2019 Arizona Rattlers Week 1 Game Preview
Published on February 22, 2019 under Indoor Football League (IFL)
Arizona Rattlers News Release
Phoenix, Ariz. - The Arizona Rattlers begin their 27th season of indoor football and their third year of Indoor Football League (IFL) competition on Sunday.
The 2019 campaign starts in Green Bay, where the Rattlers face the Blizzard. Arizona has won all five meetings against Green Bay since joining the IFL, including a 3-0 record versus the Blizzard last year.
In Arizona's 62-26 win over Green Bay on May 12, Rattlers Head Coach Kevin Guy tied Danny White as the winningest head coach in team history with 141. Guy has since surpassed White with 143 victories and is looking to build on that total as he enters his 11th season as Arizona's Head Coach and General Manager.
The Blizzard are looking to rebound from a last place finish in 2018. Head Coach Corey Roberson is entering his first full season at the helm after taking over mid-season and is aiming to get Green Bay back to the postseason for the first time since 2012.
Leading the returning players for Arizona is RB Darrell Monroe. The 2018 IFL Offensive Player of the Year and First Team All-IFL RB, Monroe led the league in rushing touchdowns and average yards per rush last season. He also set an IFL record by rushing for 11 touchdowns in a single game in the Rattlers' 84-83 win against Cedar Rapids on April 28.
Highlighting Green Bay's returning roster is IFL Hall of Famer B.J. Hill. Hill came back to the IFL in 2018 after a four-year hiatus and was the IFL's Special Teams Player of the Year, leading the league in kick return yards, kick return touchdowns, and all-purpose yards. Hill also led the Blizzard in rushing, finishing with 315 yards on 71 attempts.
On defense, the Rattlers return several of their top players from last season, led by DL Joshua Gordon. Gordon was first on the team in tackles for loss (14) and sacks (6.5), and second on the team in total tackles (54). Defensive end Chris McAllister finished with 10 tackles for loss (fifth in IFL), 3.5 sacks, three pass deflections, and one fumble recovery. Allen "Bubba" Chapman also had a strong 2018 campaign that saw him intercept four passes and defend 1.18 passes per game.
The Blizzard have retooled their defense this year and their roster includes veteran DB Joe Powell. Powell played for the Dallas Marshals of Champions Indoor Football (CIF) in 2017 and was a First Team Southern Conference selection. Powell played in the CIF last season with the Quad Cities Steamwheelers, where he had 42.5 total tackles, two interceptions and two fumble recoveries.
Arizona will debut a new kicker on Sunday as Jimmy Camacho takes over, replacing Sawyer Petre. Camacho made 25 of 32 field goals in 2017 at Fresno State, including a successful 50-yard attempt. Green Bay returns veteran kicker Cody Barber. Barber began last season with the Iowa Barnstormers and earned Special Teams Player of the Week honors in Week 1. He finished the year playing two games for the Blizzard, his hometown IFL team.
For Green Bay, this is the first of two home games to open their season. The Blizzard host the Rattlers on Sunday and then welcome in the Danger on March 1.
After this game, the Rattlers play their next four at Talking Stick Resort Arena and do not leave Arizona for a game until they travel to San Diego to play the Strike Force on April 22.
Sunday's game starts at 2:05 PM MST at the Resch Center and can be seen live on YouTube.
Indoor Football League Stories from February 22, 2019
- Storm Open 2019 Season in Cedar Rapids - Sioux Falls Storm
- 2019 Arizona Rattlers Week 1 Game Preview - Arizona Rattlers
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