Post by Monika on Jul 10, 2022 17:20:11 GMT -8
Rattlers 49, Knight Hawks 31
7/10/22 --
PHOENIX, AZ - Mission accomplished.
The Arizona Rattlers fended off the pesky Vegas Knight Hawks, 49-31, to claim the top spot in the Western Conference playoffs tonight at the Footprint Center.
The Rattlers improve to 13-3 on the season and have clinched the top spot in the Western Conference. Depending on the result of the Northern Arizona Wranglers' result in next week's season finale, the teams could end up tied, but the Rattlers would win the tiebreaker due to conference winning percentage. Arizona will have home field advantage throughout the playoffs, potentially leading up to the IFL's National Championship game on August 13 at Henderson, Nevada. The Rattlers' will host an opening-round game against either the Tucson Sugar Skulls or Duke City Gladiators on Sunday, June 24 at 3:05 p.m.
Vegas finishes its inaugural season at 6-10 and in fifth place in the Western Conference standings. The teams met earlier in the season; a 67-20 win by the Rattlers. Arizona now leads the overall series, 2-0 with a win at home and on the road.
Rattlers running back Shannon Brooks talked after the game about earning the top seed in the playoffs and the dedication of the team:
"It's definitely been a memorable season and, week-in and week-out, we come to work. We don't get caught in in the seeds and the standings because we know that we come in and work, and at the end of the day we know if we do our jobs, everything is going to take care of itself. I'm so proud of this team we've got, the coaching staff we've got, the fans we've got; I'm proud of everybody. We're just going to keep working. I'm very excited. I'm ready for the playoffs."
Arizona scored two minutes into the game on Shannon Brooks' 21-yard scamper around the right side. Vegas answered with a 36-yard touchdown from Cameron Dukes to Jordan Conkrite. Brooks put the Rattlers up 13-7 with a two-yard run up the middle with 4:38 left in the opening quarter. That score maintained through the end of the quarter.
Dukes was intercepted at the goal line by the Rattlers' Dillon Winfrey and Arizona was back business. They capitalized when Drew Powell found Josh Lanier for a 22-yard touchdown early in the second. Vegas came right back with a three-yard run. The Knight Hawks' recovered Dukes' fumble on the following drive and took over near midfield, but Nolan Kohorst's 27-yard field goal try went wide. Powell answered for the Rattlers with a 15-yard scramble down the right sideline. The Knight Hawks tacked on a 26-yard field goal from Kohorst as time expired in the half. The Rattlers led 27-17 at the break.
The Knight Hawks scored on their opening possession of the half when Dukes found KD Cannon for a deep 25-yard touchdown. The Rattlers came right back, scoring on Powell's four-yard run midway through the third quarter. Arizona added a rouge on the ensuing kickoff when Kyree Woods tackled Davonte Sapp-Lynch on the kickoff return attempt. The Rattlers forced a turnover on downs to get the ball back at their own seven-yard line as the clock expired in the quarter. Arizona led 35-24 heading into the final quarter.
Arizona added to the lead on a two-yard run around the left side from Jamal Miles. The Knight Hawks struck back with a 29-yard touchdown strike from Dukes to Jeff Ejekam with just over 10 minutes remaining in the fourth quarter. Kohorst's onside kick attempt was recovered by Vegas' Mister Harriel and the Knight Hawks could see some light at the end of the tunnel. They were unable to capitalize as Kohorst missed a long field goal try. The Rattlers came right back with a 31-yard touchdown from Powell to Brooks with 4:32 remaining. Vegas had the ball but were not able to respond.
Powell threw for two touchdowns and rushed for another two scores. Brooks rushed for 38 yards off seven carries for two touchdowns, and caught a touchdown pass. Miles rushed for a score and Lanier's touchdown came on his first IFL catch. Winfrey's interception gave him a league-leading 10 picks on the season.
Dukes, making his fifth start for the Knight Hawks, tossed three touchdown passes. Conkrite had a touchdown on the ground and another through the air. Cannon and Ejekam each had a scoring grab.
This was the regular season finale for both teams as both have byes next week. Click for our SCtoC Indoor Football League schedule.
7/10/22 --
PHOENIX, AZ - Mission accomplished.
The Arizona Rattlers fended off the pesky Vegas Knight Hawks, 49-31, to claim the top spot in the Western Conference playoffs tonight at the Footprint Center.
The Rattlers improve to 13-3 on the season and have clinched the top spot in the Western Conference. Depending on the result of the Northern Arizona Wranglers' result in next week's season finale, the teams could end up tied, but the Rattlers would win the tiebreaker due to conference winning percentage. Arizona will have home field advantage throughout the playoffs, potentially leading up to the IFL's National Championship game on August 13 at Henderson, Nevada. The Rattlers' will host an opening-round game against either the Tucson Sugar Skulls or Duke City Gladiators on Sunday, June 24 at 3:05 p.m.
Vegas finishes its inaugural season at 6-10 and in fifth place in the Western Conference standings. The teams met earlier in the season; a 67-20 win by the Rattlers. Arizona now leads the overall series, 2-0 with a win at home and on the road.
Rattlers running back Shannon Brooks talked after the game about earning the top seed in the playoffs and the dedication of the team:
"It's definitely been a memorable season and, week-in and week-out, we come to work. We don't get caught in in the seeds and the standings because we know that we come in and work, and at the end of the day we know if we do our jobs, everything is going to take care of itself. I'm so proud of this team we've got, the coaching staff we've got, the fans we've got; I'm proud of everybody. We're just going to keep working. I'm very excited. I'm ready for the playoffs."
Arizona scored two minutes into the game on Shannon Brooks' 21-yard scamper around the right side. Vegas answered with a 36-yard touchdown from Cameron Dukes to Jordan Conkrite. Brooks put the Rattlers up 13-7 with a two-yard run up the middle with 4:38 left in the opening quarter. That score maintained through the end of the quarter.
Dukes was intercepted at the goal line by the Rattlers' Dillon Winfrey and Arizona was back business. They capitalized when Drew Powell found Josh Lanier for a 22-yard touchdown early in the second. Vegas came right back with a three-yard run. The Knight Hawks' recovered Dukes' fumble on the following drive and took over near midfield, but Nolan Kohorst's 27-yard field goal try went wide. Powell answered for the Rattlers with a 15-yard scramble down the right sideline. The Knight Hawks tacked on a 26-yard field goal from Kohorst as time expired in the half. The Rattlers led 27-17 at the break.
The Knight Hawks scored on their opening possession of the half when Dukes found KD Cannon for a deep 25-yard touchdown. The Rattlers came right back, scoring on Powell's four-yard run midway through the third quarter. Arizona added a rouge on the ensuing kickoff when Kyree Woods tackled Davonte Sapp-Lynch on the kickoff return attempt. The Rattlers forced a turnover on downs to get the ball back at their own seven-yard line as the clock expired in the quarter. Arizona led 35-24 heading into the final quarter.
Arizona added to the lead on a two-yard run around the left side from Jamal Miles. The Knight Hawks struck back with a 29-yard touchdown strike from Dukes to Jeff Ejekam with just over 10 minutes remaining in the fourth quarter. Kohorst's onside kick attempt was recovered by Vegas' Mister Harriel and the Knight Hawks could see some light at the end of the tunnel. They were unable to capitalize as Kohorst missed a long field goal try. The Rattlers came right back with a 31-yard touchdown from Powell to Brooks with 4:32 remaining. Vegas had the ball but were not able to respond.
Powell threw for two touchdowns and rushed for another two scores. Brooks rushed for 38 yards off seven carries for two touchdowns, and caught a touchdown pass. Miles rushed for a score and Lanier's touchdown came on his first IFL catch. Winfrey's interception gave him a league-leading 10 picks on the season.
Dukes, making his fifth start for the Knight Hawks, tossed three touchdown passes. Conkrite had a touchdown on the ground and another through the air. Cannon and Ejekam each had a scoring grab.
This was the regular season finale for both teams as both have byes next week. Click for our SCtoC Indoor Football League schedule.
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.
- MMM
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