Phoenix, AZ. – The six-time champion Arizona Rattlers (8-2) welcome the Duke City Gladiators (5-5) for their second matchup this season this Saturday, July 31 at 6:05 p.m. MST at the Footprint Center.
Arizona took the first meeting of the season in convincing style in Duke City, 51-36, back on June 19.
Kicker Ernesto Lacayo was awarded 'Week 15 Special Teams Player of the Week' on Wednesday for his performance against the Sioux Falls Storm. Lacayo was 8 for 8 PAT attempts and 1 for 1 in FG's in the 59-33 victory.
As the playoffs draw closer, the importance of each week ramps up. The Rattlers have now held first place in the IFL standings for five straight weeks.
Powell the Punisher is Setting Records
Quarterback Drew Powell gave the home crowd a thrilling performance last week against the Sioux Falls. Powell amassed 88 yards (661) on 16 attempts and finished the game with five touchdowns.
This performance increased Powell's IFL-leading rushing TD total to 24 on the season.
Powell also set a new career season-best for rushing TDs, as he surpassed his IFL MVP campaign total of 23 TDs with the Iowa Barnstormers back in 2018.
Powell's now only 284 rushing yards away from breaking his own IFL single-season QB rushing record set with Iowa that same MVP season.
The Rattlers starting QB currently leads the IFL in every major rushing category, to include rushing yards (661), rushing TDs (24), yards-per-carry (6.9) and rushing yards-per-game (66.1). The Rattlers' QB1 also ranks second in the league in scoring with 148 points on the season.
Arizona's offense continues to batter opponents on the ground week in and week out. The Rattlers are ranked at the top of the IFL in scoring offense (50.8 PPG), total offense (256.0 YPG) and rushing offense (122.4 YPG).
Powell and the Rattler rushing attack has scored 12 more rushing TDs, and averages over 20 yards more per game (122.4 YPG) than the next best rushing offense in the league (Sioux Falls | 100.5 YPG).
No Score Zone
The Rattler defense continues to dominate and are currently second in the league in scoring defense (36.7PPG) after another solid performance a week ago.
Defensive back Dillion Winfrey hauled in his third interception of the season against the Storm, which puts him tied for second in the IFL in INTs. Winfrey and fellow DB Tyrell Pearson are also tied for second in the league in passes defended (18).
The defensive line is causing chaos for opposing O-Lines as well, and defensive lineman Nik D'Avanzo is second in individual sacks (5) and the team is third in the IFL with 14 on the season.
D'Avanzo also leads the league in tackles-for-loss (10.5) to go along with his two blocked kicks.
Dealing with Duke City
The Duke City Gladiators visits the Rattlers after a huge upset win over the Spokane Shock last week at home, 68-61.
Duke City continues to rely on its passing attack to win games, as it sports the IFL's top passing offense (197.9 YPG), but it's hampered by the worst rushing offense in the league (33.5 YPG).
The 'Week 15 IFL Offensive Player of the Week,' QB Nate Davis, leads the IFL in passing yards (1999) and passing TDs (59) coming into this weekend. Against Spokane, Davis scored all but one of his 9 TDs through the air and finished with 288 yards passing.
Gladiators' star wide receiver Dello Davis has benefited from air dominance all season, and he now tops the IFL in passing TDs with 23. Davis also comes in at second in receiving yards (655) going into Saturday's game.
In the last matchup between the two, the Rattler defense held the high-flying Duke City offense to its third-lowest scoring total of the season.
Game Preview Sponsor Note:
Foothills wishes our Arizona Rattlers good luck this weekend. For this game, we will be donating $100 for every touchdown scored to the https://phoenixrescuemission.org/. We are proud to support this amazing organization, a place of hope, healing, and new beginnings for men, women, and children in our community struggling with homelessness, addiction, and trauma. We are proud to partner with the Rattlers, keeping their players on the field and being their physical therapy provider of choice.
