Photo: 4 Terik Miller and 7 Justin Whisenhunt go after 2 Jamal Miles
The Northern Arizona Wranglers returned to the Footprint Center in Phoenix for the first time since they knocked off the Arizona Rattlers in the Western Conference championship. Rattlers coach Kevin Guy had his team amped up and ready as the Rattlers bit the Wranglers over and over again for a 60-34 win.
If the motivation for last year’s loss wasn’t enough, the Rattlers welcomed back two key players, quarterback Drew Powell and receiver Braxton Haley, both coming back from injuries.
Photo: 13 Braxton Haley goes high up the wall to make the catch
It was Powell’s first home game of the season, and he dominated on the ground and through the air, with a total of eight touchdowns. Four each on the ground and through the air. Receiver Braxton Haley caught 11 passes for 119 yards and two touchdowns.
Powell hit Haley in the corner of the end zone on the opening possession for a 7-0 lead. The Wranglers offense sputtered as the Rattler defense was relentless pressuring Wrangler quarterback Garrett Kettle. A blocked field goal attempt gave the ball back to the Rattlers at the Northern Arizona three yard line. Powell ran the ball in on the first play for a 14-0 lead midway through the first quarter.
Photo: 11 Jacob Moss on his 50 yard kickoff return for a touchdown
The Wranglers responded with a 50 yard kickoff return by Jacob Moss, and just like that it was 14-7. Arizona would go on to score the next 25 points to go up 39-7 at the half. Powell would rush for the next three touchdowns, then connected with Morian Walker for a 13 yard scoring strike. Meanwhile, Kettle continued to feel the pressure, resulting in a pair of interceptions. Nick Watson came in for a bit in the second quarter, completing one of three, with an interception.
Trailing by 32, the Wranglers got the offense going, scoring a pair of touchdowns in each of the final two quarters. Glen Gibbons Jr. scored on a 12 yard run, and Ramaud Chiaokhi-Bowman would score three times on receptions of 35, 5, and 34 yards from Kettle. The Northern Arizona receivers had to deal with a Rattler secondary that was allowed a lot of contact, even with the ball in the air, normally a penalty. Kettle finished 11-19-3 for 138 yards and three touchdowns. Kettle also led the team in rushing with 24 yards.
Photo: Tramond Lofton brings down Jorge Reyna for a safety
The Wrangler defense was able to get a safety on Arizona when Tramond Lofton brought down backup QB Jorge Reyna in the end zone.
Northern Arizona will play the Duke City Gladiators on Saturday, beginning at 5:05 pm. The game can be seen on the IFL YouTube channel.
ARIZONA RATTLERS 60, NORTHERN ARIZONA WRANGLERS 34
Score by Quarters- 1 2 3 4 – T
Northern Arizona 7 0 12 15 – 34
Arizona 20 19 14 7 – 60
Scoring Summary
A-Haley 5 yard pass from Powell (McInerny kick)
A-Powell 3 yard run (McInerny kick)
NAZ-Moss 50 yard kickoff return (Fischer kick)
A-Powell 7 yard run (Kick failed)
A-Powell 4 yard run (Pass failed)
A-Powell 3 yard run (Run failed)
A-M. Walker 13 yard pass from Powell (McInerny kick)
NAZ-Gibbons Jr. 12 yard run (Run failed)
A-Haley 5 yard pass from Powell (McInerny kick)
NAZ-Chiaokhi-Bowman 35 yard pass from Kettle (Pass failed)
A-Reyna 3 yard run (McInerny kick)
NAZ-Safety, Reyna tackled in end zone by Lofton
NAZ-Chiaokhi-Bowman 34 yard pass from Kettle (Fischer kick)
Att:7734
IFL STANDINGS
Western Conference W-L Eastern Conference W-L
WRANGLERS 5-3 Frisco 7-1
Bay Area 5-3 Quad City 6-3
Tucson 4-3 Massachusetts 5-3
Arizona 4-4 Sioux Falls 4-4
Vegas 4-4 Green Bay 4-4
Duke City 3-5 Tulsa 1-7
San Diego 3-5 Iowa 1-7
SCOREBOARD
Arizona 60, WRANGLERS 34
Vegas 46, Tulsa 32
Green Bay 57, Iowa 41
San Diego 57, Duke City 44
Tucson 56, Sioux Falls 42
Massachusetts 63, Quad City 49
Bay Area 62, Frisco 55
WEEK 11 SCHEDULE- Arizona Time
WRANGLERS at Duke City, Saturday, 5:05 pm
Massachusetts at Tulsa, Saturday, 5:05 pm
Green Bay at Quad City, Saturday, 5:0 5pm
San Diego at Frisco, Saturday, 5:05 pm
Sioux Falls at Iowa, Saturday, 5:05 pm
Bay Area at Tucson, Saturday, 6:05 pm
Vegas at Arizona, Saturday, 6:05 pm
