By Matt Loeschman

Independent Newsmedia

PHOENIX -- It was no secret Arizona Rattlers Head Coach Kevin Guy was less than pleased with his team’s performance in a lackluster 10-point defeat at Iowa on March 10.

What a difference three weeks can make.

Arizona Rattlers wide receiver Anthony Amos (5) prepares to haul in a pass Saturday night as Cedar Rapids’ Daniel Lindsey closes in. Amos caught three of Jeff Ziemba’s seven touchdown passes as Arizona rolled to a 54-19 win. [Matt Hinshaw/Arizona Rattlers][/caption]Following the Rattlers’ 54-19 dismantling of the Cedar Rapids Titans on Saturday before a crowd of 11,155 at Talking Stick Resort Arena, Guy was praising his team’s effort in all phases of the game.

“For the most part, I think we executed really well tonight,” Guy said after the contest. “We were very efficient on offense and our defense played lights out. I also saw a big jump out of our kickoff team — good coverage from them all game long.”

Arizona quarterback Jeff Ziemba torched the Titans’ defense from start to finish, throwing a career-high 7 touchdown passes in an indoor league that is much more run/pass balanced than the league the Rattlers previously called home.

“The game is starting to slow down for me,” said Ziemba, who came to training camp late and wasn’t penciled in as the team’s starter when the season began. “Things are coming together. I’m in tune with the offense and getting through my progressions.”

The win was Arizona’s third straight in Indoor Football League play following that setback to the Barnstormers nearly a month ago. The Rattlers stayed tied at the top of the six-team IFL standings with Nebraska — both teams are 4-1 — while Cedar Rapids fell to 1-5. The victory was also the ninth straight for the Rattlers at the “Snake Pit.”

“It’s tough for our opponents to win here,” Guy said. “That’s a tribute to our great fans.”

Ziemba agreed with his head coach.

“Playing here is great. These fans get loud,” the Rattlers quarterback said.

Already holding a two-score lead at halftime, the Rattlers put their foot on Cedar Rapids’ collective throat. Ziemba (16/22, 172 yards, 7 TD, 0 INT) found Peoria High School and Arizona State alum Jamal Miles on a crossing route for a 6-yard score five minutes into the second half. Sawyer Petre connected on the extra point and Arizona was up 34-13.

A ferocious Rattlers defense forced one of multiple fourth-down stops on the night before Ziemba and Miles connected again, this time from 8 yards out — the rout was on with the Rattlers leading 41-13.

The only blip on the radar was three lost fumbles by Arizona, the final miscue by Dezmon Epps as the fourth quarter began.

“We will get that fixed,” Guy promised. “We have to have better ball security.”

Titans quarterback Jake Medlock (18/38, 136 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT), under constant pressure from Arizona’s Ryan Langford, Joshua Gordan and Justin Martin, ran for a score with 14:18 left in the game but there was no coming back from the massive deficit. The Rattlers capped off their huge win with touchdowns by Epps and Chris McAllister followed by Arkeith Brown’s second interception of the season off an ill-advised Medlock throw.

“I was proud of our guys tonght,” Guy said. “I loved the way they attacked the game.”

The Rattlers found themselves fortunate not to be trailing early in the game. The Titans drove over midfield but kicker Michael Georgetti misfired on a field goal. Arizona running back Shadrach Thornton immediately fumbled the ball back to Cedar Rapids but the Rattlers’ defense stood tall, forcing another field goal attempt. Georgetti faded the kick wide right from 30 yards out and the game remained scoreless.

The Rattlers’ signal caller then used some excellent improvisation to put the Rattlers on the scoreboard. On fourth down at the Titans’ 11, Ziemba eluded pressure by scrambling to his right and buying himself more time to find a receiver. Jarrod Harrington found himself uncovered in the end zone and Ziemba threw a laser beam across his body for an 11-yard score. Petre’s extra point made it 7-0 Arizona at the 5:41 mark of the first quarter.

Cedar Rapids quickly responded from 5 yards away on a Raphael Lawson-Gayle touchdown run. This time Georgetti’s kick was true to tie the game at 7-7.

Arizona Rattlers defensive lineman Joshua Gordon, center, hits Cedar Rapids quarterback Jake Medlock (5) on Saturday night at Talking Stick Resort Arena. The Rattlers defeated the Titans 54-19 to move to 4-1 on the season, tied for the best record in the IFL. [Matt Hinshaw/Arizona Rattlers][/caption]The Rattlers took control with back-to-back scores as the first quarter wound down. Ziemba showed exceptional touch in delivering a 32-yard TD strike to Anthony Amos, one of the few holdovers from the Rattlers’ Arena Football League days. The looping pass was thrown just over the outstretched arms of two Cedar Rapids defenders as Amos hauled it in and slid untouched into the end zone. Petre nailed the extra point to give Arizona a 14-7 lead.

The Rattlers defense forced another stop — a fourth-down incompletion by Medlock — and handed the football back to the offense. A potential interception off the side boards was negated by a Cedar Rapids illegal defense penalty and Ziemba hooked up with Amos again to put Arizona up by two scores. The touchdown connection from 23 yards out combined with Petre’s successful point after made it 21-7 Arizona early in the second quarter.

Arizona’s defense continued to pressure Medlock and forced yet another fourth-down stop. The Rattlers couldn’t cash in this time as Ziemba was sacked and fumbled back to the Titans — Arizona’s second lost fumble of the first half.

Medlock then did his best Ziemba impersonation — improvising and extending the play to bring the Titans back within one score. On fourth down at the Rattlers’ 10, the Titans’ quarterback — not exactly lightning quick at 6-3 and 225 pounds — sidestepped a heavy rush and blindly tossed a miraculous touchdown pass to receiver Connor Hollenbeck who went over the boards but maintained possession of the ball in the near corner. Georgetti missed his third kick of the first half and Cedar Rapids trailed 21-13.

Arizona then methodically worked the clock to perfection in the final minute of the first half. A pair of runs and a screen pass to Thornton took off precious seconds. Miles attempted a circus catch near the side boards of the end zone — the play was originally called a touchdown but was overturned on a challenge by Titans Head Coach Marvin Jones.

Undaunted, Ziemba took the final snap of the first half with six seconds left. He connected with Amos from 4 yards out as the halftime buzzer sounded. Jones again challenged the call but this time the touchdown was upheld — Petre was wide with the point after and the Rattlers took a 27-13 lead into the break.

On the night, Amos hauled in three scores while Miles added a pair. McAllister and Harrington had one TD catch each. Ziemba was the individual standout but the Arizona defense was also dominant.

“Anytime our defense plays like that, it’s a great feeling. They’re hitting and flying around and that sets it up for our offense,” Ziemba said.

The Rattlers have a bye next weekend before traveling to Sioux Falls for a 5:05 p.m. kickoff on April 14.

“We have a big game coming out of the bye week,” Guy said. “We’ll be ready.”