Post by alecs on Jun 8, 2024 20:43:02 GMT -8
Rattlers 47, Strike Force 46
6/8/24 --
SAN DIEGO, CA - Pechanga Arena hosted a crucial Western Conference matchup on Saturday evening, pitting the Arizona Rattlers and San Diego Strike Force against each other, with the two teams tied at fourth place in the Conference Standings. The two talented rivals treated fans to a stellar game, one that saw the Rattlers make clutch plays on both ends of the ball in crunch time, none larger than a touchdown with 16 seconds to go to put Arizona on top. In the end, the Rattlers get the pivotal win over the Strike Force, 47-46.
Though Arizona opened the game with the ball, San Diego took it away immediately, as Atoa Fox intercepted Dalton Sneed's opening pass of the game. A few plays later, the Strike Force would open the scoring on a 15-yard pass from Nate Davis to Arthur Jackson III. Sneed would redeem himself with a touchdown pass of eight yards to Jamal Miles with his next possession. A second touchdown pass from Davis, this time to Elijah Lilly on a five-yard connection, put San Diego back on top by seven, as the first quarter closed.
Carl Odom immediately started the second quarter with a two-yard rushing touchdown to tie the ballgame. Arizona would get its big break shortly after, with Kevin Simes Jr. snatching a pick-six to boost the Rattlers to their first lead of the evening. Set for redemption, Davis found another touchdown pass to Isiah Cox to level the game again. The teams would trade quick turnovers late in the second quarter, with Odom losing a fumble to Tevita Mo'Unga, and Dillon Winfrey intercepting Nate Davis shortly after. With 16 seconds on the clock, Sneed darted a 12-yard touchdown pass to Corey Reed Jr. Disaster struck for San Diego just before halftime, as Davis tossed his third interception of the game, and the second of which that would result in a pick-six. This one was brought down by Jarmaine Doubs, whose house call increased the Rattler lead to 13 at the midway point.
The Strike Force began the second half with the ball, and Rudy Johnson took in a run from 11 yards to reduce the deficit to six. A solid defensive effort by San Diego kept Arizona out of the endzone, with the Rattlers settling instead for a 22-yard field goal by Dawson Evitts. Elijah Lilly re-ignited a spark for San Diego with a 49-yard kickoff return for a touchdown, dropping the Rattler lead down to two points. Arizona would again be halted by San Diego's defense, going four-and-out on their next drive. San Diego would convert that into a go-ahead score, a 29-yard field goal by Conor Mangan. Having erased a two-score hole, the Strike Force led by one point with 15 minutes to play.
A lengthy Rattler drive to open the fourth quarter would again fail to cross the goal line, with Evitts called on to knock through a field goal of 18 yards to swing the lead back to Arizona. Moments later, Davis would find Jackson for another touchdown pass of three yards, and a successful drop-kick from Mangan pushed the lead out to six for the home team. The Strike Force defense would again come up big, intercepting Dalton Sneed once more thanks to Kishawn Walker. Though the Strike Force managed to spill more time off the clock with the ensuing possession, they could not add to the lead, with a 28-yard field goal attempt from Mangan missing wide left. The stand earned the Rattlers a chance at the tie or the lead, and that opportunity would be realized as Sneed connected with Isaiah Huston on a go-ahead seven-yard touchdown pass with 16 seconds on the clock. The time left gave San Diego a shot at a potential game-winning field goal, but Mangan missed the attempt from 30 yards, this time wide right, as time expired, allowing Arizona to escape with a 47-46 one-point win.
Dalton Sneed completed 15 of 34 passes for 147 yards, three touchdowns and three interceptions, while adding 29 yards on five carries. Carl Odom carried nine times for 13 yards and a touchdown. Nih-Jer Jackson led the Rattlers in receiving despite not finding the endzone (seven catches for 62 yards). Three Rattlers logged receiving touchdowns in Jamal Miles (4/35/1), Corey Redd Jr. (2/28/1), and Isaiah Huston (2/22/1). Davontae Merriweather registered a team-leading eight tackles, and three Arizona defensive backs had an interception (Jarmaine Doubs, Dillon Winfrey, and Kevin Simes Jr.)
Nate Davis tossed 20 completions on 29 pass attempts for 147 yards, with four touchdowns and three interceptions. Rudy Johnson rushed 11 times for 52 yards and a touchdown. Arthur Jackson III had four catches for 43 yards and two touchdowns. Elijah Lilly caught four passes for 41 yards and a touchdown. Tariq Thompson co-led Strike Force defenders with seven tackles, along with Atoa Fox who also tallied an interception. Kishawn Walker had the other two interceptions for San Diego's defense.
Offensive production was near identical, with Arizona's 196 yards compared to San Diego's 195. Both teams turned the ball over four times, resulting in a net zero turnover differential. Arizona was flagged 11 times for 78 yards, while San Diego got called for five penalties and 24 yards.
The two-game season series ends in a draw, with the road team winning both outings (San Diego won Week 5 in Glendale 55-45). On the all-time series, Arizona leads eight games to one, remaining perfect in San Diego.
The Rattlers (7-4) will host the Northern Arizona Wranglers (7-3) on Saturday June 15 for a 6:05 p.m. kickoff. The Strike Force (6-5) will visit the Bay Area Panthers (9-1) on Sunday June 16 with kickoff set for 3:05 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.
6/8/24 --
SAN DIEGO, CA - Pechanga Arena hosted a crucial Western Conference matchup on Saturday evening, pitting the Arizona Rattlers and San Diego Strike Force against each other, with the two teams tied at fourth place in the Conference Standings. The two talented rivals treated fans to a stellar game, one that saw the Rattlers make clutch plays on both ends of the ball in crunch time, none larger than a touchdown with 16 seconds to go to put Arizona on top. In the end, the Rattlers get the pivotal win over the Strike Force, 47-46.
Though Arizona opened the game with the ball, San Diego took it away immediately, as Atoa Fox intercepted Dalton Sneed's opening pass of the game. A few plays later, the Strike Force would open the scoring on a 15-yard pass from Nate Davis to Arthur Jackson III. Sneed would redeem himself with a touchdown pass of eight yards to Jamal Miles with his next possession. A second touchdown pass from Davis, this time to Elijah Lilly on a five-yard connection, put San Diego back on top by seven, as the first quarter closed.
Carl Odom immediately started the second quarter with a two-yard rushing touchdown to tie the ballgame. Arizona would get its big break shortly after, with Kevin Simes Jr. snatching a pick-six to boost the Rattlers to their first lead of the evening. Set for redemption, Davis found another touchdown pass to Isiah Cox to level the game again. The teams would trade quick turnovers late in the second quarter, with Odom losing a fumble to Tevita Mo'Unga, and Dillon Winfrey intercepting Nate Davis shortly after. With 16 seconds on the clock, Sneed darted a 12-yard touchdown pass to Corey Reed Jr. Disaster struck for San Diego just before halftime, as Davis tossed his third interception of the game, and the second of which that would result in a pick-six. This one was brought down by Jarmaine Doubs, whose house call increased the Rattler lead to 13 at the midway point.
The Strike Force began the second half with the ball, and Rudy Johnson took in a run from 11 yards to reduce the deficit to six. A solid defensive effort by San Diego kept Arizona out of the endzone, with the Rattlers settling instead for a 22-yard field goal by Dawson Evitts. Elijah Lilly re-ignited a spark for San Diego with a 49-yard kickoff return for a touchdown, dropping the Rattler lead down to two points. Arizona would again be halted by San Diego's defense, going four-and-out on their next drive. San Diego would convert that into a go-ahead score, a 29-yard field goal by Conor Mangan. Having erased a two-score hole, the Strike Force led by one point with 15 minutes to play.
A lengthy Rattler drive to open the fourth quarter would again fail to cross the goal line, with Evitts called on to knock through a field goal of 18 yards to swing the lead back to Arizona. Moments later, Davis would find Jackson for another touchdown pass of three yards, and a successful drop-kick from Mangan pushed the lead out to six for the home team. The Strike Force defense would again come up big, intercepting Dalton Sneed once more thanks to Kishawn Walker. Though the Strike Force managed to spill more time off the clock with the ensuing possession, they could not add to the lead, with a 28-yard field goal attempt from Mangan missing wide left. The stand earned the Rattlers a chance at the tie or the lead, and that opportunity would be realized as Sneed connected with Isaiah Huston on a go-ahead seven-yard touchdown pass with 16 seconds on the clock. The time left gave San Diego a shot at a potential game-winning field goal, but Mangan missed the attempt from 30 yards, this time wide right, as time expired, allowing Arizona to escape with a 47-46 one-point win.
Dalton Sneed completed 15 of 34 passes for 147 yards, three touchdowns and three interceptions, while adding 29 yards on five carries. Carl Odom carried nine times for 13 yards and a touchdown. Nih-Jer Jackson led the Rattlers in receiving despite not finding the endzone (seven catches for 62 yards). Three Rattlers logged receiving touchdowns in Jamal Miles (4/35/1), Corey Redd Jr. (2/28/1), and Isaiah Huston (2/22/1). Davontae Merriweather registered a team-leading eight tackles, and three Arizona defensive backs had an interception (Jarmaine Doubs, Dillon Winfrey, and Kevin Simes Jr.)
Nate Davis tossed 20 completions on 29 pass attempts for 147 yards, with four touchdowns and three interceptions. Rudy Johnson rushed 11 times for 52 yards and a touchdown. Arthur Jackson III had four catches for 43 yards and two touchdowns. Elijah Lilly caught four passes for 41 yards and a touchdown. Tariq Thompson co-led Strike Force defenders with seven tackles, along with Atoa Fox who also tallied an interception. Kishawn Walker had the other two interceptions for San Diego's defense.
Offensive production was near identical, with Arizona's 196 yards compared to San Diego's 195. Both teams turned the ball over four times, resulting in a net zero turnover differential. Arizona was flagged 11 times for 78 yards, while San Diego got called for five penalties and 24 yards.
The two-game season series ends in a draw, with the road team winning both outings (San Diego won Week 5 in Glendale 55-45). On the all-time series, Arizona leads eight games to one, remaining perfect in San Diego.
The Rattlers (7-4) will host the Northern Arizona Wranglers (7-3) on Saturday June 15 for a 6:05 p.m. kickoff. The Strike Force (6-5) will visit the Bay Area Panthers (9-1) on Sunday June 16 with kickoff set for 3:05 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