2019 Arizona Rattlers Week 6 Game Preview

March 28, 2019 - Indoor Football League (IFL) - Arizona Rattlers News Release







Arizona Rattlers vs. the Sioux Falls Storm

(Arizona Rattlers) Arizona Rattlers vs. the Sioux Falls Storm(Arizona Rattlers)

PHOENIX - After knocking Tucson from the ranks of the unbeaten Indoor Football League (IFL) teams, the Arizona Rattlers (3-0) return from their bye week to continue their four-game homestand at Talking Stick Resort Arena on Sunday against another undefeated squad and rival, the Sioux Falls Storm (4-0).

This will be the first of two matchups between the Rattlers and Storm this season and the first time these two teams have met since the 2018 Intense Conference Championship. The Rattlers will look to avenge their defeat from that playoff game last June, a 69-68 overtime thriller in Phoenix that saw the Storm advance to their ninth consecutive United Bowl.

An Arizona win would also give Rattlers Head Coach and General Manager Kevin Guy his 200th career victory as a head coach.

The Rattlers offense has been rolling through the first three games of the 2019 IFL season. Arizona is averaging 65 points and 137.3 rushing yards per game, leading the league in both categories. RB Jabre Lolley is first in the IFL with 78.7 yards per game on the ground, third in the league with nine rushing touchdowns, and has scored at least two rushing touchdowns in every game so far this season.

Sioux Falls remained as one of the IFL's three unbeaten teams last week as they held off the Quad City Steamwheelers, 66-52. The win came in the Storm's first home game of the season and their only contest at the Denny Sanford Premier Center in the first six games of their season.

Sioux Falls QB Lorenzo Brown Jr. ran for six rushing touchdowns in the win over Quad City, tying him for first in the IFL with 10 on the season, and also threw for four touchdowns, finding WR Damian Ford for three and WR Brandon Sheperd for one.

Arizona's defense has been sharp in the early season as they have allowed the fewest points in the IFL, giving up 28.7 points per game. The Rattlers have shut down opposing quarterbacks, allowing the fewest passing yards (106.7) while recording the most sacks (nine) and the second-most interceptions (four). DL Nikolaus D'Avanzo leads the active roster with two sacks, four tackles for loss, and two blocked field goal attempts.

The Rattlers rushing attack will have a big test as Sioux Falls has the best rushing defense in the league, allowing only 53.3 yards per game. Storm DB DeAndre Scott is fourth in the IFL with 18 solo tackles and DL Charles Williams leads Sioux Falls with three tackles for loss. Sioux Falls is also tied for first in the IFL with two defensive touchdowns, one by DL Claude Davis and one by DB Matt McKoy.

On special teams, Sioux Falls K Miles Bergner leads all kickers in scoring with 46 points and has the highest field goal accuracy, making 70 percent of his tries. Arizona K Jimmy Camacho has also been accurate with his kicks so far, converting on 93 percent of his extra point attempts.

Kickoff is scheduled for 3:05 p.m. Arizona time on Sunday. Fans can watch all the action locally on Your Phoenix CW or online via YouTube Live.

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2019 Arizona Rattlers Week 6 Game Preview - Arizona Rattlers

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