Post by alecs on Apr 28, 2024 17:38:52 GMT -8
Rattlers 55, Sharks 35
4/28/24 --
GLENDALE, AZ - A storied rivalry originating in the Arena Football League days launched a new chapter on Sunday evening at Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale, with a contest between the Jacksonville Sharks and Arizona Rattlers. Led by an effective offense and opportunistic defense, the host Rattlers dispatched their former AFL rivals to the tune of a 55-35 win, their second consecutive week coming out on top.
Arizona began the game with the football but were thwarted on fourth down by the Sharks defense. Taking over at their own ten yard line, Jacksonville embarked on a drive and put up the first touchdown of the game, with a five-yard pass from Fred Payton, Jr. to Kamrin Solomon. The Sharks defense stayed resolute on its second drive, holding Arizona to a field goal attempt of 35 yards, which Dawson Evitts converted for the Rattlers. He would then add a deuce on the ensuing kickoff, making the score 7-5 Sharks after one quarter of play.
After forcing the Sharks into a turnover on downs, Arizona would take its first lead of the game with a one-yard rushing score by Shannon Brooks. Jacksonville would respond with a Payton-to-Payton connection, with quarterback Fred finding his receiver, Jeremiah, for a three-yard passing score. Arizona countered late in the second quarter with a 16-yard pass from Dalton Sneed to Jamal Miles. A few seconds into the one-minute warning, Boom Williams took a shotgun draw and shot up the middle for a 17-yard scamper. The Rattlers had the last laugh, however, with Brooks taking in another one-yard rushing touchdown as the second quarter timer expired. Brooks' second tally put his Rattlers ahead 26-21 heading into the break.
The Sharks received the second half kickoff, one that saw D.J. Stubbs dash the length of the field for a 54-yard kickoff return touchdown. Sneed and the Rattlers would face fourth down on their ensuing drive, but Sneed found a wide open Miles in the endzone for a 25-yard touchdown pass. The two sides would trade turnovers shortly after, with a Rattler interception by Omar Alexander followed up by a fumble recovery by Sir'Zion Dance of the Sharks. A missed 40-yard field goal by Frankie Onate of Jacksonville would award the ball back to the Rattlers, who carried a 33-28 lead into the final quarter.
Two minutes into the fourth quarter, Sneed took a rush himself for a nine-yard score, increasing the Rattler lead to 12 points. The Sharks were unable to respond, turning the ball over on downs deep in Arizona territory. The defense, however, gave Jacksonville new life when a Sneed pass got intercepted by Harrison Poole to set the Sharks right back up inside Arizona's 15-yard line. They would cash that opportunity in with a five-yard rushing touchdown from Williams. The Rattlers distanced themselves once more when Brooks took in his third rushing touchdown from four yards out. Following a series of costly penalties sending Jacksonville back 25 yards, they would eventually be called for an offensive holding, a play that would result in an Arizona safety since it took place in the Sharks' own endzone. With roughly 30 seconds to go, Sneed would deliver the knockout punch with a one-yard keeper down the left side. In all, the Rattlers hop back to a .500 record on the season, keeping the Sharks winless with the 55-35 win.
Dalton Sneed made his return as the starting quarterback of the Rattlers following a four-game injury absence, dialing up 18 completions on 26 pass attempts with 176 yards, with two touchdowns and an interception. He added eight carries for 36 yards and two touchdowns on the ground. Shannon Brooks recorded three touchdowns on 11 carries for 29 yards, while Corey Reed (5/60/0) and Jamal Miles (5/58/2) paced the Rattler receiving corps. Collin Taylor led Arizona defenders with eight tackles, while Jamiyus Pittman logged a sack, and Omar Alexander recorded an interception in the win.
In the Jacksonville loss, Fred Payton, Jr. completed 14 of 20 passes for 150 yards, with two touchdowns and an interception. Boom Williams rushed 11 times for 52 yards and two touchdowns. Jeremiah Payton (6/81/1) and Kamrin Solomon (4/39/1) led Jacksonville's receivers. Jabari Gorman made waves on defense with 16 total tackles, Sir'Zion Dance recovered a fumble, and Harrison Poole got his hands on an interception.
Arizona convincingly outgained Jacksonville, logging 267 yards of offense compared to 193 for the Sharks. The Sharks turned the ball over just once, compared to two giveaways for the Rattlers. Jacksonville lost 73 yards on 11 penalties against, while Arizona was far cleaner with just four penalties totaling 22 yards.
Though these two franchises have met before when both were members of the AFL from 2010 to 2016, tonight was their first encounter as IFL members. There will be a return game in this series, set for Saturday June 1, down in Duval County at VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena in Jacksonville.
The Sharks (0-5) will visit the Tulsa Oilers (3-2) on Friday May 3 for a 5:05 p.m. kickoff. The Rattlers (3-3) are on a bye next week, but will be back in action on Saturday May 11 when they visit the Tucson Sugar Skulls (1-4) with kickoff set for 6:05 p.m.. 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.
4/28/24 --
GLENDALE, AZ - A storied rivalry originating in the Arena Football League days launched a new chapter on Sunday evening at Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale, with a contest between the Jacksonville Sharks and Arizona Rattlers. Led by an effective offense and opportunistic defense, the host Rattlers dispatched their former AFL rivals to the tune of a 55-35 win, their second consecutive week coming out on top.
Arizona began the game with the football but were thwarted on fourth down by the Sharks defense. Taking over at their own ten yard line, Jacksonville embarked on a drive and put up the first touchdown of the game, with a five-yard pass from Fred Payton, Jr. to Kamrin Solomon. The Sharks defense stayed resolute on its second drive, holding Arizona to a field goal attempt of 35 yards, which Dawson Evitts converted for the Rattlers. He would then add a deuce on the ensuing kickoff, making the score 7-5 Sharks after one quarter of play.
After forcing the Sharks into a turnover on downs, Arizona would take its first lead of the game with a one-yard rushing score by Shannon Brooks. Jacksonville would respond with a Payton-to-Payton connection, with quarterback Fred finding his receiver, Jeremiah, for a three-yard passing score. Arizona countered late in the second quarter with a 16-yard pass from Dalton Sneed to Jamal Miles. A few seconds into the one-minute warning, Boom Williams took a shotgun draw and shot up the middle for a 17-yard scamper. The Rattlers had the last laugh, however, with Brooks taking in another one-yard rushing touchdown as the second quarter timer expired. Brooks' second tally put his Rattlers ahead 26-21 heading into the break.
The Sharks received the second half kickoff, one that saw D.J. Stubbs dash the length of the field for a 54-yard kickoff return touchdown. Sneed and the Rattlers would face fourth down on their ensuing drive, but Sneed found a wide open Miles in the endzone for a 25-yard touchdown pass. The two sides would trade turnovers shortly after, with a Rattler interception by Omar Alexander followed up by a fumble recovery by Sir'Zion Dance of the Sharks. A missed 40-yard field goal by Frankie Onate of Jacksonville would award the ball back to the Rattlers, who carried a 33-28 lead into the final quarter.
Two minutes into the fourth quarter, Sneed took a rush himself for a nine-yard score, increasing the Rattler lead to 12 points. The Sharks were unable to respond, turning the ball over on downs deep in Arizona territory. The defense, however, gave Jacksonville new life when a Sneed pass got intercepted by Harrison Poole to set the Sharks right back up inside Arizona's 15-yard line. They would cash that opportunity in with a five-yard rushing touchdown from Williams. The Rattlers distanced themselves once more when Brooks took in his third rushing touchdown from four yards out. Following a series of costly penalties sending Jacksonville back 25 yards, they would eventually be called for an offensive holding, a play that would result in an Arizona safety since it took place in the Sharks' own endzone. With roughly 30 seconds to go, Sneed would deliver the knockout punch with a one-yard keeper down the left side. In all, the Rattlers hop back to a .500 record on the season, keeping the Sharks winless with the 55-35 win.
Dalton Sneed made his return as the starting quarterback of the Rattlers following a four-game injury absence, dialing up 18 completions on 26 pass attempts with 176 yards, with two touchdowns and an interception. He added eight carries for 36 yards and two touchdowns on the ground. Shannon Brooks recorded three touchdowns on 11 carries for 29 yards, while Corey Reed (5/60/0) and Jamal Miles (5/58/2) paced the Rattler receiving corps. Collin Taylor led Arizona defenders with eight tackles, while Jamiyus Pittman logged a sack, and Omar Alexander recorded an interception in the win.
In the Jacksonville loss, Fred Payton, Jr. completed 14 of 20 passes for 150 yards, with two touchdowns and an interception. Boom Williams rushed 11 times for 52 yards and two touchdowns. Jeremiah Payton (6/81/1) and Kamrin Solomon (4/39/1) led Jacksonville's receivers. Jabari Gorman made waves on defense with 16 total tackles, Sir'Zion Dance recovered a fumble, and Harrison Poole got his hands on an interception.
Arizona convincingly outgained Jacksonville, logging 267 yards of offense compared to 193 for the Sharks. The Sharks turned the ball over just once, compared to two giveaways for the Rattlers. Jacksonville lost 73 yards on 11 penalties against, while Arizona was far cleaner with just four penalties totaling 22 yards.
Though these two franchises have met before when both were members of the AFL from 2010 to 2016, tonight was their first encounter as IFL members. There will be a return game in this series, set for Saturday June 1, down in Duval County at VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena in Jacksonville.
The Sharks (0-5) will visit the Tulsa Oilers (3-2) on Friday May 3 for a 5:05 p.m. kickoff. The Rattlers (3-3) are on a bye next week, but will be back in action on Saturday May 11 when they visit the Tucson Sugar Skulls (1-4) with kickoff set for 6:05 p.m.. 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.
-AS
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