Post by DiamondThief on Jul 22, 2023 21:02:06 GMT -8
Wranglers 62, Rattlers 53
7/22/23 --
PHOENIX, AZ - The Northern Arizona Wranglers defense forced six turnovers and their offense scored the go-ahead touchdown with 34 seconds left as they eliminated the Arizona Rattlers from the IFL playoffs tonight, 62-53, at Footprint Center.
The fourth-seeded Wranglers advance to the Western Conference Championship Game next week where they will face either the second-seed Bay Area Panthers or third-seed Tucson Sugar Skulls. Those teams play in the first round contest tomorrow at 3:05 p.m. at San Jose, California. The Wranglers, who will be on the road in either case, are 1-1 against each team this season. This is the second-straight season Northern Arizona has eliminated their southern neighbors from the postseason. They edged the Rattlers 52-51 in last year's conference title game before going on to win the IFL National Championship Game over the Quad City Steamwheelers, 47-45. Northern Arizona improved to 4-0 historically in playoff action.
Arizona, the top seed in the Western Conference, had finished with a 11-4 record in the regular season, including three wins over Northern Arizona. They won 60-34 on May 20, 63-62 in double-overtime on June 3, and 55-39 just last week. The Rattlers still lead the overall series 6-3, including a 4-2 mark at home. Both home losses to the Wranglers have come in the playoffs.
In what was much of a streaky, see-saw contest, the Wranglers took a 34-14 halftime lead only to see the Rattlers rally and take a pair of five-point leads in the fourth quarter. The Wranglers then constructed their own rally to capture the win.
Northern Arizona struck first when Nick Watson found Ramaud Chiaokhiao-Bowman for a 13-yard touchdown. Justice Hensen intercepted Arizona quarterback Drew Powell on the Rattlers' first offensive series. The Wranglers took advantage of the turnover with a 29-yard touchdown connection from Watson to Jarrod Ware, Jr. The Rattlers got on the board late in the first quarter when Powell found Jamal Miles for a six-yard touchdown. The Wranglers led 14-7 at the end of one.
The Rattlers tied the contest at 14 apiece when Miles rushed around the left side early in the second quarter.. The Wranglers responded with a 28-yard catch-and-run touchdown from Watson to Chiaokhiao-Bowman. Conor Mangan's second dropkick conversion of the game made the score 22-14 with 8:04 left in the quarter. Kerry Starks intercepted Powell resulting in Mangan's dropkick field goal which increased the score to 26-14 with 1:10 left. A dropkick is someone rare in the IFL, but Ireland native Mangan has shown a propensity for it in the league. A dropkick in the IFL is worth four points rather than three points in a standard field goal. Powell was intercepted by the Wranglers' Dorian Walker, but Northern Arizona was forced to attempt a 55-yard field goal which pinned Arizona deep in their own territory. While back to pass, Powell was sacked by Tramond Lofton and recovered by Theo Majette with eight seconds remaining in the half Mangan added another dropkick point after. The Wranglers led 34-14 heading into intermission.
Northern Arizona increased their lead on Watson's six-yard touchdown to Chiaokhiao-Bowman two minutes into the third quarter. Mangan's dropkick gave the Wranglers a 28-point lead. The Rattlers responded with a Powell 18-yard touchdown to Jager Gardner in the right side of the end zone. With the Wranglers deep in their own territory, the snap went passed Watson and was recovered by Chris Terrell in the end zone for a Rattlers touchdown. After the Wranglers missed a long field goal, Arizona pulled to within a touchdown on a three-yard run around the right side from Miles. The Wranglers had the ball and a 42-35 lead heading into the final quarter.
Powell rushed through the line for a two-yard score four minutes into the quarter. Watson was intercepted by Cristopher Page. The Rattlers took their first lead of the contest when Miles rushed around the left side for three yards. Powell's rush for the two-point conversion was stopped short, leaving his team with a 47-42 lead midway through the fourth. Northern Arizona re-took the lead when Watson hit Chiaokhiao-Bowman in the left corner of the end. Mangan's dropkick went barely wide left, but the Wranglers still had a one-point lead with just over three minutes left.
Powell's two-yard touchdown run gave the Rattlers the lead. They went for the two-point conversion, but Miles was stopped short with 53 seconds left. It didn't take long for the Wranglers as Watson hit Chiaokhiao-Bowman for a 28-yard go-ahead score at the 34-second mark. Arizona was pinned back inside their own one-yard line and, on second down, Powell was picked off by Dorian Walker who returned it 25-yards to extend the lead. Mangan's dropkick made the score 62-53 with 16 seconds remaining. The Rattlers had one chance left, but Powell was intercepted by Starks in the end zone. The Wranglers ran out the clock to preserve the win.
Watson completed 15 of 25 passes for 222 yards, six touchdowns and an interception. Chiaokhiao-Bowman led all receivers with eight catches for 158 yards and five touchdowns. Ware added 37 yards off his four receptions to his receiving touchdown. Starks led the Wranglers defense with 6.5 tackles and two interceptions. Walker also had two interceptions in addition to his four solo tackles. Henson added an interception and Tramond Lofton tallied a sack.
Powell finished eight of 21 for 80 yards, two touchdowns, five interceptions and a fumble. He also rushed for 72 yards and a pair of scores. Miles rushed for 25 yards and three touchdowns, and caught a pass for another score. Gardner had five grabs for 60 yards and a touchdown. Davontae Merriweather's seven tackles paced the Rattlers defense, while Page had an interception.
Northern Arizona tallied 203 yards of offense compared to Arizona's 174. The Wranglers had a 222 yards passing to the Rattlers 80, while the Rattlers had an advantage in the rushing game of 118 yards. Northern Arizona was penalized 19 times for 131 yards and Arizona was flagged 11 times for 87 yards. The Rattlers had a 28-second edge in time of possession.
Click for our complete 2023 IFL Schedule. Next week's conference championship games will be streamed live on the IFL's Official YouTube Channel. SCtoC will present previews of those in the board of the home team in each game.
7/22/23 --
PHOENIX, AZ - The Northern Arizona Wranglers defense forced six turnovers and their offense scored the go-ahead touchdown with 34 seconds left as they eliminated the Arizona Rattlers from the IFL playoffs tonight, 62-53, at Footprint Center.
The fourth-seeded Wranglers advance to the Western Conference Championship Game next week where they will face either the second-seed Bay Area Panthers or third-seed Tucson Sugar Skulls. Those teams play in the first round contest tomorrow at 3:05 p.m. at San Jose, California. The Wranglers, who will be on the road in either case, are 1-1 against each team this season. This is the second-straight season Northern Arizona has eliminated their southern neighbors from the postseason. They edged the Rattlers 52-51 in last year's conference title game before going on to win the IFL National Championship Game over the Quad City Steamwheelers, 47-45. Northern Arizona improved to 4-0 historically in playoff action.
Arizona, the top seed in the Western Conference, had finished with a 11-4 record in the regular season, including three wins over Northern Arizona. They won 60-34 on May 20, 63-62 in double-overtime on June 3, and 55-39 just last week. The Rattlers still lead the overall series 6-3, including a 4-2 mark at home. Both home losses to the Wranglers have come in the playoffs.
In what was much of a streaky, see-saw contest, the Wranglers took a 34-14 halftime lead only to see the Rattlers rally and take a pair of five-point leads in the fourth quarter. The Wranglers then constructed their own rally to capture the win.
Northern Arizona struck first when Nick Watson found Ramaud Chiaokhiao-Bowman for a 13-yard touchdown. Justice Hensen intercepted Arizona quarterback Drew Powell on the Rattlers' first offensive series. The Wranglers took advantage of the turnover with a 29-yard touchdown connection from Watson to Jarrod Ware, Jr. The Rattlers got on the board late in the first quarter when Powell found Jamal Miles for a six-yard touchdown. The Wranglers led 14-7 at the end of one.
The Rattlers tied the contest at 14 apiece when Miles rushed around the left side early in the second quarter.. The Wranglers responded with a 28-yard catch-and-run touchdown from Watson to Chiaokhiao-Bowman. Conor Mangan's second dropkick conversion of the game made the score 22-14 with 8:04 left in the quarter. Kerry Starks intercepted Powell resulting in Mangan's dropkick field goal which increased the score to 26-14 with 1:10 left. A dropkick is someone rare in the IFL, but Ireland native Mangan has shown a propensity for it in the league. A dropkick in the IFL is worth four points rather than three points in a standard field goal. Powell was intercepted by the Wranglers' Dorian Walker, but Northern Arizona was forced to attempt a 55-yard field goal which pinned Arizona deep in their own territory. While back to pass, Powell was sacked by Tramond Lofton and recovered by Theo Majette with eight seconds remaining in the half Mangan added another dropkick point after. The Wranglers led 34-14 heading into intermission.
Northern Arizona increased their lead on Watson's six-yard touchdown to Chiaokhiao-Bowman two minutes into the third quarter. Mangan's dropkick gave the Wranglers a 28-point lead. The Rattlers responded with a Powell 18-yard touchdown to Jager Gardner in the right side of the end zone. With the Wranglers deep in their own territory, the snap went passed Watson and was recovered by Chris Terrell in the end zone for a Rattlers touchdown. After the Wranglers missed a long field goal, Arizona pulled to within a touchdown on a three-yard run around the right side from Miles. The Wranglers had the ball and a 42-35 lead heading into the final quarter.
Powell rushed through the line for a two-yard score four minutes into the quarter. Watson was intercepted by Cristopher Page. The Rattlers took their first lead of the contest when Miles rushed around the left side for three yards. Powell's rush for the two-point conversion was stopped short, leaving his team with a 47-42 lead midway through the fourth. Northern Arizona re-took the lead when Watson hit Chiaokhiao-Bowman in the left corner of the end. Mangan's dropkick went barely wide left, but the Wranglers still had a one-point lead with just over three minutes left.
Powell's two-yard touchdown run gave the Rattlers the lead. They went for the two-point conversion, but Miles was stopped short with 53 seconds left. It didn't take long for the Wranglers as Watson hit Chiaokhiao-Bowman for a 28-yard go-ahead score at the 34-second mark. Arizona was pinned back inside their own one-yard line and, on second down, Powell was picked off by Dorian Walker who returned it 25-yards to extend the lead. Mangan's dropkick made the score 62-53 with 16 seconds remaining. The Rattlers had one chance left, but Powell was intercepted by Starks in the end zone. The Wranglers ran out the clock to preserve the win.
Watson completed 15 of 25 passes for 222 yards, six touchdowns and an interception. Chiaokhiao-Bowman led all receivers with eight catches for 158 yards and five touchdowns. Ware added 37 yards off his four receptions to his receiving touchdown. Starks led the Wranglers defense with 6.5 tackles and two interceptions. Walker also had two interceptions in addition to his four solo tackles. Henson added an interception and Tramond Lofton tallied a sack.
Powell finished eight of 21 for 80 yards, two touchdowns, five interceptions and a fumble. He also rushed for 72 yards and a pair of scores. Miles rushed for 25 yards and three touchdowns, and caught a pass for another score. Gardner had five grabs for 60 yards and a touchdown. Davontae Merriweather's seven tackles paced the Rattlers defense, while Page had an interception.
Northern Arizona tallied 203 yards of offense compared to Arizona's 174. The Wranglers had a 222 yards passing to the Rattlers 80, while the Rattlers had an advantage in the rushing game of 118 yards. Northern Arizona was penalized 19 times for 131 yards and Arizona was flagged 11 times for 87 yards. The Rattlers had a 28-second edge in time of possession.
Click for our complete 2023 IFL Schedule. Next week's conference championship games will be streamed live on the IFL's Official YouTube Channel. SCtoC will present previews of those in the board of the home team in each game.
- ANM
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