Post by DiamondThief on Aug 29, 2021 16:50:52 GMT -8
Rattlers 69, Storm 42
8/29/21 --
PHOENIX, AZ - The Arizona Rattlers put their foot on the gas and never let off as they advanced to the Indoor Football League semifinals with a 69-42 win over the Sioux Falls Storm today at Footprint Center.
The win will put the top-seeded Rattlers at home in the semis against the fifth-seeded Duke City Gladiators next Sunday (September 5). The Gladiators advanced to the semifinals with a last-second 34-33 win over the host Iowa Barnstormers on August 28. The Rattlers and Gladiators met twice this season with the Rattlers winning both; 51-36 on June 19 at Rio Rancho, New Mexico and 60-48 on July 31 at Phoenix.
Arizona finished the regular season with a 12-2 which gives it home field advantage throughout the playoffs, including the United Bowl should they advance. They Storm had their roughest season in the IFL, finishing the regular season at 5-7 and falling in the first round. This will be the first time in 11 seasons. the Storm will not make it to the United Bowl. They won six straight United Bowls from 2011-16, and won it again over the Rattlers in 2019 by a 56-53 mark.
"We wanted this game first," Rattlers head coach Kevin Guy said after the game. "We wanted this game first against Sioux Falls after what happened in 2019; get that out of the way, so we can focus on the next round."
The Rattlers and Storm split their two games during the regular season.
Regular Season Head to Head
May 22 - Storm 50, Rattlers 46
July 24 - Rattlers 59, Storm 33
After Dillon Winfrey's interception of a Lorenzo Brown, Jr. pass on Sioux Falls' opening drive, the Rattlers scored on a 17-yard touchdown strike from Drew Powell to Jarrod Harrington. The Storm countered with a 26-yard bomb from Brown to Alonzo Moore. The Rattlers then scored on a six-yard run from Powell. Arizona led 13-6 after one.
Powell's long touchdown to Troy Pelletier put the Rattlers up by two touchdowns less than a minute into the second quarter. After a missed field goal by the Storm, the Rattlers extended their lead on a five-yard touchdown pass from Powell to Nick LaSane around the right side. Sioux Falls responded with a 33-yard scamper by Nate Chavious to cut the Storm's deficit to 27-13 at the one-minute warning. Powell hit Braxton Haley on a nine-yard touchdown with 15 seconds left in the half before Parker Douglass nailed a 47-yard field goal as time expired. Arizona held a 34-16 lead at the break.
The Rattlers came out of halftime and scored on a three-yard run from Jamal Miles. Later in the third quarter, LaSane scored on a 13-yard pass from Powell. The Storm got back on the board with an 11-yard run from Chavious at the end of the quarter. The Rattlers doubled up the Storm, 48-24, heading into the final quarter.
Powell rushed in from seven yards to give the Rattlers a 55-24 lead with 12:41 left, but the Storm came right back with a long touchdown from Tommy Armstrong, Jr. to Brandon Sheperd. Backup quarterback T.J. Edwards extended the lead to 62-30 with a 10 yard run and dive into the end zone. The Storm came back with a 24-yard run from Chavious. The Rattlers countered with another touchdown run from Edwards; this one of one yard. Armstrong hit Sheperd for a 14-yard score with 54 seconds remaining. The Rattlers were able to run out the clock and preserve the win.
Powell, a prominent IFL MVP candidate, threw for four touchdowns and rushed for another two. Chavious was a bright spot for the Storm with three rushing touchdowns.
Click for the complete SCtoC 2021 Indoor Football League schedule.
8/29/21 --
PHOENIX, AZ - The Arizona Rattlers put their foot on the gas and never let off as they advanced to the Indoor Football League semifinals with a 69-42 win over the Sioux Falls Storm today at Footprint Center.
The win will put the top-seeded Rattlers at home in the semis against the fifth-seeded Duke City Gladiators next Sunday (September 5). The Gladiators advanced to the semifinals with a last-second 34-33 win over the host Iowa Barnstormers on August 28. The Rattlers and Gladiators met twice this season with the Rattlers winning both; 51-36 on June 19 at Rio Rancho, New Mexico and 60-48 on July 31 at Phoenix.
Arizona finished the regular season with a 12-2 which gives it home field advantage throughout the playoffs, including the United Bowl should they advance. They Storm had their roughest season in the IFL, finishing the regular season at 5-7 and falling in the first round. This will be the first time in 11 seasons. the Storm will not make it to the United Bowl. They won six straight United Bowls from 2011-16, and won it again over the Rattlers in 2019 by a 56-53 mark.
"We wanted this game first," Rattlers head coach Kevin Guy said after the game. "We wanted this game first against Sioux Falls after what happened in 2019; get that out of the way, so we can focus on the next round."
The Rattlers and Storm split their two games during the regular season.
Regular Season Head to Head
May 22 - Storm 50, Rattlers 46
July 24 - Rattlers 59, Storm 33
After Dillon Winfrey's interception of a Lorenzo Brown, Jr. pass on Sioux Falls' opening drive, the Rattlers scored on a 17-yard touchdown strike from Drew Powell to Jarrod Harrington. The Storm countered with a 26-yard bomb from Brown to Alonzo Moore. The Rattlers then scored on a six-yard run from Powell. Arizona led 13-6 after one.
Powell's long touchdown to Troy Pelletier put the Rattlers up by two touchdowns less than a minute into the second quarter. After a missed field goal by the Storm, the Rattlers extended their lead on a five-yard touchdown pass from Powell to Nick LaSane around the right side. Sioux Falls responded with a 33-yard scamper by Nate Chavious to cut the Storm's deficit to 27-13 at the one-minute warning. Powell hit Braxton Haley on a nine-yard touchdown with 15 seconds left in the half before Parker Douglass nailed a 47-yard field goal as time expired. Arizona held a 34-16 lead at the break.
The Rattlers came out of halftime and scored on a three-yard run from Jamal Miles. Later in the third quarter, LaSane scored on a 13-yard pass from Powell. The Storm got back on the board with an 11-yard run from Chavious at the end of the quarter. The Rattlers doubled up the Storm, 48-24, heading into the final quarter.
Powell rushed in from seven yards to give the Rattlers a 55-24 lead with 12:41 left, but the Storm came right back with a long touchdown from Tommy Armstrong, Jr. to Brandon Sheperd. Backup quarterback T.J. Edwards extended the lead to 62-30 with a 10 yard run and dive into the end zone. The Storm came back with a 24-yard run from Chavious. The Rattlers countered with another touchdown run from Edwards; this one of one yard. Armstrong hit Sheperd for a 14-yard score with 54 seconds remaining. The Rattlers were able to run out the clock and preserve the win.
Powell, a prominent IFL MVP candidate, threw for four touchdowns and rushed for another two. Chavious was a bright spot for the Storm with three rushing touchdowns.
Click for the complete SCtoC 2021 Indoor Football League schedule.
All IFL playoff games this season, will be streamed live on the IFL's Official YouTube Channel., except for the United Bowl which will be televised on Stadium. SCtoC will present previews all playoff games this season. Those previews will be posted on the board of the home team in each game.
- ANM
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