PHOENIX - The Arizona Rattlers pulled off a massive home win against the Bay Area Panthers in a battle between two of the top teams in the Indoor Football League.

After a thrilling 2OT victory in Prescott Valley, the Rattlers have returned to the Snake Pit for a one-game home stand, hosting the Bay Area Panthers. This game was a battle between the top two seeds in the Western Conference. They last met in San Jose, where the Panthers came away with a 47-46 over the Rattlers in week 2. The Rattlers would leave this game with revenge coming away with a 70-63 victory. This would put the Rattlers in a tie for the top seed in the conference with Bay Area.

FIRST HALF

Arizona would start the game with possession but found themselves unable to convert after penalties forced the Rattlers into a fourth and long, turning over the ball. On their ensuing possession, the Panthers would not take long to score as QB Dalton Sneed found Nih-Jer Jackson in the end zone after just one play. The extra point would be good giving the Panthers a 7-0 lead.

On the Rattlers' next possession, they would find themselves marching down the field until a pass into the end zone was intercepted by Panthers. They could not convert on this turnover as the Rattlers' defense was able to get a fourth down stop, forcing the turnover.

 The first quarter would end with the Panthers leading 7-0.

To start the second quarter, the Rattlers were able to get on the board with a Drew Powell touchdown pass to Jamal Miles in the end zone. The extra point by Shane McInerney extra-point was good to tie the game at 7. Bay Area would receive the following kickoff, and after moving down the field JT Stokes would rush 14 yards into the end zone for another Bay Area touchdown. A successful extra-point attempt would put them back up seven. 

It would not take the Rattlers much time to get back into the end zone as Drew Powell found Jazerick Peterson in the end zone for a 35-yard reception. The McInerney extra-point ties the game at 14. The Panthers would retrieve the kickoff but a fumble on the return would be recovered by the Rattlers, setting them up on the Bay Area 20-yard line. On the first play of that possession, Drew Powell would find his own way into the end zone from 20 yards out. McInerney's extra point would be good giving the Rattlers a seven-point lead. 

The Panthers would struggle to maintain possession of the football again on their next possession, fumbling the ball for another Rattlers fumble recovery. The Rattlers' next possession would not take long as Drew Powell would find Peterson once again in the end zone for a Rattlers touchdown. McInerney's extra-point attempt was good once again, extending the Rattlers' lead 28-14. 

McInerney would send the next kickoff out of bounds sending up the Panthers at the Arizona 20-yard line. It would only take one play for Sneed to find Jackson in the end zone again for a Bay Area touchdown. The extra point would bring them within seven. With 55 seconds left in the half, the Panthers would attempt an onside kick, returned by Cecil Cherry for a touchdown. A successful PAT by McInerney would extend the lead to 14 once again. 

The Rattlers would attempt an onside kick recovered by Bay Area on the Rattlers' 9-yard line. On the first play of the possession, Panthers running back Justin Rankin would run into the end-zone for a touchdown. A successful PAT would cut into the Rattlers' lead once again. 

Attempting the onside kick once again, Bay Area would be able able to recover the ball giving them possession right back. The Panthers would take advantage of this extra opportunity Justin Rankin would catch a pass and take it 33 yards for a touchdown. With a successful extra-point attempt the game would be tied at 35 with 25 seconds left. 

A touchback on the ensuing kickoff would place the ball on the Arizona five-yard line for the last Rattler possession of the half. Drew Powell would find Isaiah Huston for 41 on the first play of the possession to bring them within the Bay Area five-yard line. On the following play, the Rattlers would find the end zone. A successful extra-point attempt would put the Rattlers back on top by seven. The Panthers would get possession back with 12 seconds left. They would unsuccessfully attempt a field goal.

The first half would end with the Rattlers leading 42-35. 

SECOND HALF 

The Panthers would gain possession to start the second half. After a five-minute possession, the Panthers were able to strike first tying the game at 42. Once receiving the ball back, the Rattlers would have little issue getting back into the endzone, with a 16-yard rush by Drew Powell. Following a successful extra-point attempt the Rattlers would take back a 7-point lead.

This lead would not last long as Panthers' QB Dalton Sneed would find Nih-Jer Jackson in the end-zone on a 30-yard pass. The extra point would once again tie the game. The Rattlers would strike back on their next possession as Powell connected with Huston in the endzone for a 15-yard touchdown pass. The McInerney extra-point being good would give the Rattlers a 56-49 lead. This would be the end of the third quarter. 

Starting the fourth quarter with possession, the Panthers were able to tie the game, on a 11-yard touchdown pass by Cutrel Haywood. The Rattlers would be able to move down the field on their next possession. Drew Powell would give the Rattlers the lead back on a nine-yard keeper. The extra point would be good making the score 63-56.

A good return by the Panthers would set them up around midfield for their next possession. Only a play later would Justin Rankin rush 26 yards for a touchdown. Following a successful extra point the game would once again be tied. The Panthers would attempt an onside kick that would set the Rattlers up in a good position on Bay Area's side of the field. Thanks to their good field position, it would not take long for the Rattlers to put more points on the board after a short rush by Powell.

A kickoff sent out of bounds by Arizona would allow the Panthers to start their possession at their 20-yard line. The Rattlers' defense came up huge on this possession forcing a fourth down turnover with 29 seconds left. They would go on to run out the clock.

The game would end with a final score of 70-63.

KEY PLAYERS

• QB Drew Powell - 78 rushing yards, 230 passing yards 3 Rushing TDs, 4 passing TDs
• WR Jazeric Peterson - 61 yards, 2 TDs
• WR Isaiah Huston - 97 Yards, 1 touchdown
• DB Davontae Merriweather - 9 tackles 
• LB Cecil Cherry - 5.5 tackles, 1 touchdown 

NEXT WEEK

Next week, the Arizona Rattlers look to sweep the season series when they travel to Albuquerque, New Mexico to face the Duke City Gladiators. This game will take place on Saturday, June 17. Kickoff is set for 6:05 pm.