The Arizona Rattlers beat the Sand Diego Strike Force today, becoming the IFL western conference champions and gaining a shot at the IFL National Championship.
The Rattlers will now face off against the Massachusetts Pirates in the IFL National Championship on Saturday, August 17.
Last week in the first round of the playoffs, Rattlers quarterback, Dalton Sneed ran in a 1-yard walk off touchdown to upset the #2 seed Vegas Knight Hawks 39-38.
On the other side of the western conference the #4 seed San Diego Strike Force upset the #1 seed Bay Area Panthers 49-40.
Because of San Diego upsetting the number one seed, The Arizona Rattlers will have a home playoff game.
The Strike force were (11-6) coming into this game while the Arizona Rattlers were (12-5).
The first quarter was all rattlers thanks to 2 touchdowns from Dalton Sneed, 1 through the air and one on the ground to make it 14-0 Rattlers.
San Diego’s fortunes seemed to turn around as Quarterback Nate Davis found Receiver Arthur Jackson in the endzone from 15 yards out to make it 14-6. That was followed by a recovered onside kick by San Diego.
That onside kick would go to waste however Nate Davis is picked off by Rattlers corner Jarmaine Doubs jr. Off the turnover Dalton Sneed connected with receiver Nih-je Jackson for a 35-yard touchdown to make it 21-6.
San Diego would answer back with a touchdown of their own to make it 21-12 with a minute left.
Arizona would execute a perfect 1-minute drill ending with Dalton Sneed and Jamal Miles’s second touchdown connection of the game to make 28-12 rattlers, with 15.3 remaining.
That would prove to be too much time as Strike Force kicker Paul Ortiz connects on a 32-yard field goal to make it 28-15 going into halftime.
The Rattlers had a huge start to the second half as Nate Davis is picked off by Davontae Merriweather and he takes it all the way back to the house for 6, Rattlers now lead 34-15.
The next drive for San Diego wasn’t much better as Jarmaine Doubs jr. gets his second interception of the day, and this one went all the way back for a touchdown, to make it 41-15 Rattlers.
Because of the pick sixes the rattlers offense didn’t touch the ball till 2:37 left in the 3rd quarter.
After the game Rattlers linebacker Connor Taylor told Northeast Valley News,
“I mean I love pick sixes, but it’s a good thing we all have good conditioning,” Taylor said.
At the start of the 4th quarter Dalton Sneed runs in his 2nd rushing touchdown of the day to blow it open and make it 48-15.
The Strike Force would finally score, Nate Davis would take it himself from 12 yards out and complete a 2-point conversion to make 48-23 Rattlers.
The Rattlers recover the onside kick. That would result in a Dawson Evitts 20 yard field goal.
The Rattlers defense would continue to shine in garbage time as defensive back Dillon Winfrey picks off Davis for the Rattlers 4th of the game.
After the game Dalton Sneed, had some very high praise for his defense.
“It was a great gameplan by coach Guy, the quarterback we’re playing is one of the best in the league, he throws on time, he’s amazing, so coach did a great job game planning against that, taking away his easy throws, get some hits on him, once you get him off schedule, our dbs made some plays on the ball,” Sneed said.
The Rattlers would run up the score a little more with a 1-yard rushing touchdown from Shannon Brooks to make it 58-23
The time runs out and the Arizona Rattlers are the IFL western conference champions.
“One more game!” Coach Guy said.
The Arizona Rattlers will join the Massachusetts Pirates in Henderson, Nevada for the IFL Championship game on August 17.
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