Box Score PHOENIX - The six-time World Champion Arizona Rattlers got back in the win column on Saturday by defeating the Duke City Gladiators 58-38.
Arizona has officially clinched a playoff spot with their victory over the Duke City Gladiators. They can clinch home-field advantage in the first round with a win on Saturday against Tucson.
The comeback trail
Arizona trailed Duke City 14-13 at the end of the first quarter on Saturday, but quickly rerouted themselves after two early deficits in the contest.
The Rattlers first forced a sack-fumble on Gladiators quarterback Ramone Atkins early in the second quarter, which Arizona quarterback and 2021 IFL MVP Drew Powell then turned into a five-yard touchdown run shortly thereafter. Powell's run put the Rattlers up a score before Arizona put its foot on the gas on Saturday.
The Rattlers' next score came via a pick-six by defensive back Kyree Woods, who added to his already stellar resume in 2022. The play gave Arizona a two-possession lead of the night, and it never looked back. While still up just two scores at halftime, the Rattlers came out of the break hot, adding another touchdown run to Powell's stat line on Saturday and putting Arizona up 37-17 late in the third quarter.
Defense puts together impressive performance
Arizona's defense was one of the stars of Saturday's show in Rio Rancho. The Rattlers had 12 different players record a tackle, four different players each record a tackle-for-loss, three different players each record a sack, and two players not only record an interception but both take them to the house for Arizona touchdowns.
Defensive lineman Dillon Fammatau had a TFL, a sack and a forced fumble – the Rattlers' only one of the contest – on Saturday.Â
Secondary spotlightÂ
Rattlers defensive back Dillion Winfrey joined Woods' party later on Saturday night. While Woods' pick-six arguably swung the game, Winfrey snagged his deep inside the Gladiators end zone and took it the entire length of the field – 54 yards – in for a score to put Arizona up 51-24 with 9:40 left in the game. The interception was his eighth of the year and places him firmly in first place in the IFL in picks in 2022.
But Winfrey will have competition for that top spot. In second place behind him? None other than Mr. Woods.
