The Arizona Rattlers warm up before a game against the Northern Arizona Wranglers on June 15, embodying their win-first mentality as they aim for the playoffs. (Photo by Dylan Slager/Cronkite News)
GLENDALE – Win and win big – that’s the mentality of the Arizona Rattlers for the remainder of the regular season.
Rattlers coach and president Kevin Guy echoed the mantra during a June practice as the schedule reached a critical point, with five games remaining to make a playoff push.
“From this week forward, every game is a playoff game until the end of the season,” Guy told his players leading up to their matchup against the Northern Arizona Wranglers on June 15.
The Rattlers started strong with a 56-49 win over their in-state rivals but split the next two games against the Vegas Knight Hawks and Iowa Barnstormers. Coming off a one-score loss to the Knight Hawks two weeks ago, they did everything right Saturday with standout running back Shannon Brooks scoring four rushing touchdowns to help his team re-enter the playoff picture with a dominant 55-26 victory.
With two games remaining in the regular season, the Rattlers still have a fighting chance to make the postseason with a 9-5 record entering Sunday’s matchup against the Tucson Sugar Skulls.
Coach Kevin Guy motivates his team during a must-win game against the Northern Arizona Wranglers on June 15 as the Arizona Rattlers push for a playoff spot. (Photo by Dylan Slager/Cronkite News)
“There is a lot of parity in this league. There is no overlooking anyone. You can’t get caught up in records,” Guy said. “Teams are constantly changing personnel so you can’t get caught up in records or you’ll get beat.”
The Rattlers depend on a unique roster of players – most of which are within their first two seasons in the IFL – but the task at hand of incorporating young players and reaching the postseason is nothing new. Young standouts like defensive lineman Kevin Simes Jr. and wide receiver Corey Reed Jr. have made their mark early. Simes had a five-sack game against the Tucson Sugar Skulls on May 11 and a pick-6 against the San Diego Strike Force on June 8. Reed caught five passes for 100 yards with three touchdowns against Northern Arizona.
Under the guidance of the team’s veterans, the Rattlers’ young core continues to pace the team toward its goal of winning the IFL National Championship.
“That has always been the mentality, you know what I mean? I don’t come to play this game to be last place,” said Rattlers wide receiver Jamal Miles, who is in his seventh season with the team. “I come here to win championships and that’s the goal every year. We come here to stand on business and do what we are supposed to do.”
Fans fill in at Desert Diamond Arena, creating an electric atmosphere for the Arizona Rattlers’ home game against the Northern Arizona Wranglers on June 15. (Photo by Dylan Slager/Cronkite News)
Guy, named the 2021 Indoor Football League Executive of the Year and Coach of the Year, moved the organization from the AFL to the IFL and immediately proved his and his team’s worth by winning the IFL United Bowl in 2017, their debut season in the league.
But since that title, the Rattlers have experienced a title drought while watching other teams win championships. Still, the team has made the United Bowl twice since 2017, losing to the Sioux Falls Storm and Massachusetts Pirates in the back-to-back seasons.
Since then, Guy has kept committed players while bringing in new and younger pieces. Miles, who is in his seventh season with the team, is one veteran who has shown outstanding commitment to help grow the organization.
Now Guy is leaning on his veteran voices to win the next two games and earn another shot at the IFL title.
“I think the best locker rooms and the best teams are player-led. I’m automatically the leader in the face of the team as the head coach and president,” Guy said. “When we’ve done that, we’ve been really, really good so it’s something we talk about. We have meetings about it and it’s how we build a winning culture.”