Box Score PHOENIX - The Arizona Rattlers rallied back from down by as many as 28 to briefly take the lead but ultimately fell short after a slow start.
They finished the 2023 season with an 11-5 record as their 8-game win streak comes to an end.
FIRST HALF
Northern Arizona won the coin toss, deferring possession to the second half, the Rattlers began with possession. After a squib kick the Rattlers gained possession on the Northern Arizona side of the field. They would be unable to convert on this possession, turning the ball over on fourth down. The Wranglers would find the endzone quickly on their first possession, on a 13-yard touchdown pass to WR Ramaud Chiaokiao-Bowman. The drop kick attempt would miss, giving the Wranglers a 6-0 lead.
After the kickoff went out of bounds the Rattlers would start at their five-yard line. Unable to convert once again the Wranglers would pick off the Rattlers' first pass attempt of the drive. The Wranglers would strike once again on their second play of their next drive on a 29-yard pass to Jarrod Ware. Kicker Connor Magnan would be successful on his dropkick to go up 14.
On their next possession, the Rattlers would begin deep on their own side of the field once again. The Rattlers would move the ball down the field and get on the board thanks to a 6-yard touchdown pass from Drew Powell to Jamal Miles. The extra-point attempt by Shane McInerney would be successful to cut into the Wranglers' lead, 14-7. On the next Wrangler possession, the Rattlers' defense would step up huge, forcing a fourth down turnover.
The quarter would end with NAZ leading 14-7.
The Rattlers would start their possession on the Wranglers' side of the field, giving them prime positioning to start their drive. They would convert on this good field position finding the endzone on a 6-yard pass to Jamal Miles. After McInerney was successful on another PAT, the Rattlers tied the game at 14. The Wranglers would answer back on their next possession scoring on a 28-yard touchdown pass to Ramaud Chiaokiao-Bowman. With a successful dropkick, the Wranglers would go up by eight.
The Rattlers would be unable to convert on their next possession with the Wranglers picking off another pass to gain possession. The Wranglers would move the ball down the field to the 3-yard line before the Rattlers' defense would bring up a fourth down. NAZ would opt to dropkick, which added four points to their lead, up to 12. The Rattlers would have one more possession to end the first half. After the kickoff would go out of bounds the Rattlers would begin on the NAZ 20-yard line. They would be unable to make the most of this good field possession throwing another interception to the Wranglers.
The Rattlers would hold the Wranglers' offense to a field goal, which would be missed and returned by Jamal Miles. The Rattlers would gain possession with 15 seconds remaining. With the ball on the 5-yard line, Drew Powell would fumble in the end zone, which would be recovered by NAZ for the touchdown. The dropkick would be successful to bring the Wranglers up by 20. The Rattlers would gain possession once more to attempt a 35-yard field goal that would be unsuccessful.
The first half would end with NAZ leading 34-14
SECOND HALF
After deferring the first half kickoff the Wranglers would start the second half receiving the kickoff. The Rattlers would unsuccessfully attempt an onside kick giving the Wranglers possession at the Arizona 14-yard line. The Wranglers would find the endzone on this possession on a 6-yard pass to Chiaokiao-Bowman. The Dropkick attempt would be successful to increase the Wrangler lead to 28. The Rattlers would strike on the ensuing possession on an 18-yard pass to RB Jager Gardner. McInerney would be successful on the extra point to cut into the wrangler lead, 42-21.
After sending the kickoff out of bounds, the Wranglers would begin their possession at midfield. The Rattlers' defense would step up big on their next possession forcing NAZ to fumble the ball all the way back to the endzone, recovered by Rattlers' DB Connor Taylor for a touchdown. McInerney would be successful on his extra point, cutting into the Wranglers' lead once again this time, it was down to 14.
The Rattlers' kick return defense would down the Wranglers within their 10-yard line. The Rattlers' defense would bring up a fourth down on the Wranglers holding them to a 58-yard field goal, which would be unsuccessful. The Rattlers would gain possession with a chance to make it a one-possession game. The Rattlers would be successful on this drive down the field scoring on a 6-yard touchdown run. McInerney would be successful on the extra point making it a 7-point game. The Rattlers' kick return defense would once again down the Wranglers within their ten-yard line.
The third quarter would end with the Wranglers leading 42-35.
The Rattlers' defense would become a wall once again holding the Wranglers to attempt a 61-yard field goal which would miss. The Rattlers would move the ball down the field on this possession, scoring on a short run by Drew Powell. McInerney would attempt the extra point, which would be unsuccessful.
The Rattlers would stop the Wranglers once again on the ensuing possession with Christophe Page intercepting a Wrangler pass to gain possession for the Rattlers. The Rattlers would start within the NAZ 15-yard line. The Rattlers would take their first lead of the game on a Jamal Miles touchdown run. The Rattlers would be unsuccessful on the two-point conversion giving the Rattlers a 47-42 lead with 6:30 remaining in the game.
The Wranglers found success on their next drive taking back the lead on an 8-yard pass to Chiaokiao-Bowman. The dropkick attempt would miss, Wranglers up 48-47. The Rattlers would gain possession with 3 minutes remaining at their 22-yard line. They would find the end-zone once again on this possession on a 2-yard run by Drew Powell. They would attempt a two-point conversion which would be unsuccessful, giving the Rattlers a 5 point lead.
The Wranglers begin their possession at their 7-yard line with 53 seconds remaining. They would find success on this possession with a 38-yard pass to Chiaokiao-Bowman for a touchdown. The dropkick attempt would be unsuccessful.
The Rattlers gained possession with 35 seconds left. They began the possession at their one-yard line. The Wranglers' defense pressured the Rattlers' offense into a pick-six. The dropkick attempt would be successful to give the Wranglers a 9-point lead with 16 seconds left.
The Rattlers would fall to the Wranglers 62-53 ending the 2023 season.
KEY PERFORMERS
