GLENDALE – Entering their recent matchup against San Diego, the Arizona Rattlers were looking to secure a playoff berth. Coming off their first win in four weeks, the team needed extra motivation to make that happen. So it turned to young Rattlers fans for help.
Last Friday, the team hosted its second youth camp of the season. Players including running back Ron Brown Jr. and wide receivers Austin Johnson and YoHeinz Tyler helped with the event and ran drills with the participants.
The motivation paid off, as the team rallied for a 16-0 deficit Saturday at Desert Diamond Arena to defeat the San Diego Strike Force 46-43, clinching an IFL playoff spot.
“Everything that we do is for the kids,” Tyler said. “We love the kids. We love the support. If it wasn’t for them, we wouldn’t be this program. Having the kids join us and giving back to the community is always special to us.”
The event provides young athletes a glimpse into the IFL, motivating them to follow and possibly play in the league in the future while teaching them lessons outside of football.
This was the first of two matchups left between the Rattlers and the Strike Force. The Strike Force held a two-possession lead for most of the game even with the Rattlers staying within striking distance
Chaos commenced in the fourth quarter, and the Rattlers rallied.
Tyler caught a touchdown pass on the first play of the fourth quarter, his first of the game, cutting the lead to 36-33. The Rattlers defense got a stop, forcing the Strike Force to punt. On the next Arizona possession, quarterback Dalton Sneed threw a 27-yard touchdown to Corey Reed Jr., who made a diving catch in the corner of the end zone to give Arizona its first lead, 39-36.
And the @ArizonaRattlers just snagged their first lead of the game. What a climb. But the final whistle hasn’t blown yet. Less than nine minutes to go. @sportscronkite https://t.co/rqecDFKaA1
— Ethan Troll (@Ethan___Troll) July 13, 2025
The Strike Force responded and scored a touchdown to take back the lead 43-39 with less than two minutes to go. But the Rattlers’ high-flying offense took over in a crucial moment with the home crowd on its side.
“We just going to ball out,” Tyler said. “We’re going to do what coach tells us to do. We had a good week of practice. We’re laying it all out on the line knowing that we have three games left. We went through adversity early on and now it’s time to attack.”
On the Rattlers’ last offensive possession, Sneed connected with Tyler on their second touchdown to reclaim the lead at 46-43 with 53 seconds left. It was his first multiple touchdown game since the second game of the season.
Make that two touchdowns for @yoheinzz. The @ArizonaRattlers take back the lead with 53 seconds to go. A final home game of the season to be remembered, no matter what happens next. @sportscronkite https://t.co/vfO6F90oHR
— Ethan Troll (@Ethan___Troll) July 13, 2025
The crowd roared with excitement to give the defense the energy it needed to make the final stop. San Diego moved down the field with penalties going in its favor and making small but effective plays downfield. The Strike Force got inside the 10-yard line, but the Arizona defense stood strong.
For three of the last four plays inside the 10, the defense flew to the ball, forcing two incompletions. On third down, the Rattlers stopped Strike Force running back Edward Vander at the 1-yard line with 21.4 seconds on the clock.
On fourth-and-goal, the Strike Force called a run out of the Wildcat formation with wide receiver Rudy Johnson ready to take the snap. He ran seven hard steps to the left, only to be met by the defense, who blasted through the offensive line and shut down the play before Johnson could even get to the line of scrimmage.
GOAL LINE STAND!! THE RATTLERS WIN!! pic.twitter.com/HhnmTNrpnC
— Arizona Rattlers (@ArizonaRattlers) July 13, 2025
The goal line stand clinched the team’s 15th consecutive playoff berth with the help of Northern Arizona beating Tucson.
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