The Arizona Rattlers, despite a rough start, have found their footing over the past month.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!The Rattlers have won four consecutive games, and have a tall task at hand on Saturday in Las Vegas. The Knight Hawks, 8-3, sit just a spot ahead of the Rattlers, 8-4, in the standings. Arizona lost to Vegas in week two, but have a chance to even the score against a conference rival.
For a Rattlers team that seemingly lacked discipline and physicality early on, those factors combined with proper mental preparation is crucial.
“It comes down to how we prepare, our mindset, our physicality,” Rattlers’ coach Kevin Guy said. “We’re just going to keep working, keep the focus on us. Our guys have been doing a good job of that. We’ve been trying to improve every week. We want to make sure we’re peaking at the right time when we get to the playoffs.”
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Just like the lack of physicality, frequent turnovers were a cause for concern early on. However, Rattlers quarterback Dalton Sneed has seen a resurgence in his season, with his improved play being a contributing factor towards the recent success.
“It feels good getting back on track,” Sneed said. “You never want to turn the ball over. I pride myself in not throwing interceptions, not putting the ball on the ground, just taking care of the offense.”
Guy mentioned that despite the success as of late, his team should not be content heading to Vegas. He’s seen progression from the Knight Hawks throughout the season, and knows the challenge at hand.
“They made some changes up there that’s made them better,” Guy said. “It’s going to be a great test for us. We’re basically fighting for the second seed right now.”
Kevin Guy not pleased with Arizona Rattlers’ performance halfway through the season
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Justin LaCertosa covers Phoenix Sports News for Burn City Sports. You can follow him on his X account, @LaCertosaSports
