PHOENIX - The six-time World Champion Arizona Rattlers got back on track on Sunday afternoon, taking down the Bay Area Panthers 38-23 to improve to 8-2 on the season.

Arizona preserved its streak of not losing back-to-back games in the win, which dates back to the 2018 season.

The grand returns

Sunday was an emotional day in the Snake Pit, as the Rattlers welcomed back two franchise legends in wide receiver Jarrod Harrington and defensive lineman Marcus Pittman to the team.

Harrington had missed all of 2022 until Sunday after sustaining a torn ACL in the 2021 IFL Semifinals against Duke City, which saw him miss the United Bowl against Massachusetts.

The feared Rattler target didn't record a catch in Sunday's contest against the Panthers, but did return the game's opening kickoff 14 yards.

"He hasn't played for close to a year now, so we just wanted to knock some rust off," Rattlers head coach Kevin Guy said. "I thought this would be a good game to do it.  He's got a ways to go.

Pittman, like Harrington, wasn't overly prominent in the win, but Guy was happy with his availability and effort.

"I've got to see the film," Guy said of Pittman. "I didn't get to watch him, but he certainly helped us come in and fill a hole in an emergency situation. He hasn't played in years."

Room for improvement 

Despite the Rattlers getting the job done on Sunday against Bay Area, the 38-23 win arguably wasn't their best performance. Arizona led just 14-7 at halftime, and the team's offense struggled to find a rhythm at times. 

"I thought the first half was a little boring," Guy said. "We have to play better and we have little things. We have to be a little more consistent. It is what it is and we have to fight through it.

"I have to call better plays and they've got to execute better."

Powell said that while the win after the loss last week is huge, there's still a little left to be desired.

"A win is a win," he said. "It wasn't the way we wanted to win, we feel like there's some stuff we left out there.

"It's frustrating and exciting at the same time," Powell said of Arizona getting the win but in an ugly way. "'We could be better, but once we do get better, then we'll see how good we actually are.'"

Powell threw a couple of balls high while snap issues plagued the Rattlers throughout the day.

"We tried out a new center tonight and obviously there were some issues there," Guy said.

Powell added: "It's a process. We've got to get better and there's some things we have to do better… we can do it."

Guy said that a large part of the Rattlers' struggles could have been blamed on injuries.

"It's just tough the size of these rosters, you lose two-to-three guys and it kind of changes the dynamics a little bit," Guy said. "We should get a couple guys back this week."

Miles momentum

While it was a slow game for the Rattlers' offense overall, wide receiver/running back Jamal Miles made sure Arizona got the win and did not lose back-to-back games for the first time since 2018 on Sunday.

"It felt good," Miles said. "Especially after a loss."

Miles finished with six catches and 74 yards receiving with two touchdowns – one on the ground and one via the air.

Two of the Rattlers' first three scores in the game came via Miles touchdowns. His first was a handoff from Rattlers quarterback and 2021 IFL MVP Drew Powell just before halftime, putting Arizona up by seven at the break.

"[Bay Area] were running a lot of combos, where there was a guy on the backside waiting for us," Miles said. "It was something that we had to adjust to.

Miles credited Arizona's coaches for his big night.

"We need more guys to step up and make plays like Jamal," Guy said on Sunday.

The Arizona State University product picked up right where he left off post-halftime, as he gave the Rattlers a two-possession lead with 12:21 left into the third quarter with a leaping touchdown catch off the arm of Powell.

Miles also added two 24-yard special teams returns, as a missed field goal return by Bay Area kicker Stevie Artigue resulted in Miles gaining solid yardage. He also returned a Panther kickoff close to midfield.