PHOENIX - The six-time World Champion Arizona Rattlers fell 37-34 against the Northern Arizona Wranglers on Saturday night in Prescott Valley in what was a matchup of the IFL's two best teams – both of whom had a playoff berth on the line.

In a last second thriller, the Wranglers pulled away after scoring a go-ahead touchdown with just 23 seconds left.

Second half sees defenses tighten, offenses fold

There were only four combined scores between the Rattlers and Wranglers in the second half on Saturday night – two on behalf of each team, and all put the scoring team ahead after being down.

It was no comparison to the first half, though, which saw twice as many combined scores.

In a sloppy second half, Arizona went up 28-23 midway through the third quarter after forcing a sack on the Wranglers on 4th and 6 on the prior drive. On the Rattlers' next drive, where they found themselves down again thanks to a Northern Arizona response, Rattlers quarterback Drew Powell fumbled a snap and a penalty set Arizona back five yards before it took the lead once again, only for them to miss the two-point conversion.

Down by four, Northern Arizona then missed a field goal with 4:08 left, giving the Rattlers a chance to put the game away. Arizona running back Shannon Brooks fumbled as the Rattlers attempted to run clock, but recovered. Running back/wide receiver Jamal Miles appeared to seal the deal with a first down just inside of two minutes, but Powell fumbled again on the next play, losing it and giving the Wranglers the ball.

The Rattlers got Northern Arizona into a tense 3rd and goal situation before running back Israel Tucker punched it in to put the Wranglers up 37-34.

Arizona got good field position to begin its comeback drive, but two incompletions and a sack on 3rd and 10 saw time run out on the Rattlers.

A first half show

Despite the mistake-filled second half, it was quite the start to Saturday night's contest between the league's top teams. Rattlers wide receiver Jarrod Harrington – in his second game back from a torn ACL sustained in last year's IFL Semifinal game against Sioux Falls – opened the contest with a 50- yard kickoff return for a touchdown. But it wasn't till the second quarter that the offenses truly got going.

Two of the league's best defenses, including the IFL's best in Northern Arizona, showed up on Saturday. The Wranglers forced a fumble of Rattlers quarterback Drew Powell in the first quarter, which was recovered by running back Shannon Brooks, but Arizona failed to capitalize after kicker Ernesto Lacayo missed a field goal.

Northern Arizona finally responded as soon as the second quarter began, as Wranglers quarterback Kaleb Barker launched a 28-yard pass to wide receiver Jerrime Neal to even the score at seven.

The pass spurned some momentum for Northern Arizona, as they forced another Rattlers turnover – a fumble off what seemed to be an attempted pass by Powell – and took a 10-7 lead as a result with 8:28 left in the second.

On Arizona's next drive, Brooks coughed up the ball, giving the Wranglers another promising start to a drive. They quickly converted, taking a two-possession 17-7 lead thanks to a Ullice Gillard touchdown catch.

The Rattlers closed the possession gap after Northern Arizona attempted an onside kick following its score. Arizona defensive back Davontae Merriweather scooped the ball and took it into the end zone, making it 17-14 Wranglers.

Northern Arizona added a field goal with 1:45 left in the half before Powell led arguably the Rattlers' best drive of the half and scored on a 14-yard run to put Arizona back in front by one point.

The Wranglers didn't go away easy, as they hit a field goal just before the break to go up 23-21.

Negative plays outweigh special teams magic

Arizona returned two kickoffs for touchdowns on Saturday night against the Wranglers, but the key plays by Harrington and Merriweather were negated by three Rattlers fumbles lost, six fumbles overall and four sacks allowed.

Northern Arizona possessed the league's best defense coming into Saturday and left the contest still in poll position. 

The Rattlers first two fumbles of the night both led to negative plays, as Powell lost control of a ball on 3rd and goal late in the first quarter that led to a missed field goal by Rattlers kicker Ernesto Lacayo. His second fumble was a questionable "tuck-rule" style play, but ultimately led to three Wranglers points. The field goal was fed by three Rattlers penalties.

Merriweather's onside kick scoop and score helped get Arizona back in the game, but the return could have put Arizona in front if not for a Brooks fumble the drive prior.

Additionally, Harrington's emotional return to open the game was the only points of the first quarter, and helped put Arizona's defense in as good of a position as it was all night.