TUCSON — The Arizona Rattlers dropped their undefeated streak in stunning fashion Saturday night, falling 42-35 to the Tucson Sugar Skulls in a game defined by defensive miscues and late-game penalties.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!The Snakes looked dominant early on with both its offense and defense overwhelming Tucson. Arizona quarterback Dalton Sneed connected with Isaiah Huston and Shannon Brooks to get 14 on the board and lead Tucson through the first quarter.
Arizona Rattlers VS Northern Arizona Wranglers April 26, 2025 in Glendale, Arizona. (Matt Hinshaw/Arizona Rattlers)
As the second quarter started, Tucson slowly cracked through Arizona’s tough defense as quarterback Jorge Reyna threw a touchdown pass to Drew Dixon for its first points of the game. Tucson added a few more field goals to its total within the quarter and its defense started to pressure Arizona. However, Sneed would get another touchdown pass to Trey Dixon and widened Arizona’s lead to 21-10 at the half.
The second half shifted the game’s momentum. With Tucson in a fourth down position, a pass interference call against Arizona gave Tucson life and a first down. Reyna would throw his second touchdown of the game, this time to Drew Dixon, bringing Tucson down to only one point against Arizona.
On the final snap of the half Dalton Sneed (@daltonsneed) finds a wide-open Trey Dixon for the TD. Yet again making it two posessions ????????♂️ pic.twitter.com/LCbNq5p3vu
— Arizona Rattlers (@ArizonaRattlers) May 4, 2025
Sneed took charge to extend Arizona’s lead once more and throw a touchdown pass to Corey Reed Jr. After a touchdown by Tucson was overturned due to a false start penalty, Arizona took advantage and added another touchdown, once more by Sneed to Isaiah Huston. Arizona led 35-20.
In the final minutes of the game, Reyna passed to Larry Harrington to inch Tucson closer. Tucson forced Arizona to turn the ball over back to the home team. Arizona was flagged again on pass interference, allowing Tucson to score six more and only holding a 35-33 lead. Sneed was picked off by Tucson’s Ahmed Lyons in Arizona’s last offensive drive, setting up Tucson’s eventual win.
With seconds left in the game, Tucson’s Kevin Macias kicked its game-leading field goal 36-35. In a last effort, Arizona “hot-potato-ed” the return kick to save its undefeated streak after regulation time. It was to no avail, as Tucson would pick off Arizona and bring it in for one last touchdown, Arizona losing 42-35.
Coming in hot!???????? @DaltonSneed finds Huston for his 2nd touchdown catch of the ball-game up 35-20 now going into the fourth #RollingWithTheRattlers pic.twitter.com/698UI2zmcy
— Arizona Rattlers (@ArizonaRattlers) May 4, 2025
Arizona has a week to shake off the loss and come back home to go against the Bay Area Panthers next Saturday, May 10.
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Wendy Lopez is a reporter for Burn City Sports. You can follow her on her X account, @wlopezde
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