Post by Monika on Apr 14, 2024 21:49:33 GMT -8
Strike Force 55, Rattlers 45
4/14/24 --
GLENDALE, AZ - For the first time in eight historical tries, the San Diego Strike Force have emerged on the winning side of a matchup over the Arizona Rattlers.
San Diego's 55-45 win today at Desert Diamond Arena not only lifted the Strike Force to a perfect 3-0 record on the season, but it marks the first victory in five years over the perennial Western Conference Rattlers. The teams first met during the Strike Force's 2019 inaugural season. San Diego sits atop the conference standings. They're tied with the Vegas Knight Hawks and Bay Area Panthers with identical records, but the Strike Force have the better conference record than their conference foes, giving them the tiebreaker.
The Rattlers fell to 1-3 on the season and have not won a game since their season opener against the Northern Arizona Wranglers on March 16. The Strike Force and Rattlers renew their rivalry on June 8 at San Diego. Arizona leads the overall series now 7-1 with marks of 4-1 at home and 3-0 on the road.
The Rattlers struck first on a Dawson Evitts' 31-yard field goal a little over 10 minutes into the game. The Strike Force struck back when Nate Davis hit Jordan Kress on a five-yard touchdown pass a minute later. The point after try failed and the Strike Force had a 6-3 lead by the end of the first quarter.
Carl Odom's two-yard scoring run put Arizona back in front early in the second. That was countered by a 32-yard touchdown scamper by San Diego's Chance Bell. Stevie Artigue hit the deuce on the following kickoff to put the Strike Force up by five. Evitts nailed another field goal; this one of 23 yards to pull the Rattlers closer. Rudy Johnson, who entered the game for Davis, hit Arthur Jackson III across the middle. Jackson caught the ball, turned and sprinted for what would turn out to be a 30-yard touchdown. Davis apparently had suffered a rib injury, it was announced later by the television announcing team. The Rattlers pulled closer once again on a three-yard score from Lorenzo Brown, Jr. to Glen Gibbons, Jr. The Strike Force held a 22-19 advantage at intermission.
The teams traded scores for much of the second half. Johnson extended the Strike Force lead to 10 points with a 13-yard run to start the third quarter. Brown then hit Gibbons for 11 yards to pull the Rattlers back to within three with 4:21 remaining in the quarter. Bell rushed from a yard out late in the quarter and San Diego's lead was 35-26 entering the fourth.
Brown found Gibbons a minute into the fourth quarter on a 25-yard touchdown toss. However, the Strike Force responded with a 40-yard touchdown from Johnson to Jackson less than two minutes later. Brown hit Garrett Kettle, his backup quarterback, on a 12-yard touchdown pass and San Diego's lead was once again two points. That's when the Strike Force took over. Bell exploded for another touchdown run. With Arizona driving deep into Strike Force territory, Brown was intercepted by Justic'e King, who returned the pick 51 yards for what seemed like the score which would seal the game. Jamal Miles scored for the Rattlers on a one-yard run with 34 seconds remaining, but the Rattlers were unable to complete the comeback.
Johnson completed four of seven passes for 86 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions. He also rushed for 44 yards and a score. Bell had a breakout night with 11 carries for 118 yards and three touchdowns on the ground. Jackson caught just two passes for 70 yards, but both went for long touchdowns. Sherrod Williams led the defense with eight tackles and a sack, and Atoa Fox added 7.5 tackles of his own. King added 6.5 tackles to his interception return for touchdown.
With Davis in the game, San Diego is a lopsided, pass-heavy team. When Johnson entered the game following Davis' injury, the Strike Force found their running game which set up Bell's big night and Johnson's effectiveness on the ground.
Brown finished 20 of 38 for 198 yards with four touchdowns and a pair of interceptions. He also rushed for 44 yards off nine carries. Gibbons, who has found a career resurgence with the Rattlers, caught eight passes for 94 yards and a trio of touchdowns. Jarmaine Doubs's four tackles led the Rattlers.
Arizona slightly outgained San Diego 267 yards to 259 yards. The Rattlers had a 95-yard advantage in the passing game, while the Strike Force had a 87-yard edge in the running game. The Strike Force were penalized seven times for 37 yards and the Rattlers received four flags for 63 yards.
The Rattlers will visit the Iowa Barnstormers on April 20 with kickoff set for 5:05 p.m. The Strike Force will visit the defending champion Bay Area Panthers on April 20 for a 5:05 pm. kickoff. Times listed are pacific daylight time.
Both games, as well as all IFL games this season, will be streamed live on the IFL YouTube Channel and Caffeine TV IFL. 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. Click for our complete IFL 2024 Schedule.
4/14/24 --
GLENDALE, AZ - For the first time in eight historical tries, the San Diego Strike Force have emerged on the winning side of a matchup over the Arizona Rattlers.
San Diego's 55-45 win today at Desert Diamond Arena not only lifted the Strike Force to a perfect 3-0 record on the season, but it marks the first victory in five years over the perennial Western Conference Rattlers. The teams first met during the Strike Force's 2019 inaugural season. San Diego sits atop the conference standings. They're tied with the Vegas Knight Hawks and Bay Area Panthers with identical records, but the Strike Force have the better conference record than their conference foes, giving them the tiebreaker.
The Rattlers fell to 1-3 on the season and have not won a game since their season opener against the Northern Arizona Wranglers on March 16. The Strike Force and Rattlers renew their rivalry on June 8 at San Diego. Arizona leads the overall series now 7-1 with marks of 4-1 at home and 3-0 on the road.
The Rattlers struck first on a Dawson Evitts' 31-yard field goal a little over 10 minutes into the game. The Strike Force struck back when Nate Davis hit Jordan Kress on a five-yard touchdown pass a minute later. The point after try failed and the Strike Force had a 6-3 lead by the end of the first quarter.
Carl Odom's two-yard scoring run put Arizona back in front early in the second. That was countered by a 32-yard touchdown scamper by San Diego's Chance Bell. Stevie Artigue hit the deuce on the following kickoff to put the Strike Force up by five. Evitts nailed another field goal; this one of 23 yards to pull the Rattlers closer. Rudy Johnson, who entered the game for Davis, hit Arthur Jackson III across the middle. Jackson caught the ball, turned and sprinted for what would turn out to be a 30-yard touchdown. Davis apparently had suffered a rib injury, it was announced later by the television announcing team. The Rattlers pulled closer once again on a three-yard score from Lorenzo Brown, Jr. to Glen Gibbons, Jr. The Strike Force held a 22-19 advantage at intermission.
The teams traded scores for much of the second half. Johnson extended the Strike Force lead to 10 points with a 13-yard run to start the third quarter. Brown then hit Gibbons for 11 yards to pull the Rattlers back to within three with 4:21 remaining in the quarter. Bell rushed from a yard out late in the quarter and San Diego's lead was 35-26 entering the fourth.
Brown found Gibbons a minute into the fourth quarter on a 25-yard touchdown toss. However, the Strike Force responded with a 40-yard touchdown from Johnson to Jackson less than two minutes later. Brown hit Garrett Kettle, his backup quarterback, on a 12-yard touchdown pass and San Diego's lead was once again two points. That's when the Strike Force took over. Bell exploded for another touchdown run. With Arizona driving deep into Strike Force territory, Brown was intercepted by Justic'e King, who returned the pick 51 yards for what seemed like the score which would seal the game. Jamal Miles scored for the Rattlers on a one-yard run with 34 seconds remaining, but the Rattlers were unable to complete the comeback.
Johnson completed four of seven passes for 86 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions. He also rushed for 44 yards and a score. Bell had a breakout night with 11 carries for 118 yards and three touchdowns on the ground. Jackson caught just two passes for 70 yards, but both went for long touchdowns. Sherrod Williams led the defense with eight tackles and a sack, and Atoa Fox added 7.5 tackles of his own. King added 6.5 tackles to his interception return for touchdown.
With Davis in the game, San Diego is a lopsided, pass-heavy team. When Johnson entered the game following Davis' injury, the Strike Force found their running game which set up Bell's big night and Johnson's effectiveness on the ground.
Brown finished 20 of 38 for 198 yards with four touchdowns and a pair of interceptions. He also rushed for 44 yards off nine carries. Gibbons, who has found a career resurgence with the Rattlers, caught eight passes for 94 yards and a trio of touchdowns. Jarmaine Doubs's four tackles led the Rattlers.
Arizona slightly outgained San Diego 267 yards to 259 yards. The Rattlers had a 95-yard advantage in the passing game, while the Strike Force had a 87-yard edge in the running game. The Strike Force were penalized seven times for 37 yards and the Rattlers received four flags for 63 yards.
The Rattlers will visit the Iowa Barnstormers on April 20 with kickoff set for 5:05 p.m. The Strike Force will visit the defending champion Bay Area Panthers on April 20 for a 5:05 pm. kickoff. Times listed are pacific daylight time.
Both games, as well as all IFL games this season, will be streamed live on the IFL YouTube Channel and Caffeine TV IFL. 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. Click for our complete IFL 2024 Schedule.
-MMM
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