2019 Week 15 Arizona Rattlers Game Preview at Cedar Rapids Titans

May 30, 2019 - Indoor Football League (IFL)
Arizona Rattlers News Release

Phoenix - The Arizona Rattlers (11-0) will play their final road game of the regular season this Saturday against the Cedar Rapids River Kings (1-10). This will be Arizona's second matchup of the season against the River Kings, and their first visit to the US Cellular Center since last season. Arizona previously beat Cedar Rapids 81-37 on March 3 in their season opener at Talking Stick Resort Arena.

This game will have playoff seeding implications for the Rattlers as they look to maintain their lead atop the Indoor Football League (IFL) standings, which currently sits at a half-game. A victory this weekend would give Arizona a full game lead over the Iowa Barnstormers (11-1), who are on a bye week.

The Rattlers pushed their winning streak to 11 games last week with a 62-47 victory over the Tucson Sugar Skulls at Tucson Arena, their third win over the Sugar Skulls this season.

QB Drew Powell led the offensive attack for Arizona, finishing with 180 passing yards and five touchdowns. He also had a game-high 83 rushing yards and two scores. WR Jarrod Harrington finished with a season-high 114 receiving yards along with three touchdowns. Harrington also returned a kickoff 50 yards for a touchdown, his first special teams score of the season. WR Jamal Miles also found the end zone twice, both coming in the first quarter versus Tucson.

As for Cedar Rapids, a 48-29 loss two weeks ago on the road against the Quad City Steamwheelers (5-7) marked their eighth consecutive defeat.

The River Kings offensive unit was led by QB Dalton Oliver, who completed 11-of-21 passes for 118 yards, three touchdowns, and one interception. WR Marquel Wade led Cedar Rapids with four receptions for 50 yards and a touchdown. His 49 receptions for 503 yards this season both rank in the top-10 for receivers in the IFL. WR Jordan Smith contributed two scores in the loss versus Quad City, while RB Nathaniel Chavious returned three kicks for 106 yards, including a 54-yard return for a touchdown.

Against Tucson, the Rattlers surrendered only 69 rushing yards on 3.3 yards per attempt. DL Lance McDowdell and DL Nik D'Avanzo each amassed four total tackles and one for a loss, and McDowdell also had a sack. DB Allen Chapman had five total tackles and a forced fumble, and DL Devin Cockrell added three tackles (one TFL) and one pass breakup in the victory. The Rattlers defensive unit leads the league in interceptions with 19 and are second in the IFL in sacks with 22.

The River Kings were able to contain the Steamwheelers rushing attack, allowing only 52 yards (3.7 ypa) last weekend. LB Jason Gibson led Cedar Rapids with six tackles while DL Samuel Mabany added two tackles for loss and one fumble recovery. The River Kings secondary allows the third-fewest passing yards per game in the league at 143.6.

Arizona's final game of their current three-game road trip is slated to kickoff at 5:05 p.m. AZT and all the action can be streamed live on YouTube.

The Arizona Rattlers defense smothers the Cedar Rapids Titans

Lance McDowdell of the Arizona Rattlers (right) vs. the Cedar Rapids Titans

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