PHOENIX — The WWE might have invaded the Footprint Center one night earlier, but it was the Arizona Rattlers who delivered a 55-38 “smackdown” to the Frisco Fighters on Saturday to claim home-field advantage throughout the upcoming Indoor Football League playoffs.
“We played with a lot of energy and effort tonight,” Rattlers Head Coach Kevin Guy said after the game. “I’m happy for the team and for Rattler Nation. It was a tremendous atmosphere in here tonight and I’m very pleased we get to stay here and have the playoffs run through the desert.”
In a battle between the top two teams in the IFL in terms of record with the #1 playoff seed on the line, the Rattlers played perhaps their most complete game all season to win their fifth straight overall and finish 7-0 at home in the regular season.
“Our coaching staff did a great job of game planning this week and calling plays tonight,” Rattlers quarterback Drew Powell said after the win. “Frisco challenged me to throw and I executed what was there. We put in the work and it paid off.”
Arizona (12-2) scored on their opening drive with Jarrod Harrington taking a jet sweep for 15 yards to the right side for a touchdown against the IFL’s top defense in terms of yards allowed. Ernesto Lacayo hit the PAT to make it 7-0 with 10:39 left in the first.
Frisco immediately responded with quarterback Malik Henry scooping up a bad snap and firing an 18-yard touchdown strike to Bryce Wilkerson, who made an amazing catch in coverage before smashing into the corner padding. Kristov Martinez hit the PAT to tie the game at 7-7.
Facing 3rd-and-9 on the ensuing drive, Powell found receiver Troy Pelletier from 10 yards out on a crossing pattern to give Arizona the lead again.
But one play later, Henry lofted a perfect spiral to former University of Texas QB/WR Jarrod Heard for a 36-yard TD. Martinez’s PAT leveled the score at 14-14 after one quarter.
The defenses continued to struggle to start the second quarter. Frisco was whistled for a pair of defensive penalties, leading to a 18-yard TD strike from Powell to wideout Jamal Miles. Lacayo’s PAT put Arizona up 21-14 with 12 minutes to go before halftime.
Looking to tie the game yet again, Frisco had to settle for a Martinez 26-yard field goal as the Rattlers’ defense stepped up to force a 4th and long situation. Arizona held a 21-17 lead with 4:34 left in the second quarter.
Powell, the IFL’s leading rusher and leader in rushing touchdowns, cashed in from a yard out on the next drive. The two teams got into a small skirmish after Powell ducked and dodged past three Fighters defenders. Lacayo made the PAT to put Arizona up 28-17 at the one-minute warning.
Needing a defensive stop, the Rattlers got it on the Fighters’ next series. Henry unleashed a dart downfield that was deflected and picked off by Dillion Winfrey who snagged the ball just before it touched the turf.
“That pass was tipped by Tyrell Pearson who has been playing great all year,” Winfrey explained. “But my teammates count on me and I like that. This defense is now making plays for each other.”
Guy agreed.
“I like our defense,” the head coach said. “They are starting to really grasp our schemes and since they’ve done that, we are playing at a high level.”
The turnover led to a 25-yard field goal by Lacayo that gave Arizona a 31-17 halftime lead. The crowd of 5,808 roared in appreciation as the Rattlers made their way to the locker room.
Frisco (10-3) didn’t take long to erase the two-score margin as the third quarter began. Heard snared a 4-yard looping pass from Henry for a TD. The play was challenged by Guy on whether Heard broke the plane of the end zone but the call on the field stood after review. Martinez made the kick to trim Arizona’s lead to 31-24 with 11:36 left in the third quarter.
After a failed Frisco onside kick, Powell bulled in for his 35th rushing TD of the season. Frisco Head Coach Clint Dolezel challenged that a false start occurred but the TD stood after review. Lacayo was good to make to 38-24 Rattlers with 8:43 left in the third.
The Rattlers’ defense hurt itself on the next drive with penalties but no damage was done as Martinez missed a 31-yard field goal.
As the third quarter ended, the Rattlers held a 14-point lead as the wild crowd was making its presence felt. They got even louder when Powell found Darrell Monroe with a 9-yard TD strike with 12:13 remaining. Lacayo hit the PAT to make it 45-24 Arizona.
Frisco needed a quick score and they got it, getting into the end zone in less than 5 plays on a 4-yard run by DeMarcus Felton. Martinez’s PAT was good but the Fighters still trailed 45-31 with 7:50 left in the game.
Frisco needed to recover an onside kick but it turned into a disaster for them as the dribbler was corralled in the middle of the field by Arizona’s Devontae Merriweather who danced into the end zone from 7 yards away. Arizona led 52-31 after Lacayo’s kick with 6:47 left in the game.
Henry was injured and Heard entered at quarterback, scoring from 21 yards out to bring Frisco within 52-38.
Another failed Frisco onside kick led to Lacayo’s second successful field goal of the game — this one from 24 yards out — to make it 55-38 with 2:12 left.
As the clock ticked down, Winfrey intercepted Heard to put the icing on the cake. It was Winfrey’s league-leading 11th INT and 7th pick in the past 3 games.
“A lot of these picks for Dillion are occurring because other guys are doing their jobs at a high level,” Guy explained. “It’s letting him do his job. Pressure, pick, cover, sack — it’s what we live by.”
Frisco challenged Powell to beat them through the air and the league MVP candidate did just that, completing 14-of-19 passes for 167 yards, 3 TDs and no INTs. He added 19 more yards on the ground and 2 more scores.
“Drew can throw it just as well as he can run it,” Guy said.
Harrington had one rushing score while Monroe, Pelletier and Miles each tallied one receiving TD. In addition to his onside kick recovery TD,
Merriweather led Arizona with 7.5 tackles in the game.
Heard paced Frisco with 3 total TDs — two receiving and one rushing. Henry threw for 3 scores before leaving due to injury.
As the IFL’s top playoff seed, Arizona will host the longtime rival Sioux Falls Storm (6-7) on Sunday, Aug. 29 at the Footprint Center. Kickoff is set for 3:05 p.m.
Sioux Falls is an opponent that Arizona is very familiar with in the postseason. After the Rattlers won the United Bowl 50-41 in Sioux Falls in 2017, the Storm have knocked the Rattlers from the playoffs both in 2018 (69-68 home semifinal loss in OT) and 2019 (56-53 home United Bowl loss).
“They know us well — we know them well,” Guy said. “It’s all going to come down to execution.”
Other opening round IFL playoff games set for Saturday, Aug. 28 include (7) Bismarck at (2) Massachusetts, (6) Spokane at (3) Frisco and (5) Duke City at (4) Iowa.
“There’s a ton of parity in this league,” Guy said. “It should be fun.”
Matt Loeschman
Editor | Daily Independent | mloeschman@newszap.com
I have edited and written about almost everything in my 20-year journalism career, but I have a strong passion for sports since my father was a teacher and coach when I was young.
My job has allowed me to meet many influential people, including Hillary Clinton, Al Gore (I have a brief, on-camera part in his second movie), George Strait, Matthew McConaughey and several world-class athletes.
I have worked for Independent Newsmedia on two separate occasions – 2000-09 and 2018-present – after studying journalism at the University of Texas at Austin.
Twitter: @MattLoeschman
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Home sweet home field: Rattlers ground Fighters 55-38, lock up IFL's top seed - Your Valley
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