Photo: 50 Carey Armonti had the only sack of the night on Rattler quarterback Drew Powell
The Northern Arizona Wranglers ended the regular season with a 52-39 loss to the Arizona Rattlers in Phoenix. The loss drops NAZ to (7-8) and guaranteed the team a return road trip to Phoenix next week, to face the Rattlers for the fourth time this season. Arizona has now won eight straight.
The Wranglers lost the coin toss, but it turned out just fine as quarterback Nick Watson directed the offense with a big play reception by Ryan Wisniewski, and then a pass to Glen Gibbons Jr. in the back of the end zone for the first score of the night. Connor Mangan’s drop kick made it 8-0.
The Rattlers struck back quickly when Drew Powell connected with Isiah Scott on a 17 yard pass play to pull within 8-7. Offense sputtered on their next possession as Northern Arizona turned the ball over on downs. Arizona made it look easy as Jager Gardner ran the ball in untouched from four yards out to give the Rattlers their first lead 14-8 as the first quarter came to an end.
The Wranglers failed to score a second straight time as the Rattler defense forced a long field goal attempt of 56 yards that sailed out of bounds. Gardner scored again on a three yard run for a 21-8 Arizona lead, early in the second quarter.
Watson, who had to work with some bad snaps, also became off with the timing of his passes. Arizona took the ball over after four straight incomplete passes. The Rattlers added another score as Powell went up the middle through an NAZ defense that failed trying to push the running quarterback down for the score and a 28-8 lead.
It looked like the wheels fell off the Wranglers wagon when Watson fumbled and Chris Terrell fell on the loose ball, rolling over untouched, then getting back up as the big defensive lineman labored 28 yards for the touchdown to give Arizona a 35-8 lead.
Wrangler Coach Les Moss elected to bring in Garrett Kettle at QB for the last 35 seconds. Kettle completed all three pass attempts, setting up Mangan for a 43 yard field goal, making the score 35-11 at the half.
Northern Arizona came out a new team to start the second half. A Mangan onside kick to start the second half, gave the Wranglers the ball. Watson came back in at QB and completed his first two passes, the second a strike to Wisniewski in the end zone for the touchdown. The Mangan dropkick cut the deficit to 35-19.
The Wranglers recovered another perfectly executed onside kick. Watson’s 18 yard pass for a touchdown to 35-25 with 12:03 remaining in the third quarter.
The Wrangler defense came up with their first stop of the game, holding Arizona to a field goal. Shane McInerney kick of 44 yards extended the Rattlers lead to 38-25.
Watson hit a wide open Jarrod Ware , who catch the short pass and ran the ball in from 26 yards out. Mangan’s drop kick pulled the Wranglers within 38-33 with 4:21 remaining in the third quarter. That would turn out to be as close as NAZ would get. Arizona got a TD right back when Powell hit Huston on the sideline for a 12 yard scoring play to push the lead up to 45-33.
The Wranglers missed out on a golden opportunity to score again. First and goal at the two, failed to produce any points. On the the first play, Powell threw the ball 45 yards to a wide open Jamal Miles for a Rattler TD, extending the Arizona lead to 52-33.
Wisniewski pulled in a Watson pass with one hand, and was able to drag the defender into the end zone for the score. The two point play failed, leaving the deficit at 52-39 with 6:16 to play. The Rattlers burned a bunch of clock, adding a field goal in the final minute for coach Kevin Guy’s 250th career win. In the battle of the quarterbacks, Powell was 11-15-0 189 yards and three touchdowns. Watson went 14-33-0 for 174 yards and five TDs. Ryan Wisniewski led all receivers with six catches for 88 yards and two touchdowns.
ARIZONA RATTLERS 55, NORTHERN ARIZONA WRANGLERS 39
Score by Quarters- 1 2 3 4 – T
Northern Arizona 8 3 22 6 – 39
Arizona 14 21 10 10 – 55
Scoring Summary
NAZ-Gibbons Jr. 7 yard pass from Watson (Mangan drop kick)
A-Scott 17 yard pass from Powell (McInerney kick)
A-Gardner 4 yard run (McInerney kick)
A-Gardner 2 yard run (McInerney kick)
A-Powell 7 yard run (McInerney kick)
A-Gardner 4 yard Terrell 40 yard fumble return (McInenery kick)
NAZ-Mangan 40 yard Field Goal
NAZ-Wisniewski 23 yard pass from Watson (Mangan drop kick)
NAZ-Augustine 17 yard pass from Watson (Drop kick failed)
A-McInerney 42 yard Field Goal
NAZ-Ware 30 yard pass from Watson (Mangan drop kick)
A-Huston 12 yard pass from Powell (McInerney kick)
A-Miles 45 yard pass from Powell (McInerney kick)
NAZ-Wisniewski 20 yard pass from Watson (Pass failed)
A-McInerney 18 yard Field Goal
ATT:9,405
IFL STANDINGS
Western Conference W-L Eastern Conference W-L
X-Arizona 11-4 X-Frisco 13-2
X-Bay Area 10-5 X-Massachusetts 9-6
X-Tucson 9-6 X-Quad City 9-6
X-WRANGLERS 7-8 X-Sioux Falls 9-6
San Diego 6-9 Green Bay 7-8
Duke City 5-10 Iowa 3-12
Vegas 5-10 Tulsa 2-13
X-Clinched playoff spot
SCOREBOARD
Arizona 55, WRANGLERS 39
Tulsa 56, Quad City 35
Sioux Falls 62, Massachusetts 59
Frisco 51, Iowa 35
Tucson 48, Green Bay 39
San Diego 58, Vegas 42
Bay Area 44, Duke City 35
PLAYOFFS-First Round
WRANGLERS at Arizona, Saturday, 6:05pm
Massachusetts at Sioux Falls, Saturday, 5:05pm
Quad City at Frisco, Saturday, 5:05pm
Tucson at Bay Area, Sunday, 3:05pm
