Champions Clash as Rattlers Fall to Knight Hawks in a Dog Fight

By Gage Gastley | Rattlers Media

As if a game for first place needed any more drama, a hard-fought contest between the Arizona Rattlers and Vegas Knight Hawks spilled over with drama as Vegas ended the visiting Rattlers three-game win streak with a 56-42 victory.

The matchup between the last two IFL National Champions − the Rattlers in 2024 and the Knight Hawks in 2025 – was also a game for first place in the Western Conference with both teams entering the contest with identical 4-1 overall records, 3-0 in the conference.  

The first half was a dogfight with both offenses having their way. The Rattlers tied the game at 21 when quarterback Max Meylor connected with Corey Reed Jr. from 11 yards out with just under 30 seconds left. But the Knight Hawks struck back with seven seconds to go for a 28-21 lead.

The Knight Hawks extended their lead to 14 points on the first possession of the second half and kept the Rattlers from getting any closer than seven points the rest of the way.

Meylor led a scoring drive, finishing it himself on a six-yard run to cut the deficit to 35-28. But Vegas continued to answer with Josh Tomas returning the kickoff for a touchdown, stretching the lead to 42-28.

When the Rattlers cut the Vegas lead to 49-42 on a catch by wide receiver Trey Odoms-Dukes, it triggered fireworks. Knight Hawks Head Coach Mike Davis demanded a review claiming that when Odoms-Dukes bobbled the pass in a corner of the end zone that it touched the pad.

After a review, the touchdown was confirmed. In the aftermath, the two head coaches argued on the field and contact was made between Davis and Rattlers Head Coach Kevin Guy. The Rattlers' coach was ultimately flagged for an unsportsmanlike penalty while Guy claimed Davis made the first contact.

Both benches emptied during the fray leading to ejections by a player from each team.

Once order was restored, a missed field goal by Vegas briefly gave Arizona hope with the score still 49-42. But the Rattlers turned the ball over on a downs. The Night Hawks sealed the game with a touchdown with 47 seconds left for a 56-42 lead.

The Rattlers will look to bounce back when they face the Tucson Sugar Skulls at the Desert Diamond Arena on Sunday, May 10, at 4:30 PM.  The game will be broadcast live on Yahoo! Sports.

Vegas and the Rattlers could meet again in the American Dream – IFL Cup if both teams win or both teams lose their first-round games in New Jersey on May 18. The Rattlers will face IFL newcomer New Mexico Chupacabras in that first-round game.