ARIZONA RATTLERS
Arizona Rattlers top Tucson, keep perfect season alive
May 26, 2019, 9:16 AM | Updated: May 27, 2019, 7:50 pm
(Gary Royall)
(Gary Royall)
A week after accounting for nine total touchdowns in his first start as the Arizona Rattlers’ starting quarterback, everyone across the Indoor Football League was eager to see what Drew Powell would do for an encore.
The former league MVP did not disappoint, throwing five touchdowns, rushing for another two scores and leading the Rattlers (11-0) to a 62-47 victory over the Tucson Sugar Skulls (6-5) in front of 4,828 fans at Tucson Arena Saturday night.
Tucson jumped out to the early lead when Sugar Skulls’ quarterback Jake Medlock found Jeremiah Harris for a 13-yard score.
It did not take long for Arizona to answer. On the third play of the ensuing drive Powell hit Jamal Miles in stride to give the Rattlers a 7-6 lead.
After Tucson kicked a field goal, Powell led a five-play, 34-yard drive capped by another touchdown toss to Miles to put Arizona back in the lead, 14-9.
At the start of the second quarter, the defense stopped Medlock on 4th down. A few plays later, Powell threw a perfect ball to the end zone that wideout Jarrod Harrington beat a defender to come down with that gave the Rattlers a two-score advantage.
The teams traded scores before the half, with Arizona heading into the locker room leading 28-19.
The Rattlers started with the ball and, on the third play of the half, Powell hit Harrington in stride for a 23-yard touchdown.
Tucson would not get within two scores the rest of the way as Arizona beat the Sugar Skulls for the third time this season.
Quick Strikes
-In addition to catching seven balls for 114 yards and three touchdowns, Harrington also returned a kick-off 50 yards for a score in the 2nd quarter
-Powell finished 13-for-15 passing for 180 yards and ran for 83 yards
-A week after having the fewest penalties of the season in San Diego, the Rattlers were flagged 11 times for 76 yards
-Arizona Head Coach/General Manager Kevin Guy is also part-owner of the Tucson franchise
Up Next
The Arizona Rattlers go on the road for the final time in 2019 when they face the Cedar Rapids River Kings on Saturday, June 1st. Kickoff is at 5:05 p.m. All games can be seen live on YouTube.
