Matt Loeschman

Independent Newsmedia

PHOENIX — On a Sunday afternoon when their high-powered offense scored 10 points below average, it was the Arizona Rattlers’ defense that saved the day in a crucial 45-40 victory over the Nebraska Danger at Talking Stick Resort Arena.

The Arizona defense, much maligned after a 69-68 home overtime loss to Iowa the previous week, stood tall when it counted by forcing multiple stops in the second half and allowing the Rattlers to claim an important 5-point win.

“The defense played much better today,” said Rattlers Head Coach Kevin Guy, who became the team’s all-time winningest head coach by recording his 142nd triumph leading the franchise. “We got four or five stops. They stepped up on a day when our offense wasn’t at its best.”

With the win, Arizona (10-2) maintains control of its own destiny in the race for the top Indoor Football League playoff seed. Nebraska fell to 4-8 and despite losing 7 straight should still advance to the postseason as the fourth and final seed. The Rattlers have two games remaining in the regular season — a crucial matchup next Saturday at 9-2 Iowa and the finale June 16 at Nebraska. Arizona needs wins in both games to secure the #1 seed and home field advantage for the semifinals and potentially the United Bowl. The top seed will also face a much weaker opponent (likely Nebraska) in the four-team playoffs that begin the weekend of June 22. Iowa currently sits second at 9-2 with Sioux Falls third at 8-3.

Guy passed Danny White for the most all-time wins by a Rattlers head coach. The team played congratulatory video messages from several former players on the video screens in the arena following the game.

“I’m not one to break down emotionally or anything like that,” Guy admitted. “But that came pretty close. That brought back a lot of good memories — we built a dynasty here in the desert and it was very special.”

Allowing 152 points in splitting their last two home games, the Rattlers had slipped to fourth in scoring defense and fifth in total defense. Not helping matters is the appearance of DL Justin Shirk and DB Bubba Chapman on the season-ending injured reserve.

The Danger offense (ranked 5th in the 6-team IFL) quickly took advantage after the opening kickoff. Arizona had a chance to recover a fumble on third down but the football slipped through Justin Martin’s hands. On the next play, Danger QB Gregory Hankerson Jr. scrambled untouched along the right side for a 23-yard touchdown on fourth down. Brad Hatfield’s extra point made it 7-0 Nebraska five minutes into the game.

“I’m getting tired of the opposing quarterback hurting us every single game,” Guy said. “Sooner or later, we’ve got to start figuring that out.”

As the Rattlers’ offense moved down the field on their first possession, Danger defensive lineman Phillip Lewis suffered a serious injury to his right leg. Lewis’ leg was put in an air cast and he was stretchered off the field by medical personnel.

Jamal Miles then found paydirt from three yards out. Sawyer Petre added the extra point to tie the game at 7-7.

Arizona appeared to be poised to hold the Danger off the board on the next series but Hatfield nailed a 47-yard field goal to put Nebraska up 10-7 with two minutes left in the first. Rattlers’ running back Shadrach Thornton, making his first appearance in several weeks, then made his presence felt. He caught a 10-yard screen pass that set up his own 8-yard touchdown run as the first quarter ended. Petre was good again and the Rattlers led 14-10 after one stanza.

Rattlers’ running back Shadrach Thornton (28) celebrates a touchdown in Arizona’s 45-40 victory over the Nebraska Danger on Sunday. [Matt Hinshaw/Arizona Rattlers][/caption]“Shadrach gave us good minutes — tough, hard running,” Guy said.

Hankerson found Eric Thomas with a 13-yard strike and Hatfield connected again to give Nebraska a 17-14 advantage.

Arizona stalled on its next drive and Petre hooked a 50-yard field goal attempt wide left. Hatfield hit another long FG next, connecting from 43 yards to extend the Danger lead to 20-14 with 3:27 before halftime.

Rattlers QB Jeff Ziemba called his own number next, faking the handoff and scampering into the end zone from 6 yards away. Petre was good with the kick to give Arizona a 21-20 lead.

“I missed some throws today that I should’ve made,” Ziemba said after the game. “We will watch the film and make adjustments to get ready for Iowa.”

Guy then called for an onside kick and the Rattlers executed it perfectly. Petre squibbed the ball forward and it was pinballed around and eventually recovered by Arizona’s Dillion Winfrey. The play was challenged by Nebraska co-head coaches Pig Brown and Adam Shackleford but eventually upheld.

Fan interference on a potential TD incited the home crowd of 13,915 — Dezmon Epps appeared ready to haul in a touchdown until a lime green-clad fan near the front row tried to catch the ball and knocked it away. It ended up being a huge play as the Rattlers were only able to convert a Petre 34-yard field goal as Rattler Nation loudly booed the guilty spectator.

The Rattlers led 24-20 at the break.

At halftime, the Rattlers inducted former defensive lineman Anttaj Hawthorne into the team’s ring of honor, joining Rattlers legends Hunkie Cooper, Randy Gatewood and Sherdrick Bonner. Hawthorne won three championships (2012, 2013, 2014) with the Rattlers.

“Anttaj was the biggest piece in building a championship defense,” Guy said. “This is a special day.”

Hawthorne was humbled by the honor.

“The fans here stood out. We love you guys,” Hawthorne said. “When I got here, Wendell Gaines took me to the side and told me I needed to ‘buy in.’ We won three ArenaBowls — I think we all bought in.”

In the third quarter, following a Petre FG miss, Hankerson found wideout Kenzel Doe with a 15-yard touchdown pass. Following a blocked extra point, Nebraska led 26-24.

The speedy Epps responded with a 5-yard rushing score on an end around — Petre made the point after and Rattlers led again at 31-26.

Arizona’s defense then stepped up, forcing a 55-yard field goal miss by Hatfield. The Danger kicker nearly meandered the ball through but his kick hit the lower left-hand corner where the crossbar meets the upright.

The Rattlers looked to take the game’s first two-score lead. They got it when Ziemba took a quarterback keeper 8 yards for a touchdown. Petre nailed the kick to make it 38-26 Rattlers as the third quarter ended.

Another Hatfield field goal try — 63 yards from his own end zone after a Chris McAllister sack — was short for another Rattlers’ defensive stop.

“We are headed in the right direction but as a defense, we still have a lot of work to do,” McAllister said. “But we were aggressive in the second half and it paid off.”

Arizona could not take advantage, though, turning the ball back over on downs.

Nebraska running back Angelo Pease rumbled into the end zone a few plays later. Hatfield was true to bring the Danger within 38-33 with 6:11 left in the game.

The Rattlers then faced third down near midfield but Ziemba made a clutch throw on the run to keep the drive going. He then hooked up with Epps on a corner route for a 15-yard TD. Petre’s kick was good to up the lead to 45-33 with 3:17 to go.

Some questionable time management leaked nearly the entire clock as Nebraska scored again with just 15 seconds left. A failed Danger onside kick recovered by Arizona’s Davontae Merriweather sealed the victory.

The Rattlers travel to Des Moines for a huge matchup on Saturday, June 2. The winner of that contest will have the inside track to the postseason top seed — Iowa has handed Arizona its only two losses so far this season. Kickoff is set for 5:05 p.m. and the game can be seen live on YouTube.

“Iowa has been better than us head-to-head,” Guy said. “We still control our destiny but we will have our work cut out for us up there.”