Post by DiamondThief on Jun 8, 2019 19:07:24 GMT -8
FINAL - Rattlers 50, Sugar Skulls 49 (OT)
Rattlers DL Chris McAllister takes down Sugar Skulls RB Mike Jones during Arizona's 50-49 overtime win over Tucson.
(SCtoC photo by Gary Royall)
6/8/19 --
PHOENIX, AZ - It almost didn't happen, but the Arizona Rattlers' perfect season is still perfect.
The Rattlers rallied from a 35-14 second quarter deficit to force overtime. Quarterback Drew Powell's seven-yard touchdown strike to Dez Stewart, coupled with Powell's rush around the right side for the two-point conversion, was good enough to lift Arizona to a 50-49 win over the Tucson Sugar Skulls tonight at Talking Stick Resort Arena. The winning scores came after Tucson scored in the first segment of the extra period on a four-yard run by Mike Jones.
Arizona moved to 13-0 on the season. A win at Phoenix in next week's season finale over the San Diego Strike Force, or an Iowa Barnstormers loss to the Nebraska Danger, would clinch home field advantage throughout the playoffs, including the United Bowl should they advance. They have already clinched a bye in the first round.
The Sugar Skulls are locked in a three-way battle for the final two playoff spots with the Nebraska Danger and Quad City Steamwheelers. All three teams are 6-7 following the action of week 16. Tucson would lose the tiebreaker to the Danger. They close out the regular season at home against the Steamwheelers and a loss would cost them the tiebreaker to them. The Steamwheelers defeated the Steamwheelers earlier this season in Tucson.
The Rattlers got on the board on the first play of the game when Powell found Stewart for a 28-yard touchdown. Jake Medlock scored on a pair of runs, eight and five yards, to put the Sugar Skulls up 14-0 with 4:08 remaining in the opening quarter. Stewart's two-yard run to the end zone knotted the score at 14-14 at the end of the first quarter.
Tucson scored three straight touchdowns to start the second quarter. The first came on a 40-yard pass from Medlock to Jeremiah Harris. Matt Mehrendt's five-yard pass to Shadrach Thornton put the Sugar Skulls up 28-14 with 2:42 remaining in the second. Two minutes later, Medlock hit Rico Brown for a five-yard score, but Arizona's Jarrod Harrington ran back the ensuing kickoff for a touchdown. Tucson led 35-21 at the intermission.
Arizona cut into the lead on Powell's 10-yard touchdown to Jabre Lolley at the 10:35 mark of the third, and Harrington's seven-yard run tied it with 4:10 left in the quarter. The teams were locked at 35-35 entering the final stanza.
The Sugar Skulls took a one-touchdown lead on Medlock's 28-yard run on the first play of the fourth quarter. The Rattlers came right back a six-yard pass from Powell to Anthony Amos with 10:16.
Tucson had a series of downs late in the fourth. On first down, Medlock went down with an apparent right leg injury. Behrendt came in for three plays, but the Sugar Skulls were unable to make it into the end zone. The Rattlers had the ball with 48 seconds remaining and all three time outs, but they were stopped on downs at the Tucson 15 yard line with nine seconds left. A 50-yard field goal try from Josh Gable as time expired had plenty of distance, but was wide right and the fourth quarter ended with the teams tied 42-42.
The Sugar Skulls amassed 305 yards of total offense to 241 for the Rattlers. They had a 44-yard advantage in the passing game and 20-yard edge in the rushing game. Tucson was penalized four times for 21 yards and Arizona was flagged six times for 52 yards.
Powell finished 13 of 20 for 158 yards with four touchdowns and an interception. He also rushed seven times for 29 yards. Stewart caught four passes for 55 yards with two touchdowns, and added a rushing score. Jabre Lolley had three catches for 49 yards and a touchdown and Amos finished with five grabs for 43 yards and a score. Phillip Henry paced the defense with 10 tackles, Davontae Merriweather had eight solo tackles and Ryan Langford recorded a sack.
Medlock went 17 of 27 for 190 yards with a pair of touchdowns. He also rushed 16 rimes for 66 yards and three scores. Jones gained 41 yards off a dozen carries with a touchdown. Harris led all receivers with eight receptions for 96 yards, while Brown finished with five grabs for 66 yards. Each also caught a touchdown. Zach Allen's 10 tackles led the Sugar Skulls defense, and Dee Maggitt, Jr. had an interception off of Powell.
The Rattlers will host the Strike Force in next week's season finale on June 15 at 5:05 p.m. Arizona is 3-0 over San Diego this season. The Sugar Skulls will be at home on June 15 to meet the Steamwheelers with kickoff set for 6 p.m. All times listed are pacific standard time.
Rattlers DL Chris McAllister takes down Sugar Skulls RB Mike Jones during Arizona's 50-49 overtime win over Tucson.
(SCtoC photo by Gary Royall)
6/8/19 --
PHOENIX, AZ - It almost didn't happen, but the Arizona Rattlers' perfect season is still perfect.
The Rattlers rallied from a 35-14 second quarter deficit to force overtime. Quarterback Drew Powell's seven-yard touchdown strike to Dez Stewart, coupled with Powell's rush around the right side for the two-point conversion, was good enough to lift Arizona to a 50-49 win over the Tucson Sugar Skulls tonight at Talking Stick Resort Arena. The winning scores came after Tucson scored in the first segment of the extra period on a four-yard run by Mike Jones.
Arizona moved to 13-0 on the season. A win at Phoenix in next week's season finale over the San Diego Strike Force, or an Iowa Barnstormers loss to the Nebraska Danger, would clinch home field advantage throughout the playoffs, including the United Bowl should they advance. They have already clinched a bye in the first round.
The Sugar Skulls are locked in a three-way battle for the final two playoff spots with the Nebraska Danger and Quad City Steamwheelers. All three teams are 6-7 following the action of week 16. Tucson would lose the tiebreaker to the Danger. They close out the regular season at home against the Steamwheelers and a loss would cost them the tiebreaker to them. The Steamwheelers defeated the Steamwheelers earlier this season in Tucson.
The Rattlers got on the board on the first play of the game when Powell found Stewart for a 28-yard touchdown. Jake Medlock scored on a pair of runs, eight and five yards, to put the Sugar Skulls up 14-0 with 4:08 remaining in the opening quarter. Stewart's two-yard run to the end zone knotted the score at 14-14 at the end of the first quarter.
Tucson scored three straight touchdowns to start the second quarter. The first came on a 40-yard pass from Medlock to Jeremiah Harris. Matt Mehrendt's five-yard pass to Shadrach Thornton put the Sugar Skulls up 28-14 with 2:42 remaining in the second. Two minutes later, Medlock hit Rico Brown for a five-yard score, but Arizona's Jarrod Harrington ran back the ensuing kickoff for a touchdown. Tucson led 35-21 at the intermission.
Arizona cut into the lead on Powell's 10-yard touchdown to Jabre Lolley at the 10:35 mark of the third, and Harrington's seven-yard run tied it with 4:10 left in the quarter. The teams were locked at 35-35 entering the final stanza.
The Sugar Skulls took a one-touchdown lead on Medlock's 28-yard run on the first play of the fourth quarter. The Rattlers came right back a six-yard pass from Powell to Anthony Amos with 10:16.
Tucson had a series of downs late in the fourth. On first down, Medlock went down with an apparent right leg injury. Behrendt came in for three plays, but the Sugar Skulls were unable to make it into the end zone. The Rattlers had the ball with 48 seconds remaining and all three time outs, but they were stopped on downs at the Tucson 15 yard line with nine seconds left. A 50-yard field goal try from Josh Gable as time expired had plenty of distance, but was wide right and the fourth quarter ended with the teams tied 42-42.
The Sugar Skulls amassed 305 yards of total offense to 241 for the Rattlers. They had a 44-yard advantage in the passing game and 20-yard edge in the rushing game. Tucson was penalized four times for 21 yards and Arizona was flagged six times for 52 yards.
Powell finished 13 of 20 for 158 yards with four touchdowns and an interception. He also rushed seven times for 29 yards. Stewart caught four passes for 55 yards with two touchdowns, and added a rushing score. Jabre Lolley had three catches for 49 yards and a touchdown and Amos finished with five grabs for 43 yards and a score. Phillip Henry paced the defense with 10 tackles, Davontae Merriweather had eight solo tackles and Ryan Langford recorded a sack.
Medlock went 17 of 27 for 190 yards with a pair of touchdowns. He also rushed 16 rimes for 66 yards and three scores. Jones gained 41 yards off a dozen carries with a touchdown. Harris led all receivers with eight receptions for 96 yards, while Brown finished with five grabs for 66 yards. Each also caught a touchdown. Zach Allen's 10 tackles led the Sugar Skulls defense, and Dee Maggitt, Jr. had an interception off of Powell.
The Rattlers will host the Strike Force in next week's season finale on June 15 at 5:05 p.m. Arizona is 3-0 over San Diego this season. The Sugar Skulls will be at home on June 15 to meet the Steamwheelers with kickoff set for 6 p.m. All times listed are pacific standard time.
Both games, as well as all IFL games this season, will be streamed live on the IFL's Official YouTube Channel. SCtoC will present previews of those, and all, games this season. Those previews will be posted on the board of the home team in each game.
- ANM
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