-36.
The dropped pass bug again reared up for number five in the game which set the tone for the Arizona possession. On a fourth and ten, Sneed’s pass was low but catchable and again dropped to turn the ball back to the Gunslingers on downs to end the quarter.
Fourth Quarter
First play in the final quarter saw Henry hit Murray from 19 yards and San Antonio came roaring back 46-42.
Arizona resolute to make up for their previous possession, took little time to put the ball in the end zone as Sneed ran it in from 15 yards away. The Rattlers got their two possession lead back with 11:17 left in the game.
After a holding penalty, Henry’ pass from his own 6 yards line ricocheted off two defenders and into the arms of Arizona’s Moore Jr. and a big momentum swing in favor of the Rattlers. Sneed made them pay with a 9 yard run to up the score 60-42.
No lead was safe as San Antonio’s Rashad ran his third kickoff back for a touchdown. Trying to bring their deficit to ten points, but the try for two points was picked off by Arizona’s Moore Jr. and the score remained 60-48 with 4:48 left.
Now with the clock a factor, the Rattlers kept it on the ground trying to shortened the game. Things went as planned as Arizona retained possession at the one minute warning with the ball sitting at the Gunslingers’ 10 yard line. Brown Jr. got it closer with a catch underneath at the 3 yard line where Evitts booted a 18 yard field goal to extend the lead 63-48 and 42.1 seconds remaining.
San Antonio got three completed passes to put the ball on the Arizona 7 yard line. Murray caught pass at the wall in the back of the end zone for the final points of the game.
Wrap Up
A sloppy game for Rattler standards, with an unbelievable total of eight dropped passes, yet still gutted it out against an unrelenting squad from San Antonio. The Arizona defense stood the challenge and stopped the Gunslingers when needed.
Arizona wins the track meet 63-54. Tonight’s attendance was 9,012 going head to head with the Arizona Diamondbacks. Next up the Rattlers take their bye week.
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