By Zev Black
Mail

The Arizona Rattlers improved to 3-1 despite a slow offensive start to defeat the Northern Arizona Wranglers 44-32 and hand them their fourth straight loss.

The Rattlers found themselves down 16-7 early when Wranglers QB Ramone Atkins connected with DeMarcus Harris,  Sr.,  for the score.

After a turnover on downs on the ensuing drive, the Wranglers looked like they were going to extend the lead even further, but Autjoe Soe picked off Atkins to put the Rattlers offense in a great position. However, the Rattlers couldn’t convert.

The offense finally came alive two drives later with a 45-yard drive resulting in a Kymani Clarke rushing touchdown to cut the lead to three. The two teams then traded touchdowns, and the Wranglers took a 23-21 lead into the half.

Whatever Rattlers Head Coach Kevin Guy said in the locker room during the break must’ve worked because they controlled the second half.

Clarke found paydirt again in the third quarter on his second rushing touchdown of the game. With this, the Rattlers took their first lead of the game, 27-23, and never looked back.

Meylor connected with WR Corey Reed, Jr., late in the fourth quarter to put the game out of reach, 44-32. Soe then came down with his second interception of the game to officially seal it.

The Rattlers are back in Glendale next week for a 5 p.m. home game on Saturday, April 25, against the Tulsa Oilers.

Reporter Zev Black can be reached at zblack@iniusa.org. Please submit comments at yourvalley.net/letters or email them to AzOpinions@iniusa.org. We are committed to publishing a wide variety of reader opinions, as long as they meet our Civility Guidelines.