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IFL Arizona Rattlers

Preview: Rattlers vs. Wranglers

June 30, 2022 - Indoor Football League (IFL)
Arizona Rattlers News Release


The six-time World Champion Arizona Rattlers take on the Northern Arizona Wranglers in what is arguably both teams' most important game of the 2022 season.

The Wranglers have the second-best record in the IFL, while the Rattlers stand behind them in third place.

"It's going to be super exciting playing in the Snake Pit in a huge game with a lot on the line," Rattlers running back Shannon Brooks said.

Last time out

Arizona fell to the Wranglers 37-34 in Prescott Valley on June 11, in a game that saw Northern Arizona score a game-winning touchdown with just 23 seconds left.

It was a rare mistake-laden game for the Rattlers, who fumbled six times and lost three of them. Arizona also allowed four sacks and gave the Wranglers a field goal attempt, which they converted on, after three penalties on a single drive.

"We fumbled the game away," Rattlers head coach Kevin Guy said. "Their defense was more physical than our offense.

"That's what we're up against this week. ...[Northern Arizona] keeps finding ways to win."

Since then

June's matchup was a battle of the league's top offense and the league's top defense. Three and a half weeks later, each unit will get yet another shot at its biggest foe.

The Rattlers still lead the IFL in points per game with 54.1, while the Wranglers are giving up a league-best 29.7. Northern Arizona possesses the best pass defense in the league, while Arizona leads the league in yards per attempt and ranks top-three in every major passing category.

"Those guys are active [defensively]," Rattlers quarterback and 2021 IFL MVP Drew Powell said. "It's about taking care of the football."

Brooks added: "They play really hard. That's the main thing for any defense. They tackle well."

Despite a statistically unimpressive offense, Wranglers quarterback Kaleb Barker has performed at a rate that is among the tops in the IFL in 2022. His passing numbers have fallen off since he last saw the Rattlers, but his numbers on the ground rival Arizona quarterback and 2021 IFL MVP Drew Powell.

"They do everything right," Rattlers defensive back Kyree Woods said of the Northern Arizona offense.

Locking in

The major theme at Rattlers' practices this week was making sure everyone's mindset was ready for such a big contest.

"Last game, we just let them have it too early," Arizona offensive lineman Lamar Mady said. "When we chose to knock up and buck up, it was too late."

Now, with just two games left in the season and two teams ahead of the Rattlers in the standings, the pressure is on.

"You feel it at practice and you feel it in the building," Powell said. "We are in playoff mode."

Powell put the earlier loss to the Wranglers on himself, and said he's the first line of defense when it comes to rallying the Rattlers.

"It starts with the quarterback position," Powell said. "Last time out, I dropped the football. It wasn't anybody else doing something to help us lose."

Arizona has responded well in 2022. After its first loss of the season came against the Sugar Skulls, the Rattlers forcefully shut the door on them in last week's rematch.

"I'm excited to see how we're going to respond," Arizona defensive back Dillon Winfrey said. "We're not going to do much talking and just get back out there. We got one back on Tucson and we're going to do the same to NAZ."

Mady succinctly summed up how the Rattlers feel about their prior loss to the Wranglers. "We take it personally," he said.



Indoor Football League Stories from June 30, 2022


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

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