Post by DiamondThief on Jul 8, 2017 22:08:38 GMT -8
7/8/17 --
SIOUX FALLS, SD - For the first time in seven years, the Indoor Football League has a new champion.
The Arizona Rattlers scored 34 of the United Bowl's first 41 points, then held on in the second half to come away with the 50-41 win over the Sioux Falls Storm tonight. The Rattlers are in their first season in the IFL, having made the jump from the Arena Football League last October due to geographic considerations.
The Storm had won the previous six United Bowls during a span of 2011 to 2016. This game, as all six previous United Bowl wins, was held in Sioux Falls due to the Storm having possessed the best record of the teams representing the conferences.
Prior to joining the IFL, the Rattlers had won five ArenaBowls in their 24 seasons in the AFL.
Darrell Monroe's two-yard touchdown run gave the Rattlers a quick 7-0 lead, but the Storm came right back on Korey Williams' 50-yard kickoff return. Arizona took the lead on a 34-yard touchdown pass from Cody Sokol to Jamal Miles.
Monroe extended Arizona's lead on the first play of the second quarter with another two-yard run. The Rattlers went up 27-7 when Joshua Gordon recovered Storm quarterback Lorenzo Brown's fumble and returned it 29 yards for the score. Sokol's five-yard toss to Anthony Amos with 14 seconds left in the first half gave the Rattlers a 34-7 advantage at the break.
The Storm were not done. They outscored the Rattlers 21-0 in the second half, pulling to within six. Brown hit Shufford for 17 yards on the first drive on the second half. Robbie Rouse scored on a seven-yard run, and Brandon Peguese intercepted Sokol and returned the pick two yards for the score. Suddenly, the Storm had cut the Rattlers' lead to 34-28 heading into the final quarter.
Monroe scored on a seven-yard run, and Sawyer Petre's 19-yard field goal put the Rattlers up 44-28 with just under nine minutes left in the game. Brown found Shufford for a five-yard touchdown, which was followed by Petre's 23-yard field goal. Brown then connected with Mike Tatum on a 40-yard touchdown pass and the Storm was back to within six at 47-41 with 2:05 remaining. Petre made it a two-possession game on his third field goal of the quarter, a 28-yarder with 47 seconds to go.
The Storm attempted to come back, but Brown was intercepted by Arkeith Brown of the Rattlers, who ran out the clock to win their first United Bowl.
Sioux Falls held a slight edge in total offense, 136 to 133. The Storm were penalized nine times for 60 yards, while the Rattlers were flagged seven times for 54 yards.
Sokol finished seven of 12 for 84 yards with a pair of touchdowns and an interception. Monroe rushed 12 times for 33 yards and three scores. Amos led the Rattlers with 38 yards on four receptions and a touchdown, and Miles had a touchdown reception on his only catch, of 34 yards. Petre was three of four on his field goal attempts and five of six on his point after attempts. Adam Sauder led the Arizona defense with 7.5 total tackles. Arkeith tallied an interception and two pass breakups, while Gordon and Allen Champman each recovered a fumble.
Lorenzo Brown went seven of 21 for 113 yards with 3 scores and a pick. In addition to his kickoff return, Williams rushed six times for 24 yards and caught three balls for 34 yards. Tatum had 57 yards on two grabs and a touchdown. Shufford finished with two catches for 22 yards and two scores. Justin Syrovatka missed all three of his field goal attempts, but connected on all five of his extra point tries. Tyler Knight finished nine total tackles and a forced fumble. Perguese and Elijah Fields had an interception and fumble recovery, respectively. Cory Henry finished with a sack.
During the week leading up to the United Bowl, the IFL announced its end-of-year awards, which SCtoC has listed here.
- ANM
(Photo of Rattlers WR Jamal Miles courtesy The Daily Courier)
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