Post by DiamondThief on Jun 11, 2017 12:42:04 GMT -8
6/11/17 --
PHOENIX, AZ - The Arizona Rattlers faced the IFL's worst team in week 17, and it showed, as the Rattlers came away with the 56-25 win over the Cedar Rapids Titans tonight at Talking Stick Resort Arena.
Arizona came out a little slow, but turned it on from the second quarter throughout the game. The Rattlers have already clinched the number one seed int he Intense Conference, so this one was somewhat of a tune up, as will be the regular season finale next week against the Colorado Crush.
Head coach Kevin Guy noted after the game how impressive the offense was tonight.
"Our offensive line did a good job of taking over the game," he said. "Our big backs just hit them, and we imposed our will on them."
After the Rattlers stalled on their first possession, Brion Carnes zipped a four-yard pass on the run to Tre Parmalee to go up 7-0. The Rattlers answered moments later with a seven-yard run from Ketrich Harmon, and the game was tied at 7-7 midway through the first quarter.
Arizona quarterback Cody Solol found running back Darrell Monroe for an eight-yard screen pass to the right side of the field just over a minute and a half into the second quarter to put the Rattlers up 14-7. The Titans responded with a 35-yard touchdown pass from Carnes to Drew Powell on the next possession. Harmon rushed for a three-yard score then, following Allen Chapman's second interception of the game, Jamal Miles ran it in from nine yards to put the Rattlers up 28-13. They added to that when Sokol found Anthony Amos for 17 yards with 1:30 left in the opening half. The Titans drove down to the Rattlers 15 right before the end of the half, but were unable to convert and Arizona went into the break with a 35-13 advantage.
Monroe put the Rattlers on the board in the third on a four-yard rush around the right side with five minutes to go in the third. It was the lone score by either team in the quarter and put the Rattlers up 42-13.
Cedar Rapids cut into that lead early in the fourth quarter on Carnes' 35-yard pass to Conner Hollenbeck. The Rattlers, under backup quarterback John Wolf, came back with Miles punching it in from two yards out. The run put Arizona up 49-19 before Carnes found Powell all alone for a 37-yard touchdown. Arizona extended their lead to 56-25 with 1:20 left in the contest.
The Titans held an edge in total offense, 270 yards to 229, with 233 passing yards to the Rattlers' 51. Arizona made an impact in the running game, which has been a strength for them all season. They had 178 rushing yards in this one, compared to Cedar Rapids 37.
Sokol finished five of nine for 43 yards with two touchdowns and an interception. Ketrich Harmon carried the ball 12 times for 73 yards and three touchdowns. Darrell Monroe had 33 yards on eight rushes and a score, while Miles ran five times for 25 yards and a touchdowns. Monroe and Amos each caught a touchdown pass. Allen Chapman led the defensive attack with eight total tackles and a pair of interceptions.
Carnes went 23 of 35 for 244 yards with four touchdowns and two picks. Powell finished with 103 receiving yards on six catches and two touchdowns. Conner Hollenbeck had six grabs for 74 yards and a score, while Tre Parmalee had eight receptions for 48 yards and a touchdown. Fred Barnes tallied 12 total tackles to lead the Titans defense. Jourdan Wickliffe recorded an interception and Ausar Walcott had a sack.
The Rattlers (11-4) will close out their season against the Crush in Loveland, Colorado on June 16 for a 6 p.m. kickoff (pacific daylight time). The game will be live streamed on the IFL's Youtube Channel.
Arizona has already clinched the regular season Intense Conference title. The Rattlers will host either the Nebraska Danger or the Spokane Empire in the conference championship game. If the Empire beat the Salt Lake Screaming Eagles in week 18, and the Nebraska Danger lose their finale to the Wichita Falls Nighthawks, the Empire would make it in as the second seed from the Intense Conference. It the Empire lose, or the Danger win, The Danger would become the second seed.
.
The Titans have a bye in week 18. They finish their season at 1-15 overall, 0-8 at home, 1-7 on the road. They were 1-10 in United Conference play and 0-5 against Intense Conference opponents.
- ANM
(Graphic courtesy SCtoC)
To comment on this and other topics on this forum, please login or register.