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IFL Arizona Rattlers

Rattlers Take Down Sugar Skulls

June 26, 2022 - Indoor Football League (IFL)
Arizona Rattlers News Release


PHOENIX - The six-time World Champion Arizona Rattlers defeated the Tucson Sugar Skulls 54-24 in a rematch of May's 74-63 shootout on Saturday night.

The Rattlers shut down one of the IFL's most fearsome offenses in the win, holding the Sugar Skulls to an average of just 2.79 yards per play.

Slowing them down and pulling away

The Sugar Skulls have not been a team that has had success playing slow in 2022, as they were 3-1 coming into Saturday's game when leading in time of possession and were .500 when trailing.

Arizona was able to slow Tucson down in its win, which included a Sugar Skulls drive to open the game that lasted 7:39. Tucson came away with no points on the drive, and Arizona took a 7-0 lead shortly after thanks to a 27-yard touchdown pass from Rattlers quarterback and 2021 IFL MVP Drew Powell to wide receiver Braxton Haley.

"Everyone was getting to their spots [tonight]," Powell said. "...[We] played complementary football."

The Sugar Skulls ended up tying the game at 14 around the midway point of the second quarter, but it took them 7:36 of game clock to do so.

The Rattlers never looked back, as they scored twice before halftime to take a two-possession lead at the break. Haley was the game-breaker, catching his second touchdown of the game with six seconds left in the half from Powell, who threw a six-yard strike.

"We hadn't been home in a few weeks," Guy said. "I could tell there was a lot of energy tonight with our players coming in."

Haley the hero

It was a career-best game for the second-year pass catcher, as half of the passes (six) Haley caught on Saturday were touchdowns (three). His three scores and receiving yardage total of 129 yards were both the highest Haley has recorded in the IFL, and no other Rattlers receiver has recorded more than 100 yards in a game this season.

"We knew somebody was going to have a big night," Guy said. "[Tucson] played a lot of zone. We were ready for it. We designed our plays this week with the three or four zones they were going to be running and it was a matter of personnel.

"We didn't know who they were trying to take away."

Saturday was a long time coming for Haley, who said he regretted some of his behavior from prior seasons at the college and professional level.

"I remember [Rattlers offensive lineman] Lamar Mady get on me last year - he saw the potential in me," Haley said. "I needed to be more consistent.

"I was immature in college, honestly. I feel like I could have done a lot more. My whole life, I had a fair shot."

It appears that things have certainly changed for Haley.

"I got a lot of confidence this year," he said.

Haley's first two touchdowns were critical in the Rattlers' early game success, while his final one of the night was a 37-yard heave from Rattlers backup quarterback Demry Croft with 5:55 left in the game.

"I told the team before the game, 'I need everything you've got because that's what I'm going to give you,'" Haley said.

Defense the difference

The last time these two teams met, it was a shootout to the fullest degree, as Tucson beat the Rattlers 74-63 and delivered Arizona its first loss of the season. It's safe to say the Rattlers struck back on Saturday.

They held Tucson to their second-lowest point total of the 2022 season, forced three turnovers and stopped the Sugar Skulls on six of their nine possessions.

"We knew they were a little banged up coming into the game and we're starting to get healthy," Guy said. "...When our defense is ready to go, we can play with anybody. It's a matter of being dialed in and going out and executing."

Winfrey, like Guy, credited a better mindset from the defense on Saturday, saying that the matchup in Tucson wasn't the Rattlers' best effort.

"When we lost to Tucson, it was one guy missing a tackle, one guy's pursuit was terrible," he said. "This time, it was a better job tackling."



Indoor Football League Stories from June 26, 2022


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