Rattlers open at home with San Diego rematch

By Colin Hogan | Rattlers Media

GLENDALE, Arizona − The busy and long offseason is about to show a payoff as a revamped Arizona Rattlers roster preps to take on the San Diego Strike Force Saturday at Desert Diamond Arena. Kickoff is 2 p.m. The game will be broadcast on the Yahoo! Sports network.

"It's a one-year league," said Head Coach Kevin Guy said, alluding to turnover of the roster. "There's turnover on every team. Everybody sprinkles in some vets. It's about getting those guys to gel this time of year."

For the Rattlers, that turnover includes 20 new faces highlighted by last season's Indoor Football League MVP quarterback Max Meylor. Meylor threw for 2,483 yards and a league leading 57 touchdowns in 2025. He also rushed for 706 yards and 24 touchdowns and was the league's second-leading rusher.

He led the Green Bay Blizzard to within inches of a national championship when his quarterback sneak on the last play of the game was stopped short by the Vegas Night Hawks.

"There is a definitely a little extra motivation this year, and I cannot wait for Saturday," Meylor said during game week of preseason camp.

"It's a new offense for him, so I felt the first half of training camp, there was a learning curve," Guy said. "I thought the second half of camp he's come on strong. We feel good about our quarterback situation."

The offense also added Meylor's teammate in running back Kymani Clarke who ran for 19 touchdowns last season. Guy also completely retooled the receiver room as just Corey Reed Jr. remains from last year.

Reed, now accompanied by Arland Bruce, Keenan Hambrick, Jayden Horace and Trey Odum-Duke, create one of the more physically imposing receiver rooms in the IFL.

"I have never had such a big and physical group of receivers," Meylor said. "Even our shorter guys are just as quick as anybody and can make anyone miss. It's pretty cool, and I am excited."

The familiar face of the offense will be running back Ron Brown Jr., the 2025 IFL offensive rookie of the year who scored 22 rushing touchdowns last season and is looking to make another leap.

"I want to be MVP," Brown said.

Defensively, the only familiar face is defensive lineman Jaylon Bass, and other than that the unit has been revolutionized. In the offseason, the Rattlers brought in seven IFL rookies to their defense, while bringing in proven talents like linebacker Hayden Hatcher and defensive lineman Carson Taylor.

Hatcher was named to the IFL All-Rookie team in 2025 playing for the Jacksonville Sharks who he helped to the No. 5 ranking defense.

Taylor, who played high school football in Glendale, has had stops in the NFL, CFL, USFL and most recently played for the Houston Gamblers in the UFL during the 2025 season. Now playing for the Rattlers, the Apollo High School alum and NAU graduate's football career has come full circle as he looks to bring a championship to his hometown.

"Our culture is that we are an attack defense," Hatcher said. "We're going to attack and the other team's quarterback is going to feel us. If they decide to run the ball, the running back is going to feel us too. When we hit you, we're not just trying to tackle you. We're trying to annihilate you."

Saturday brings an opportunity for payback after the Strike Force ended the Rattlers 2025 season in the first round of the playoffs. The Rattlers lead the series 10-3, but have lost two straight to the Strike Force.

"I am really excited about what I have seen out at practice," Hatcher said. "I really believe we have a championship roster − top to bottom. I would tell you a weak point, but I just don't think we have one."