Rattlers Takeaways Spark Rout in First-Ever IFL Cup
By Jay Gonzales ꟾ Rattlers Media
Most days, when you make as many steals at a mall as the Arizona Rattlers did on Monday, you usually spend some time behind bars.
But when the Rattlers took the ball six times from the New Mexico Chupacabras in the American Dream IFL Cup, it added up to a 61-15 rout and a spot in Sunday's championship game of professional football's first-ever midseason tournament.
"We played a lot of subs today, as much as you can and we got both quarterbacks some work," Head Coach Kevin Guy said after the game. "I felt good about how we played. The real test will be next week with whoever we play between Orlando and Vegas."
A 73-33 victory by the Vegas Knight Hawks over Orlando in the other first-round game sets up a rematch of a May 3 game with the Rattlers. Vegas took a 56-42 victory at home in a game that included a physical confrontation between the two head coaches, a situation that resulted in discipline for both coaches. The game will count in the overall and conference standings.
Monday's first-round IFL Cup game, played in the arena at the American Dream mall in East Rutherford, N.J., was never in doubt as the Rattlers started fast and never looked back in building a 42-8 halftime lead.
Rattlers running back Ron Brown Jr. returned the opening kickoff 36 yards for a touchdown, the first of his three TDs. New Mexico answered on a 41-yard touchdown pass from Harrison Roubidoux to Damon Street. Both teams hit a deuce, and the Rattlers led 10-9 just 2½ minutes into the game.
That was the last time the Chupacabras would see the end zone until the middle of the third quarter. Meanwhile, the Rattlers' defense went to work with the four turnovers by the end of the half all leading to scores.
Jarmaine Doubs had two picks in the New Mexico end zone to kill two drives. Defensive end Carson Taylor got in on the pick-fest when he dropped into coverage and intercepted a pass in the second quarter. Defensive back Autjoe Soe recovered a fumble on a short pass as the Rattlers scored on every first-half possession.
It was more of the same in the second half as Carl Decius got the Rattlers' fourth pick of the day on New Mexico's first possession of the half. The Rattlers turned his third quarter pick into a 17-yard TD pass from Drew Powell to Kymani Clarke who hurtled a defender just short of the goal line. Decius would intercept another pass early in the fourth quarter.
Placekicker Matthew Cook contributed heavily to the scoring for the second straight week with three deuces, giving him seven in the last two games. He also was seven-for-seven on point-after attempts and he hit a pair of field goals for a total of 19 points.
Powell got his second consecutive start at quarterback and led the offense until the middle of the third quarter when the Rattlers had built a 52-15 lead. Powell was an efficient 9 of 11 passing for 143 yards and two touchdowns. His 43-yard touchdown pass to Arland Bruce IV in the first quarter was the Rattlers' longest pass completion of the season. Max Meylor was 6 of 9 for 63 yards and a TD in relief.
"I didn't see any reason to take him out," Guy said of his decision to start Powell again. "We wanted to get Max some work because they're going to keep competing and we'll see how the season goes."
The Rattlers have now topped the 60-point mark in three of their last four games. They've outscored their last two opponents, the Chupacabras and the Tucson Sugar Skulls, 135-29 in the last two games.
The Rattlers and the Knight Hawks will face off in championship game Sunday, May 24, at 4:30 p.m. MST at American Dream. The game will be broadcast on Yahoo! Sports. The team will stay in New Jersey until Sunday's game.