Post by DiamondThief on May 20, 2017 20:41:51 GMT -8
5/20/17 --
WEST VALLEY CITY, UT - The Arizona Rattlers want to leave no doubts.
The storied franchise, in its first season in the Indoor Football league, set itself up for a Intense Conference championship with it's 63-33 win over the Salt Lake Screaming Eagles Saturday in Phoenix.
The Rattlers outscored the Screaming Eagles 35-12 in the second half to run away with fourth straight win, and their sixth win in their last eight games. The Rattlers now sit a game ahead of the Spokane Empire at 8-5. Arizona still plays both teams, the Danger next week at home and the Empire the following week in Spokane. the race is still wide open for the two spots in the IFL playoffs.
Salt Lake was plagued by the poor kicking of Josh Wilson, who missed on two extra points and on a field goal attempt in the first quarter. He somewhat redeemed himself with a 27-yard field goal to draw the Screaming Eagles to within a 28-21 halftime deficit.
The game may have been essentially decided by Diondre Borel's 16-yard touchdown catch with 8:30 left in the second quarter. Borel, in a crowd, grabbed the pass but was clearly bobbling before it was swatting down by a Salt Lake defender. Despite Borel's lack of control, was called it a touchdown, despite the obvious lack of control.
The Rattlers took control on the opening drive of the third quarter when Jamal Miles caught a 20-yard pass from Cody Sokol to put the Rattlers up 35-21. They added to that when Sokol hit Miles on a 21-yard pass for another score. The Rattlers were up 42-21 mid way through the third quarter and never took the venom out of their bite after that.
Salt Lake tried to fight back, with Chris Robinson's 41 and 36 yard touchdown passes from Reed in the fourth quarter, but they were not enough. The Screaming Eagles defense was not able to get a stop at any point of the game.
Overall statistically, the Screaming Eagles held a bit of an advantage in total offense, 265 to 240. The Screaming Eagles held the advantage in passing yards, 224 to 102, but the Rattlers outgained Salt lake on the ground, 138 to 41.
Sokol was effective for the Rattlers, completing eight of 13 passes for 102 yards with four touchdowns. He also scored on a pair of touchdown runs. Jamal Miles had four grabs for 48 yards and two scores. Anthony Amos grabbed a pair of passes for 33 yards and a score.
Reed went 18 of 33 for a season-high 251 yards and four touchdowns, while rushing six times for 42 yards. James Poole rushed for a touchdown. This was Robinson's coming out party. He had shown signs the past couple of weeks, but exploded in this one with eight catches for 149 yards and a Screaming Eagles record four touchdown grabs. Devin Mahina had eight receptions for 81 yards.
The Rattlers (8-4) will host the Nebraska Danger (7-5) in an Intense Conference playoff contending match up on May 28. Kickoff is set for 3 p.m. The Screaming Eagles (3-9) will be at home against the Cedar Rapids Titans (1-12) at 6 p.m. All times are pacific time.
Both of those games, as well as most of the leagues games this season are available for streaming on the IFL's Youtube channel. The Screaming Eagles-Titans game will be broadcast on Twtich TV, which it unsupported by the IFL.
- ANM
(Graphic courtesy SCtoC)
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