PHOENIX — Facing the best team they’ve seen so far this season, the Arizona Rattlers’ defense totally flipped the script by allowing just 7 second-half points in a 56-35 victory over the Spokane Shock on Friday night at Phoenix Suns Arena.
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PHOENIX — Facing the best team they’ve seen so far this season, the Arizona Rattlers’ defense totally flipped the script by allowing just 7 second-half points in a 56-35 victory over the Spokane Shock on Friday night at Phoenix Suns Arena.
“It was a tight ballgame and unfortunately their quarterback got hurt at the end of the first half,” explained Rattlers Head Coach Kevin Guy. “Our defense came up with big stops late in the half and I thought we played well throughout the second half. We stacked the box and dared them to beat us with the pass.”
With starting quarterback Charles McCullum out of the game due to injury, Shock receiver Jordan Jolly was pressed into duty under center. He finished just 2-of-11 passing with an interception as the Rattlers’ D pinned its ears back in the second half.
“It’s impressive to give up 7 points in a half in this league,” said Rattlers defensive lineman Nik D’Avanzo. “All week in practice it was about finishing. We did that tonight.”
Jolly did score on a 2-yard scramble to start the third quarter and Sawyer Petre made the PAT. It would be the last points Spokane would see all night as they took a 35-30 lead.
The Rattlers’ Jamal Miles, subbing at running back for the injured Darrell Monroe, scored on a 4-yard scamper to take the lead back.
“Jamal brings speed on the corners and hit the holes quick,” Guy said. “He causes matchup issues for the defense.”
One of several big defensive plays highlighted the next Spokane drive. Moving toward the end zone, Jolly tossed a pass toward the right sideboards. Arizona’s Montavious Atkinson made a diving INT as the crowd went wild.
It wouldn’t take long for Rattlers QB Drew Powell to cash in. The leading rusher in the IFL exploded up the middle for a 36-yard score to put the Rattlers up by 8.
“Drew is very dynamic,” Guy said. “He can extend drives with his feet.”
Powell said he saw a huge open lane.
“I made one guy miss and then no one else was there,” he said. “I just took advantage of that. It’s instinctive.”
Another fourth down stop gave Arizona all the momentum. Troy Pelletier then scored a rushing TD and Braxton Haley hauled in a 23-yard TD from Powell, putting the finishing touches on a 26-0 scoring run and a 21-point win.
“We need to get a bit more disciplined and more consistent week to week,” Guy said. “But this was a good win.”
Early on, the Rattlers’ defense forced a fourth down on the game’s initial drive, but Spokane converted and later McCullum scrambled 9 yards for the game’s first score. Petre added the PAT to make it 7-0.
Arizona (5-1) immediately responded as Monroe rushed in from 9 yards. Ernesto Lacayo’s kick tied the game at 7-7 with 7:19 left in the first.
Spokane took control on their next possession with Troy Evans Jr. hauling in a 21-yard strike from McCullum. Petre converted to make it 14-7 Spokane at the 4:13 mark of the first.
The Shock D got involved on the next series as Powell was sacked behind the line on the boards on fourth down. As the quarter changed, Arizona’s defense stepped up to force a 20-yard field goal attempt by Petre. The kick was blocked and Rattlers still trailed by 7.
After Powell was picked off by Mike Green on a remarkable one-handed play in the end zone, Arizona’s defensive line made the play of the half.
With Spokane (4-2) inside its own 5, the Rattlers’ Craig Evans blasted through the line and forced McCullum to veer to his right. D’Avanzo was right there to blast McCullum into the end boards for a safety. Arizona still trailed 14-9 but stole the momentum.
“Our defense did a great job on that play,” D’Avanzo said. “I feel like this is the first time this season we have really finished like we wanted to.”
Feeding off a crowd of 4,389, Arizona’s offense responded with a quality drive against Spokane's top-ranked defense that ended in a score and the home team’s first lead of the night. Powell lofted a feathered pass to the corner of the end zone where Monroe was all alone. The 5-yard TD and Lacayo’s kick gave the Rattlers a 16-14 lead with 4:38 left before halftime.
The teams traded scores as McCullum had a 6-yard TD scramble countered by Powell’s 14-yard QB scamper for a touchdown.
Leading 23-21, the Rattlers attempted an onside kick but it failed, leading to a 1-yard TD walk-in by McCullum with :42 left in the half.
Powell responded with a 17-yard TD run at the :33 mark and Arizona led 30-28.
An Arizona sack on Spokane’s last drive of the half forced Petre into a 33-yard field goal miss at the halftime buzzer. The Rattlers led 30-28 at the break.
Arizona’s Powell led the way on the ground with 103 yards rushing and 3 TDs. He threw 2 TDs and had one INT on 8 of 13 passing for 84 yards.
Monroe and Haley each had one TD receiving. Monroe added another TD on the ground before leaving due to injury.
Defensively, Arizona finished the night with 10 pass breakups, 9 tackles for loss and 4 sacks.
The Rattlers will next head down to face in-state rival Tucson on Saturday, July 3. Kickoff is set for 6:05 p.m. and the game can be seen live on YouTube.
“This was the most complete game we’ve played this season,” D’Avanzo said. “It’s something to build on.”
Matt Loeschman Editor | Daily Independent @MattLoeschman
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.
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