By Zev Black
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It was an offensive showcase for both the Arizona Rattlers (4-1) and Tulsa Oilers (1-3) Saturday night at Desert Diamond Arena, with the Rattlers making all the big plays in the final minute to secure a 64-63 win.

The Oilers utilized a series of quick routes on the first possession of the game, which ultimately led to a TJ Edwards II passing touchdown to WR Jerminic Smith. The Rattlers immediately answered for a score of their own when RB Ron Brown Jr. took the jetsweep into the endzone to knot the score at seven.

This was the case for the entire first half, and especially the second quarter, as both teams continued to trade scores.

After WR Corey Reed Jr. reeled in the cross-field throw from QB Max Meylor to even the score at 14 early in the second quarter, it looked like they could take control. LB Hayden Hatcher intercepted Edwards II, but it was called back due to an illegal defense penalty. The drive resulted in a 32-yard field goal for the Oilers.

Later in the half, after a Keenan Hambrick receiving touchdown gave Arizona a 28-24 lead, the Rattlers decided to try a surprise onside kick, which Tulsa recovered.

The Oilers made Arizona pay for the decision with a quick score to push the lead back to three, leaving only 24 seconds on the clock.

However, this was plenty of time for Meylor and the offense. A quick strike over the middle of the field got him in position to find WR Arland Bruce in the endzone to take the lead right back, 35-31.

“He’s a great player,” Rattlers Head Coach Kevin Guy said. “Love having him here. Great human being, really good person. I’m proud of him.”

Bruce said it felt great to be out there playing football.

“It started in camp,” he said. “It’s a blessing to be able to have been here at the start of camp and get all those reps for almost two months now. I think we all just clicked.”

With only nine seconds remaining in the half, the Oilers ensuing possession was the only first-half drive by either team that did not result in points.

The second half was more of the same. But it started in a different way.

On the first drive, Meylor couldn’t handle a snap which Oilers LB Dylan Pettway recovered in the endzone for the defensive touchdown. This was the Rattlers first possession of the game in which they failed to score and it gave Tulsa a 52-42 lead.

Arizona never quit and, with a minute left in the game, took a 56-55 lead thanks to RB Kymani Clarke’s second touchdown of the game.

Guy decided to run an onside kick to essentially give Arizona the final possession. The Oilers once again took back the lead on a Jerminic Smith Jr octopus, catching both the touchdown and two point conversion attempt.

However, there was just enough time on the clock for the game winning drive, which Meylor calmly executed. Meylor threw a 23 yard dart to WR Trey Odom-Dukes in the endzone to make it a one point game, leaving just six seconds on the clock.

Guy then put all his eggs in one basket and tried for the two-point conversion and the win. On a play that saw Meylor scrambling for his life, he found Clarke in the back corner of the endzone to give Arizona the lead for good, 64-63. Guy said the decision to go for two should they score was made before the kickoff.

Tulsa missed a 53-yard field goal at the buzzer to give Arizona the win.

This was Rattlers offensive coordinator Peyton Riggs first game calling offensive plays.

“I just felt like with a young defense, I needed to be on the field and concentrate on the checks,” Guy said. “So, I pulled myself out of the offense this week. On the field, Peyton ran it, did a nice job, got a lot of trust in him.”

Bruce kept things in perspective after the win.

“You would like to blow people out but that’s not as fun,” Bruce said. “They played a great game. It’s early in the season and as long as we win, I’m happy.”

The Rattlers next game is at 4:30 p.m. Sunday, May 3 in Henderson, Nevada against the Vegas Knight Hawks (4-1). The game will be streamed live on the Yahoo! Sports Network.