PHOENIX - One week after a thrilling 2OT victory in Prescott Valley, the Arizona Rattlers are back in the Snake Pit for a heavyweight matchup on Sunday afternoon against the Western Conference-leading Bay Area Panthers.

This will be their second meeting of the season, as they previously met in San Jose in a week two matchup where the Rattlers fell in a tightly contested game with a final score of 47-46. Coach Kevin Guy and his Rattlers look to even the season series this weekend. This weekend's contest between the Panthers and Rattlers will take place on Sunday, June 11th, at Footprint Center. Kickoff is set for 3:05 pm. 

LAST GAME

Last weekend the Rattlers traveled up the I-17 to play their second matchup this season against the Northern Arizona Wranglers. In a key game for western conference playoff positioning, the Rattlers came away with a close 63-62 victory in the second overtime. This game featured another incredible performance from QB Drew Powell, passing for 181 yards and 5 touchdowns, as well as 3 rushing touchdowns. 

The first of those rushing touchdowns was his 82nd as a member of the Arizona Rattlers passing Bo Kelly as the all-time rushing touchdown leader for this storied franchise. This game also featured 105 receiving yards and 2 touchdown game from WR Braxton Haley. They got solid production from DBs Davontae Merriweather, and Dillion Winfrey who tallied 8 and 7 tackles respectively.

The Rattlers are now on a three-game win streak and look to extend it this weekend before hitting the road to take on Duke City next week.

STANDINGS SHAKE-UP

Week 12 in the IFL featured many matchups with massive Western Conference standings implications. Coming into week 12, the Rattlers (6-4) and Wranglers (5-5) were tied for the second in the West. With their victory on Saturday, the Rattlers took sole possession of the second seed, only one game behind the team they will face this week, Bay Area (7-3).

Meanwhile, the Wranglers fell to the fourth seed, passed by the Tucson who beat the Vegas Knight Hawks to advance to a 5-4 record. On the outside looking in sits 3 teams tied, one game behind the final playoff spot in the west, the San Diego Strike Force, who scraped by with a victory against the Tulsa Oilers this past Sunday, the Duke City Gladiators, and the Vegas Knight Hawks. With six weeks remaining, the conference is still up for grabs as no team is separated by more than 3 games. 

BAY AREA REPORT

The Panthers are in first place in the Western Conference after just winning one game all of last season. The Panthers offer a balanced attack, as they rank 5th overall in both points per game and points allowed per game. 

Their ground attack is led by quarterback Dalton Sneed and running back Justin Rankin who are both in the top 8 in total rushing yards this season. Rankin's 24 rushing touchdowns are good for the second-most in the IFL. It will be imperative for the Rattlers to control the Panthers' run game. Sneed also has a 32:3 touchdown to interception ratio this season, among the best of those who qualify.