Arizona Rattlers RB/WR Jamal Miles (2) runs down the field for a touchdown in the first quarter of Arizona's 49-47 win over Iowa on Saturday at Wells Fargo Arena. (Arizona Rattlers/Indoor Football League)
DES MOINES, IOWA — The Arizona Rattlers’ three-game losing streak is over.
Utilizing an effective screen pass game and big performances by backup quarterback Garrett Kettle and running back Shannon Brooks, Arizona escaped the Iowa Barnstormers 49-47 on Saturday night at the Wells Fargo Center.
It appeared Dalton Sneed would return from injury and start at QB for Arizona after he warmed up in pregame, but Kettle played the entire game instead. Kettle started hot with a 38-yard TD pass on a screen play to Jamal Miles.
After Iowa equalized, the teams exchanged defensive stops before Brooks scored on a short run early in the second quarter.
The Rattlers forced a missed field goal by Iowa and Brooks got back in the end zone from a yard out to give Arizona a 21-7 lead.
The Rattlers’ third stop of the first half set up Kettle for a 9-yard TD run and a 28-7 lead.
Iowa “doubled up” with the last score of the half and the first TD of the third quarter as QB Kyle King tossed a pair of touchdown passes to bring the Barnstormers within 28-20.
The teams exchanged two TDs each — one each by Brooks, Robert Washington, Miles and Darren Wilson — and the Rattlers led 42-34 with 12 minutes left.
Rattlers kicker Dawson Evitts had a field goal blocked and King scored on a scramble to get Iowa within 42-40. The two-point conversion pass was broken up and Arizona led by two with 6 minutes left.
Brooks then made the play of the game — a bulldozing 46-yard TD run where he steamrolled a defender then used a burst of speed to outrun the entire Iowa D down the middle of the field.
Leading 49-40, Arizona allowed King another rushing TD at the one minute mark but the potential tying deuce on the ensuing kickoff was not close and the Rattlers then ran out the clock.
Brooks finished his night with four total TDs (3 rushing, 1 receiving) while Kettle stepped up to deliver 3 total TDs. Evitts, a rookie, was 7 for 7 on PATs and has not missed an extra point in five games this season.
The win moves the Rattlers to 2-3 while Iowa falls to 0-4.
Arizona returns home to Desert Diamond Arena for a matchup with the Jacksonville Sharks at 3:05 p.m. on Sunday, April 28.
Matt Loeschman has had two separate stints at Independent Newsmedia. He began as a reporter covering Peoria and later Surprise from 2000-2009. In 2017, he returned to Arizona and INI as the news editor of the Daily News-Sun (now the Phoenix Independent). He previously covered the Arizona Rattlers of the Indoor Football League for more than a decade.
Community: During high school football season since 2017, he contributes live postgame radio reports to the AzPreps 365 Friday Night Football Wrapup Show. He supports organizations such as Phoenix Children’s, Boys and Girls Clubs of the Valley and the American Cancer Society.
Education: The University of Texas at Austin majoring in Journalism-News and Public Affairs.
Random Fact: He can sing and he has been fortunate to meet many famous people during his journalism career including First Lady Hillary Clinton, King of Country Music George Strait and Oscar-winning actor Matthew McConaughey. Attended all 4 home games of the 2001 World Series.
Hobbies: Watching and playing a wide variety of sports, including golf, tennis, pickleball and softball. Playing PlayStation 5, working out, shopping and reading.
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